Program Manager I, Outdoor & Recreation

Job ID: 18201

Job Title: Program Manager I

Location(s): Atlanta, GA

Newell Brands is a leading consumer products company with a portfolio of iconic brands like Graco®, Coleman®, Oster®, Rubbermaid®, Sharpie® and Yankee Candle® - and 24,000 talented teammates around the world. Our culture is built on values in action: Integrity, Teamwork, Passion for Winning, Ownership, and Leadership. We work together to win, grow, and make a real impact—supported by a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative environment where you can be your best, every day. 

Job Summary

The Program Manager I will be a member of the Program Management Office (PMO) supporting the Outdoor and Recreation business, set out to develop world-class consumer product innovation and bring it to market. The main responsibility is to lead global cross-functional teams through the stage-gate process to develop, commercialize, and launch innovative product solutions that meet cost, schedule, quality, and scope requirements. The Program Manager I will also ensure accurate project planning, analysis, and reporting and, for assigned projects, will support the Integrated Portfolio Planning Lead (IPPL) with readiness for gate meetings and portfolio reviews, preparation of project materials, documentation of decisions and actions, and follow-through with owners.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead New Product Development (NPD) projects of various complexity.
• Facilitate project planning sessions to collaboratively develop standardized timelines, milestones, dependencies, critical paths, and clear ownership for project deliverables.
• Motivate project teams and influence members to take positive action and accountability for their assigned work.
• Deliver key PMO KPIs for project timing, cost, quality, scope, and budget, ensuring project outputs are consistently high quality.
• Use project KPIs and data to identify variances, risks, and dependencies and to support prioritization, resource, and trade-off recommendations.
• Partner with Brand Marketing, R&D, and other cross-functional partners to define project scope and product requirements.
• Establish focused weekly team meetings and efficient communication methods that drive project execution, decisions, and completion.
• Identify and monitor project risks, recommend mitigation and contingency plans, and report project progress, risks, and decision needs to leadership.
• Lead the identification of project issues and facilitate timely resolution within cross-functional teams.
• Communicate project expectations, plans, decisions, and status to project team members, leadership, and other stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.
• Apply basic financial management principles to support fiscally sound project decisions and protect the approved business case.
• Develop and maintain project schedules using Microsoft Planner or comparable project management tools, with a focus on critical paths and dependencies.
• Maintain project documentation and system data integrity as required by the stage-gate process and contribute to improvements in PMO practices, tools, and templates.
• Ensure assigned projects are ready for gate meetings and portfolio reviews by preparing accurate materials, documenting decisions and actions, and following through with owners.
• Participate in post-launch evaluations and capture lessons learned to improve future project execution.
• Demonstrate Newell's Individual Contributor Values in Action by prioritizing high-impact work, moving with urgency, owning outcomes, collaborating across teams, seeking and acting on feedback, and delivering commitments with candor and integrity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, project management, supply chain, operations, engineering, or a related field.
• Three to five years of experience in product development and project management required; consumer products industry experience is highly preferred.
• Strong sense of ownership and urgency, with demonstrated ability to drive accountability, proactively resolve issues, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to think critically and balance the appropriate depth and breadth of project analysis.
• Ability to diagnose day-to-day project issues and apply practical methods to support on-time, in-full delivery.
• Strong ability to facilitate relationships and execution across cross-functional teams in various locations.
• Working knowledge of predictive, Agile, stage-gate, and hybrid project management methodologies.
• Basic business acumen and working knowledge of P&L principles and key financial drivers.
• Familiarity with basic manufacturing processes and production planning.
• Logical, analytical, and creative problem-solving skills, with strong attention to data quality and follow-through.
• Working knowledge of project management and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Planner, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Highly effective organization, prioritization, planning, and change-management skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Project management certification, such as CAPM or equivalent, is preferred.
• Ability to clearly and confidently present project information, risks, and recommendations to leadership.

Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Graco, Coleman, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Yankee Candle, Paper Mate, FoodSaver, Dymo, EXPO, Elmer’s, Oster, NUK, Spontex and Campingaz. We are focused on delighting consumers by lighting up everyday moments. Newell Brands and its subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity Employers and comply with applicable employment laws. EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled are encouraged to apply.