Program Manager II

Danfoss; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13th salary

Annual bonus

Paid vacation

Pension plans

Personal insurance

Job summary

Danfoss is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead local or global cross-functional teams through all project phases—from initiation to closure. The role focuses on delivering the business case, improving NPD processes, and interfacing with key customers on complex product initiatives.

You will drive planning, risk management, and execution, while mentoring team members and building strong customer relationships in a matrix organization. Local and international collaboration is common.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a business or technical field.
• Minimum 5 years of project management or engineering experience.

Responsibilities

• Develops program management plans for medium complexity programs with a structured WBS and schedule.
• Drives program scope, staffing, and regular team meetings to ensure accountability.
• Communicates status to leadership and customers in a timely, transparent manner.

Skills

Project management

Engineering experience

Leadership

Communication

Education

Master's Degree in Business or a technical field

Tools

Project management tools

Job description

The Impact You'll Make

The Program Manager will lead a local or global cross functional project team over a period of time while initiating, planning, executing, monitoring & controlling and closing the project. Successfully deliver the business case. You will lead or assist in developing and continuously improving processes, guidelines and tools for new product development. The Program Manager handles projects with a medium risk level and local project team. Fluid conveyance program managers not only lead NPD projects but also work on product related initiatives directly interfacing with the customers, large size new business onboarding projects/platform launches with key customers and cost out VA/VE projects. Program Managers are responsible for the project success and the regular communication of the status of the project to the leadership teams. While leading a team they need to facilitate teamwork, navigate team members in a matrix organization, measure the project success, initiate corrective actions together with the team if needed, and build trust with our customers.

The Program Manager will lead a local or global cross functional project team over a period of time while initiating, planning, executing, monitoring & controlling and closing the project. Successfully deliver the business case. You will lead or assist in developing and continuously improving processes, guidelines and tools for new product development. The Program Manager handles projects with a medium risk level and local project team. Fluid conveyance program managers not only lead NPD projects but also work on product related initiatives directly interfacing with the customers, large size new business onboarding projects/platform launches with key customers and cost out VA/VE projects. Program Managers are responsible for the project success and the regular communication of the status of the project to the leadership teams. While leading a team they need to facilitate teamwork, navigate team members in a matrix organization, measure the project success, initiate corrective actions together with the team if needed, and build trust with our customers.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develops Program Management plans for medium complexity programs, including well-structured work breakdown structure (WBS) and program schedule built on cross functional input
• Ensures the program priority is understood and program is properly staffed
• Drives scope and scope change management as well as holds regularly scheduled team meetings with a focus on driving accountability and ensuring follow through against commitments and action items
• Uses tools to assess program health and trends (earned value (CPI/SPI), quality, technical performance, focus 5 and delivery)
• Identify, quantify and manage risks & opportunities and their respective mitigation and actions plans and actions
• Work directly with the customer to assess and validate customer wants, needs and pain points with others when needed
• Takes full accountability for programs and seeks to influence others. Effectively communicates in a timely & transparent manner with internal and external leaders, and customers
• Establishes strong relationships with cross-functional leadership and key customers at similar level
• Ensures the contract is well understood by the program team and adheres to the baseline change management
• Ensures requirements are clear and accurately captured in a robust Statement of Work (SoW) prior to baseline
• Execution and fulfillment of the business case. Has expanded beyond own functional domain knowledge and understands how the various parts of the organization operate to develop and launch product. Fully understands all aspects of the business case and how the program fits into the strategic product roadmap
• Clearly understands when events or changes impact the business case, communicates the impacts and drives the program team to make decisions based on the business impact
• Understands product, customer and development requirements and ensures they are considered during the program execution. Ensures scope and program execution enables a successful Entry-Into-Service (EIS)
• Inspires the team to meet commitments. Recognizes strengths & weaknesses and provides some mentoring and coaching of team members. Leads by example in a professional manner

Basic Qualifications

What We're Looking For

• Master's Degree in Business or a technical field
• Minimum 5 years project management or engineering experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Program Management Professional certification

Position Criteria

• Knows project management tools and follows up consistently
• Initiates corrective actions and changes in plans when necessary and adjusts actions and resources accordingly
• Anticipates, prepares for, and effectively deals with problems and roadblocks
• Fosters a harmonious, co-operative team atmosphere through open and honest dialogue
• Comfortable leading conversations directly with key external customers
• Embraces the complex as an opportunity & manages complex problems and is able to find a variety of solutions
• Builds a strong network, can support others to work more effectively in a matrix organization
• Manages cross divisional, international teams or projects independently with little formal authority
• Can handle responses to communication in an appropriate way
• Create involvement end commitment through empowerment (delegating responsibility), Monitors the effects of change initiatives and reviews them for effectiveness

What You'll Get From Us

• We promote from within and support your learning with mentoring, training, and access to global opportunities.
• You’ll have flexibility, autonomy, and support to do your best work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Your well-being matters to us.
• We strive to create an inclusive work environment where people of all backgrounds are respected, and valued for who they are.
• You’ll receive benefits like 13th salary, annual bonus, paid vacation, pension plans, personal insurance, and more. These vary by country and contract, but they’re worth asking about—we think they’re pretty great.

Our Commitment to Transparency

Salary ranges listed reflect only primary location and currency. For local salary ranges and specific benefits in your preferred hiring location, please ask your Talent Acquisition representative for more information.

The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Any benefits listed do not promise or guarantee any particular benefit or specific action. They may depend on country or contract specifics and are subject to change at any time without prior notice.

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected category.