KASA Project Manager / Project Leader (Manager, PLO)

Whirlpool Corporation; Benton Harbor (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Whirlpool Corporation is seeking a Project/Program Manager in Michigan to lead cross-functional teams within the Product Leadership Office, delivering launches with speed, quality, and efficiency. The role focuses on applying the Whirlpool Product Development system and aligning stakeholders to drive disciplined execution.

The Project Manager will also lead initiatives for the KASA Test Kitchen, validating new category entries and enabling growth with strong governance and clear decision-making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field (minimum).
• Proven experience leading cross-functional project teams in product development or related industries.
• Demonstrated expertise in structured product development processes (WPD or equivalent).
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills; ability to align diverse functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional project teams with accountability for scope, timing, cost, quality, and consumer outcomes.
• Apply the Whirlpool Product Development process with discipline and judgment; coach teams on stage-rigor and governance.
• Translate category strategies into actionable project plans balancing scope, timing, cost, quality, and consumer impact.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Communication

Business acumen

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field

PMI PMP Certification

PMI Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM) Certification

Job description

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, MayTag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator. In 2025, the company reported approximately $16 billion in annual net sales - close to 90% of which were in the Americas - 41,000 employees, and 35 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

The team you will be a part of

The Product Delivery team plans and prepares manufacturing production schedules and departmental workflows to establish sequence and lead time of production operation to meet shipping dates. Expedites operations that delay schedules and alters schedules to meet unforeseen conditions. Analyzes plant capacity and production requisition data to determine processes and resources; prepares production reports.

This Role In Summary

Kitchenaid Small Appliances (KASA) is currently seeking qualified candidates for our Project Leadership Office (PLO) as Project/Program Manager. The role is based at our Global Head Quarters located in Michigan, US. The Manager in the Project Leadership Office (PLO) leads cross-functional teams to deliver consumer relevant launches with speed, quality, and efficiency. The Project Manager drives the consistent application of the Whirlpool Product Development (WPD) system to enable disciplined execution and predictability, while enabling flexibility to meet consumer and business needs. Acting as a business integrator, the PLO Manager aligns stakeholders, clarifies ownership, and drives transparent decision-making, translating category strategies into actionable plans that balance scope, timing, cost, quality, and consumer impact while building trust, followership, and creating a culture of accountability that delivers meaningful outcomes for both consumers and the business. Additionally, this role will act as a project leader for the KASA Test Kitchen, a strategic initiative to validate and de-risk new category entry into the small appliances space, ensuring that KASA can rapidly and systematically pursue its growth ambition.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Lead cross-functional project teams with clarity, ensuring accountability for scope, timing, cost, quality, consumer outcomes, and delivery against the business commitments.
• Apply the Whirlpool Product Development process with discipline and judgment, coaching teams on stage-rigor, deliverables, and governance while tailoring execution to project risk and complexity.
• Connect project execution to business outcomes by understanding the business case, defining success measures, and challenging assumptions when project decisions put expected consumers or business outcomes at risk.
• Lead and operationalize early-stage Advanced Development Projects (ADP) to de-risk execution, comfortably operating 'in the grey' to orchestrate the team through validating desirability, feasibility, and viability before business case commitment.
• Translate enterprise strategy and category priorities into actionable project plans, frame options, trade-offs, and recommendations to enable timely leadership decisions.
• Anticipate risks, elevate with transparency, and drive resolution through data-based decisions.
• Build strong followership by creating psychological safety, modeling straight talk, and empowering team members to take ownership.
• Partner with category leaders, Marketing, Engineering, Brand and Operations to ensure launches are consumer-centric and business-viable.
• Manage stakeholder relationships proactively—aligning cross-functional leaders, clarifying decision ownership, and ensuring transparency of status, risks, and trade-offs.
• Continuously improve ways of working, leveraging Lean/CI methodologies to reduce waste and increase predictability.
• Ability to travel 1-2 times per year to OEM supplier sites is required to provide on-site project oversight, conduct quality assurance and production reviews, and maintain strong working relationships at all critical project phases.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field
• Proven experience leading cross-functional project teams within consumer product development or related industries.
• Demonstrated expertise in structured product development processes (WPD or equivalent).
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with proven ability to align diverse functions and geographies.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity, connect multiple sources of information, challenge assumptions, and translate complex business problems into clear recommendations and actions.
• Business acumen with financial fluency (NPV, ROI, payback, etc.) to connect project outcomes to enterprise impact.
• Strong critical thinking and business judgment, with the ability to ask incisive questions, and influence decisions without direct authority.

Preferred Skills And Experiences

• Language skills: English
• Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification and/or Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM) Certification, both granted by Project Management Institute (PMI).
• 3 - 5 years of experience in Consumer/Durable Goods Sector Product Development. Experience in the Home Appliance industry.

Leadership Behaviors

• Serve & Build: Builds followership through empowerment, straight talk, and a commitment to team success.
  • Lead with Impact: Aligns cross-functional priorities, drives clarity in decision-making, and ensures launches deliver meaningful business and consumer outcomes.
  • Accountability & Trust: Holds teams and self accountable, creating an environment of transparency and psychological safety.

Connect with us and learn more about Whirlpool Corporation. See what it's like to work at Whirlpool by visiting Whirlpool Careers. Additional information about the company can be found on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Whirlpool Corporation is committed to equal employment opportunity and prohibits any discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable law.