Culligan Retail North America is a leading provider of water filtration solutions with a strong omnichannel presence, supporting multiple product lines across direct-to-consumer, e-commerce, and retail platforms. We are committed to delivering innovative water solutions that enhance consumer’s lives and contribute to sustainable living.
The Senior Project Manager, R&D and Product Development will manage a portfolio of projects across innovation, cost savings, packaging evolution, and product renovation. This role is responsible for leading project teams to deliver programs on time, in full, and within scope and budget, while ensuring technical rigor, regulatory compliance, and seamless collaboration across functions. You’ll directly manage a Mechanical Engineer, partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Engineering, Sourcing, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Sales teams. This role plays a central role in developing the next generation of Culligan’s consumer products.
Key Responsibilities:
- Project Management
- Lead end-to-end project management for new product introductions, product renovations, packaging updates, and cost optimization initiatives following Culligan’s Stage-Gate process.
- Develop detailed project timelines, milestones, and deliverables; ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget, managed through regular project meetings and notes to monitor and track progress
- Coordinate with cross-functional teams — Engineering, Marketing, Sourcing, Finance, Quality, and Manufacturing — to align priorities and resources.
- Facilitate kick-off meetings to establish clear scope, success criteria, and stakeholder accountability.
- Anticipate risks, issues, resourcing challenges; develop mitigation and contingency plans to keep projects on track.
- Drive transparent communication of project status, key risks, and decisions to leadership.
- Drive consistency and excellence in Culligan’s project management tools, templates, and methodologies.
- Technical Leadership
- Supervise and coach a Mechanical Engineer, managing technical deliverables and development priorities.
- Partner with Engineering, Regulatory, and COE R&D teams to define product specifications, mechanical requirements, and testing protocols
- Lead technical readiness reviews, including prototyping, validation, tooling qualification, and pilot production.
- Own and maintain core technical documentation including product specifications, BOMs, and master data sheets.
- Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing partners on tooling design, duplication, and process modifications.
- Translate field performance data, consumer feedback, and warranty trends into actionable design or process changes.
- Partner with Quality, Engineering, and Operations on post-launch product quality issues to investigate root causes and drive timely resolutions
Qualification & Experience:
Required:
-
- 8+ years of experience in program or product management within consumer products, appliances, filtration, or related technical fields.
- Demonstrated success leading cross-functional programs involving engineering, regulatory, and manufacturing disciplines.
- Proven ability to translate technical complexity into clear, actionable plans for non-technical stakeholders.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and presentation skills.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable operating in an ambiguous, fast-moving environment.
- Understanding of brand, sales, operations and finance functions in consumer-packaged goods; proven ability manage stakeholder satisfaction throughout the new product development process.
- Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Asana, or Jira).
Preferred:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field (MBA or advanced degree preferred).
- Project management certification (PMP or similar).
- Experience managing or mentoring technical contributors (engineers, designers, or technicians).
- Working knowledge of filtration systems, mechanical assemblies, and regulated product design.
- Experience working with global suppliers or contract manufactures.
Target Salary Range: $140,000 – $150,000 salary a year with the opportunity for eligible employees to earn additional compensation pursuant to the Company’s bonus plan. Exact pay will be based on factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, level, geographic location, and business and organizational needs. Full-time positions are eligible for competitive benefits, including paid time off, health, dental, vision, life, disability benefits and 401(k).
#LI-NY1