Program Manager - Tailored Studios

Knoll Inc.; Holland (MI); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

MillerKnoll seeks a Program Manager for Tailored Studio to connect clients, Architecture and Design partners, dealers, Sales, and internal teams, shaping early conversations into design briefs and guiding work from exploration through development and delivery.

This role requires strong design sensitivity, curiosity, communication, and project leadership to balance timeline, cost, manufacturability, and long-term client value.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Design or Business.
• Minimum 5 years of experience with the design/development process.
• Minimum 2 years of project management experience.
• PMP or APMP certification preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication, and presentation experience.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and interact with various levels.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate across cross-functional partners to align design direction, feasibility, and business needs.
• Manage multiple active projects with clear communication and next-step alignment.
• Protect design intent while balancing timeline, manufacturability, and client value.
• Support complex client opportunities requiring design coordination and leadership.
• Maintain broad product knowledge across MillerKnoll brands to inform custom solutions.
• Identify roadblocks, clarify decisions, and communicate project status.
• Support design processes by interpreting intent and aligning stakeholders.
• Perform additional responsibilities to achieve business objectives.

Skills

Project management

Design development process

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Design or Business

Job description

Why join us? Our purpose is 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

Tailored Studio is MillerKnoll’s custom product design studio, helping clients and design partners translate unique workplace needs into thoughtful product solutions that extend the MillerKnoll design legacy.

Program Manager

The Program Manager serves as a key connection point between clients, Architecture and Design partners, dealers, Sales, Industrial Design, Engineering, Fulfillment, and other internal teams, shaping early conversations into clear design briefs and guiding work from exploration through development and delivery. This role requires strong design sensitivity, curiosity, communication, and project leadership to protect the original design intent while balancing timeline, cost, manufacturability, and long-term client value. Rather than approaching the work as a purely technical process, the Program Manager helps make complex custom opportunities feel clear, collaborative, and achievable.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinate across cross-functional partners to align design direction, technical feasibility, and business requirements.
• Manage multiple active projects and competing priorities while maintaining clear communication, timely follow-up, and alignment on next steps.
• Protect design intent while balancing timeline, manufacturability, and long-term client value.
• Support strategic and complex client opportunities requiring strong design coordination, project leadership, and clear communication across teams.
• Maintain broad product knowledge across the MillerKnoll collective of brands, including platforms, finishes, materials, and capabilities that can inform custom solutions.
• Identify roadblocks, clarify decisions, communicate project status, and help teams make informed tradeoffs throughout the development process.
• Support the design process by interpreting design intent, asking clarifying questions, organizing inputs, and helping align stakeholders around the desired product experience.
• Perform 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.

• Bachelors degree in Engineering, Design or Business.
• A minimum of 5 years experience with the Design/ development process.
• A minimum of 2 years project management experience.
• Engineering background a plus.
• PMP Certification (Project Management Professional) or APMP (Associate Product Management Professional) plus.
• Strong written/ verbal communication skills, and demonstrated experience with developing and delivering presentations.
• Proven ability to manage multiple competing priorities and demonstrate flexibility in project management.
• Proven ability to effectively interact with and at various levels of the organization (i.e. employees, visitors, vendors).
• Demonstrated strong time management, problem solving, planning and organization skills for success in a results-oriented environment.
• Must be self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership and mentoring abilities required.
• Requires initiative, business acumen, adaptability and tenacity to persevere in challenging assignments.
• Requires initiative, business acumen, adaptability and tenacity to persevere in challenging assignments.

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.

Who We Hire?

• Simply put, we hire qualified applicants representing a wide range of backgrounds and abilities.
• MillerKnoll is comprised of people of all abilities, gender identities and expressions, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, veterans from every branch of military service, and more. Here, you can bring your whole self to work.
• We’re committed to equal opportunity employment, including veterans and people with disabilities.
• This organization participates in E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification.
• MillerKnoll complies with applicable disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.

In general, MillerKnoll positions are closed within 45 days and are open for applications for a minimum of 5 days. We encourage our prospective candidates to submit their application(s) expediently so as not to miss out on our opportunities. We frequently post new opportunities and encourage prospective candidates to check back often for new postings.

MillerKnoll is a collective of design brands coming together to remake modern for the 21st century.

Want to be part of a team that’s making a positive impact? From creating spaces that help people live and work better to lifting our local and global communities, MillerKnoll is working hard to make a difference. Join us as we design a more equitable, sustainable, and beautiful future together.