Senior New Product Development Project Leader

Why Work at Rehlko

Our work is guided by our purpose: creating an energy-resilient world for a better future. This purpose embodies the legacy we bring, with more than 100 years as the global leader in energy resilience, delivering solutions critical to sustain and improve life.

Our teams have the opportunity to provide a critical resource – energy – that ensures safety, security, and independence for people around the world. Our team members are focused on pushing boundaries, continuing to innovate in an ever-changing landscape, and keeping up with the pace required to create solutions for today’s world demands.

Our product range includes engines, generators, power conversion, UPS systems, EV components and electrification solutions, microgrid controls and management, and clean energy solutions that serve a broad spectrum of OEM, residential, industrial, and commercial customers. At Rehlko, you have the freedom to identify, create, and deliver solutions – large and small – that help people and communities thrive in the moments that matter.

At Rehlko, our team members are the essential energy that powers our organization’s success. We are committed to fostering a safe and sustainable work environment where safety is everyone’s responsibility. We empower every team member to actively participate in our Zero Is Possible safety culture by encouraging open communication, proactively reporting hazards, following protocols, and suggesting improvements. Join us in creating an energy resilient world for a better future!

What We Offer

At Rehlko, our Total Rewards programs are designed to accelerate growth, energize performance, and support a culture of inclusion at every stage of life and work. We offer total rewards that are easily understood, recognize results, enable career mobility, and reflect our commitment to valuing diverse needs in a fast-moving world. We provide:

• Competitive compensation and benefits

• Work-life flexibility

• Recognition and rewards

• Development and career opportunities

• A safe and inclusive workplace

Why You Will Love this Job

Lead the Future of Home Energy. Drive Innovation. Deliver Peace of Mind.

At Rehlko's Home Energy Division, we don't just develop products, we create solutions that help families stay safe and connected when they need it most. Our home standby generators provide seamless, automatic backup power during utility outages, ensuring homeowners can continue powering their home’s HVAC, home medical equipment, and refrigeration.

We're looking for a Senior New Product Development (NPD) Project Leader who is passionate about bringing innovative products to life and thrives on leading cross-functional teams through complex challenges. In this role, you'll help shape the next generation of home energy solutions, guiding strategic development programs from concept through launch while delivering products that make a meaningful difference in the lives of our customers.

If you're energized by innovation, inspired by purpose-driven products, and motivated by turning ambitious ideas into market-leading solutions, this is your opportunity to lead work that matters and help define the future of residential energy resilience.

This position offers a flexible hybrid work model and may be based out of either our Glendale, WI or Kohler, WI office.

As Senior NPD Project Leader you will be responsible for leading cross-functional teams in the development and launch of innovative new products while driving improvements to existing products. This role manages project scope, schedules, budgets, resources, and execution throughout the product development lifecycle, ensuring alignment with business objectives and new product development processes. The position serves as the central point of coordination among engineering, manufacturing, marketing, finance, and other stakeholders, facilitating decision-making, resolving complex challenges, communicating project status to senior leadership, and removing obstacles to successful project completion. Through strong leadership and influence, the Senior NPD Project Leader fosters collaboration, drives continuous improvement, and delivers high-impact product development outcomes.

Specific Responsibilities:

Project Management:

• Lead projects of moderate to very high complexity, risk and business impact.
• Specialized depth of skills and experience in the product design & development process.
• Provide structure and leadership for solving technically complex design and business problems.
• Proactively identify and plan for project risks, communicating risk clearly, early and appropriately to management
• Identify, negotiate, and manage outside design and development firms.
• Assist with managing portfolio timing, resource planning and budgeting.

Leadership

• Mentor other project leaders and team members of other functional areas.
• Challenge project teams to achieve innovative solutions.
• Willing and successful in taking moderate risks.
• Teach others about cultural differences and how to work effectively across cultures.
• Identify opportunities for organizational and process change and implement change.
• Work effectively when organizational structure or processes are unclear or conflicting.
• Lead brainstorming discussions
• Able to facilitate & resolve conflict, including cross-cultural.

Decision-making

• Make decisions with high levels of ambiguity.
• Chooses appropriate action and alternatives with rationale that is consistent with facts, constraints, and predicted consequences.
• Take independent action with insight into both regional and global business impact.
• Willing to speak up and raise concern in regional and global settings

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a product development related discipline (e.g. Engineering, Manufacturing, Marketing, Industrial Design or Business). MBA is a plus.
• Five or more years of experience in concurrent product development.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is a plus.
• Two-to-five years of increasing responsibility for New Product Development project and personnel management involving a broad range of technologies and processes. 
• Must demonstrate an ability to build cohesive high-performance teams, improve design processes, and communicate effectively with associates and executives.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

The Salary range for this position is $98,900.00-$125,600.00.The specific Salary rate offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, their education, and the work location.

About Us

Rehlko proudly offers a rich history steeped in creativity and commitment to our associates and communities, along with competitive benefits and compensation. Our Purpose—Creating an energy resilient world for a better future—and Values: Curiosity, Trust, Pace, and Excellence, are important cultural components that shape the way we work and relate to one another. Learn more about Rehlko at http://www.rehlko.com/who-we-are.

In addition to the investment in your development, Rehlko offers a benefits package including a competitive salary, health, vision, dental, 401(k) with Rehlko matching, and more!?

Rehlko is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits discrimination and will make decisions regarding employment opportunities, including, but not limited to, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, discipline, and termination, without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, genetic information, age, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, caste, mental or physical disability, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political belief or affiliation, union membership status, military status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by national, state, local, or other applicable laws.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

 It is the policy of Rehlko to comply with all applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and corresponding national, state, local, or other applicable laws. Rehlko will not discriminate against any qualified associate or applicant with respect to any terms, privileges, or conditions of employment because of a person's physical or mental disability. Rehlko will provide a reasonable accommodation to associates or applicants with disabilities, in accordance with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require an accommodation in the application process or during the course of employment, please contact [email protected]. Rehlko is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Our Values

Curiosity – Seek, learn, share

Trust – Go farther together

Pace – Focus to go faster

Excellence – Find the win every day