Manager of Global Lifestyle Development

Why join us? 

Our purpose is to design for the good of humankind. It’s the ideal we strive toward each day in everything we do. Being a part of MillerKnoll means being a part of something larger than your work team, or even your brand. We are redefining modern for the 21st century. And our success allows MillerKnoll to support causes that align with our values, so we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and beautiful future for everyone.

GENERAL PURPOSE
In this role you'll lead the product development functional team across the Lifestyle product category. Through leadership of the team you will manage, you'll ensure new developments are completed within established time and budget guidelines. You will manage multiple programs simultaneously and ensure each programs' adherence to master critical dates calendar. This role will be responsible for evaluating the department's progress toward development plan objectives and course correcting as required. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Accountable for ensuring department activities are conducted in accordance within corporate financial objectives.
• Attend weekly meetings with direct reports and cross-functional teams to review progress on new developments and prototype/design reviews. 
• Coaches and mentors staff. Accountable for team performance, employee skill development, and maintaining a positive working environment. 
• Collaborates with cross-functional leaders in Fulfillment, Supply Chain, and Sourcing to establish the most effective value stream/supply chain; Identify and vet suppliers for new developments as needed.
• Communicate key issues (i.e., schedules, resource constraints, launch plans) in a clear and timely manner to the VP Global Lifestyle Development. 
• Deliver weekly status reports to VP Global Lifestyle Development. 
• Enforces lean development practices. 
• Ensures all new developments meet design and quality expectations. Develops guidelines if criteria is unclear.
• Manage pricing negotiations to meet target costs and margin requirements. 
• Support and encourage an innovative mind set inside the company through leading and facilitating strategic decision-making on issues of process, development, engineering, and supply chain structure relating to commercializing new product concepts. 
•  Performs additional responsibilities as requested to achieve business objectives.

 
 
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE
 

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Operations, Design, Engineering, or a related field.
•  8-10 years of experience in development-related functions and disciplines, with three or more years of management experience.
•  5+ years of management or project leadership experience; global project leadership experience preferred. 

 
SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Successfully demonstrated leadership experience of a major new product, including full development and launch cycle.
• Excellent program/project management skills, as demonstrated through the successful achievement of assigned objectives.
• A developmental, entrepreneurial mind set with abstract analysis skills and a logical, but flexible, approach.
• Willing to take initiative and accept accountability with a strong sense of ownership over work.
• A demonstrated high level of personal integrity and business ethics.
• Demonstrated expert written/verbal communication skills and a proven capability to present complex concepts in a concise and understandable way to a variety of audiences.
• Proven ability to manage and develop essential peer, subordinate, and management relationships. 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, particularly communicating with team members across cultures and functions.
• Must be financially literate and possess business acumen with the ability to objectively assess projects and teams. 
• Willingness to travel globally as required. 
• Knowledge of furniture construction and furniture market landscape preferred.
• Luxury/high end experience preferred.

 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be able to perform all essential functions of the position with or without accommodations.

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