Senior Program Manager Robotics

Tennant Company; Eden Prairie (MN); On-site; USD 132,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Paid vacation

8 paid company holidays

3 personal holidays

Dental & vision coverage

Wellness rewards

Family support programs

Disability & life insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Tennant Company in Eden Prairie, MN is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead complex robotics product development programs from concept initiation through post-launch delivery.

The role requires 7+ years in product development with 3+ years leading cross-functional teams; BS/BA degree; strong leadership and financial acumen to manage scope, schedule, and ROI across engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is required; knowledge of engineering fundamentals is necessary.
• Minimum of 7+ years experience in a product development environment, with 3+ years experience leading cross-functional teams.
• Strong leadership and team building skills; ability to lead through ambiguity and promote collaborative decision-making.
• Capability to leverage basic financial tools in making project decisions based on ROI and other financial metrics (e.g., ROI, NPV, IRR).
• Exceptional planning and management skills with cross-functional perspective across engineering, marketing, procurement, sales, and service.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional product development teams from concept initiation through post-launch delivery.
• Provide governance, leadership, and decision-making for tradeoffs and risks.
• Manage overall schedule and cost performance; coordinate documentation and align budget across R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, and customer-facing teams.
• Identify risks and drive resolution with the core team, escalating as appropriate.
• Develop and implement new product development processes and communicate program status to stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Financial acumen

Risk management

Communication

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Location: United States - Eden Prairie, MN

Pay: $132,400 - $205,100

With more than $1B in revenue, Tennant Company is a globally recognized leader in the cleaning equipment industry. For the past 150 years, we have been passionate about developing and manufacturing innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers. At Tennant Company, we are committed to stewardship and creating a cleaner, safer and healthier world. With manufacturing, operations and sales, service, and support functions across the globe, your journey at Tennant can take you places you never expected.

We are seeking a highly motivated and execution-focused Senior Program Manager to lead complex product development programs for the TNC Robotics. This pivotal role is the governance and cross-functional coordination engine accountable for driving the rigorous execution of the robotics product roadmap from concept initiation through post-launch delivery.

The Senior Program Manager is accountable for the overall leadership and success of their assigned programs. Success is measured by program performance as defined by metrics related to schedule, cost, quality, and ROI, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and on scope.

Key Responsibilities

The Senior Program Manager is accountable for rigorous program leadership, execution rigor, and comprehensive governance throughout the product lifecycle:

• Program Leadership & Planning: Lead highly motivated cross-functional product development teams comprised of members from all disciplines, including Engineering, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain and Sales. Develop and execute comprehensive product development plans that align with product and departmental strategies.
• Execution, Governance & Decision-Making: Lead teams through the proper governance processes, ensuring information is available for sound decisions on tradeoffs and risks. Manage stakeholder needs and expectations by effectively facilitating tradeoff decisions.
• Schedule, Budget & Resource Control: Accountable for the overall schedule and cost performance of the program. Coordinate program documentation required by the product development process, including gate review materials and presentations. Align people, budget, and capacity across R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, and customer-facing teams.
• Risk & Issue Management: Objectively evaluate risks to program objectives. Identify technical, financial, partner, or schedule risks and drive resolution with the core team, escalating as appropriate.
• Process Oversight & Communication: Lead the creation, documentation, and implementation of new product development processes and improvements as required. Provide transparent and timely updates to stakeholders and effectively communicate all aspects of program status, including risks/issues threatening program deliverables.

Education & KSAs

• Education: Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is required. Knowledge of engineering fundamentals is necessary.
• Experience: Minimum of 7+ years experience in a product development environment, with 3+ years experience leading cross-functional teams. Strong project planning / management experiences are highly desirable.
• Leadership & Drives Results: Strong leadership and team building skills. Ability to effectively lead through ambiguity and promote collaborative decision-making. Proven capability to consistently achieve commitments.
• Financial Acumen: Capability to leverage basic financial tools in making project decisions based on ROI and other financial metrics (e.g., NPV, IRR).
• Process Mastery & Collaboration: Exceptional planning and management skills using industry standard tools and methods. Exceptional cross-functional perspective including engineering, marketing, procurement, sales, and service.

Capabilities

• Decision-Making Under Pressure: Skilled in balancing competing priorities to make informed, timely decisions that uphold program objectives.
• Risk and Opportunity Management: Knowledge of structured risk identification and mitigation processes that enable proactive course correction.
• Creative Problem Solving: Ability to challenge assumptions, stimulate innovative thinking, and drive the team toward inventive, practical solutions under constraints.
• Leadership and Influence: Capable of inspiring cross-functional teams, fostering accountability, and gaining alignment among diverse technical and business stakeholders.
• Integrate Cross-Functional Inputs: Ability to synthesize insights from engineering, finance, supply chain, and operations into cohesive, actionable plans.
• Sustain Momentum and Morale: Capable of motivating teams through ambiguity and challenges to sustain high performance and engagement.

Total Compensation = Pay range + Benefits

Posted salary ranges are made in good faith. Tennant Co. reserves the right to adjust ranges depending on the experience/qualifications of the selected candidate as well as internal and external equity. The salary range reflects both entry into the role and future growth. Total Compensation = Base Salary + Benefits

Benefits = A comprehensive benefits package including multiple medical plan options, 401(k) with a 100% match up to 6%, paid vacation time, 8 paid company holidays and 3 personal holidays dental and vision coverage, wellness rewards, robust family support programs, companypaid disability and life insurance, and a full Employee Assistance Program.

Defining Our Employee Value Proposition

At Tennant Company, we... Discover fulfilling work with opportunities for growth and meaningful recognition. Drive the quality and innovation our customers rely on in our products and services. Connect with people who care about each other, our brands and our communities.

These are the principles that define how our employees experience Tennant Company, make Tennant a great place to grow your career, and are at the core of our legacy and future.Together, they serve as guideposts for working with our customers, our partners and one another.

Begin your journey with us. Let's reinvent how the world cleans.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Tennant Company is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made on the basis of individual skill, ability, reliability, productivity, and other factors important to performance. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or any other basis protected by state or federal law or local ordinance.