Project Leader- New Product Development

Sterling Kohler; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK manufacturer in Cheltenham is seeking a Project Leader for New Product Development (NPD). This hybrid role requires a proactive individual to manage end-to-end project delivery, engage with cross-functional teams, and ensure timely and quality outcomes. Candidates should have at least 2 years of experience in a technical discipline, strong communication skills, and the ability to manage budgets. The salary is competitive, up to £52k, with excellent benefits including company bonuses and discounts.

Benefits

Cycle to work scheme

EV leasing

Staff discounts

Company bonuses

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years' experience managing NPD projects within a technical/engineering discipline.
• Experience with cost management and project budgets.
• Strong project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of NPD projects.
• Manage cross-functional teams to meet project timelines and objectives.
• Identify and mitigate project risks.

Skills

Project management

Excellent communication skills

Budget management

Cross-functional team leadership

Education

HND, degree, or masters

Tools

MS Project

MS Office suite

Job description

Project Leader - New Product Development

Hybrid Role with 3 days onsite in Cheltenham

Salary up to £52k (subject to skills & experience), plus a fantastic benefits package including cycle to work, EV leasing, staff discounts and company bonuses.

Designing award-winning products for our market-leading brands – Mira Showers, Rada and Recoup – is our lifeblood. We focus on investment, investing in the best technology and resources available and investing in each and every individual. Put simply, it’s who we are. Whether you arrive at our factories in Cheltenham or Hull, have a visit from a Service Engineer or pick up the phone to our Customer Service team, you’ll instantly see that, no matter our department or location, we all share the same values at Kohler Mira.

From day one you are part of the Kohler Mira community – a collaborative, forward focused team with a shared pride in our work and commitment to delight our customers and inspire our people. To set the trajectory of Mira’s future success, we are looking for a Project Leader who can collaborate and innovate to facilitate speed to market.

Position Summary

We’re looking for more than just a strong project manager – we need a Project Leader to join our industry-leading New Product Development (NPD) team.

Responsibilities

• Be accountable for the end-to-end delivery of NPD Projects (from concept through to production). As part of the NPD team, your key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
• Along with the support of the programme team, will be accountable for translating project requirements into tangible deliverables.
• Successfully own, lead and deliver entire projects in terms of quality, time, and cost.
• Manage cross-functional teams to ensure their alignment & commitment to delivering to agreed timelines & objectives.
• Ensure the team is fully engaged, motivated & meeting their required milestones & deliverables as outlined in the Mira business process.
• Facilitate regular cross functional meetings, workshops & ad hoc reviews, to ensure regular alignment & manage any project conflict.
• Ensure all issues & risks are identified, tracked, owned & mitigated, escalating where required.
• Introduce changes, driving local improvement and best practice.
• Lead by example in using fact-based decision making, achieving timely consensus within the team, and avoiding over-analysis.
• Manage project revenue & capital budgets.
• Prepare all documentation for phase gate reviews.

Behaviours

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to be assertive but sensitive.
• Build strong, influential working relationships, inspiring trust amongst colleagues.
• Be a positive & resilient leader, especially during challenging times, to stay focused on resolution.
• Are happy to challenge project teams to achieve innovative solutions & take moderate risk.
• Are comfortable with change, identifying & implementing improvements within the team or whilst considering the impact on the wider business.
• Embrace ambiguity when Kohler organisational structures or processes are different, unclear, or conflicting.
• Address issues and concerns in a professional manner, creating an environment of openness and honesty.

Skills | Requirements

• Apprenticeship or higher education (e.g., HND, degree, masters)
• A minimum of 2 years’ experience of managing NPD projects within a technical/engineering discipline
• A good understanding of cost build‑up & managing project budgets
• MS Project & MS Office suite

Nice to have but not necessary:

• Experience within a product development related discipline (engineering, product design, or manufacturing)
• Prince 2 or equivalent
• Good understanding of master data & product BOM structure

What We Offer

We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With a genuine commitment to creating better tomorrows, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.

About Us

In the UK, Kohler Mira Ltd. is made up of three market leading brands: Mira Showers, Rada Controls, and Recoup. Where our brands differ in market position, they are equal in their commitment to design, innovation, and providing a single level of quality regardless of price.

Kohler Mira is committed to diversity and inclusion to drive our business results and create a better future every day for our diverse associates, consumers, partners, and global communities. As an equal opportunities employer, it is Kohler Mira’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified people in all job classifications without prejudice. If you require adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability, please contact [e-mail].

Note for Recruitment Agencies: The Kohler Talent Acquisition team is responsible for managing all current vacancies through direct hiring and referrals wherever possible. We do work with recruitment agencies, and where we require external support, we will formally release those vacancies to the agencies on our Preferred Supplier List deemed best placed to assist us. Speculative CVs sent by any agency to Kohler Co. without a specific request by our Talent Acquisition Team will not be accepted and with no introduction fee applicable.

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