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Associate Manager - CPD Mexico Technical Center

  • United States

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Job details

Experience
· Minimum of 10 years of experience in product design, product development, or sustaining engineering, preferably in consumer or engineered products.
Posting language
English
Posted

Original job description

Associate Manager - CPD Mexico Technical Center

Work Mode: Onsite, Nuevo Sur, Nuevo León The Manager – Engineering, serves as the engineering group leader for current product development activities for faucet products at the Mexico Technical Center. This role leads and develops a team of engineers focused on sustaining engineering, product optimization, cost reduction, quality improvement, regulatory compliance, and strategic engineering initiatives across the faucets portfolio. The manager acts as a key integrator across Centers of Excellence, regional Faucets Operations teams, and global cross-functional partners. In addition, this role serves as the Regional Dimensional Engineering Lead for Mexico, providing leadership and coordination across dimensional engineering and robust engineering workstreams. The role drives the regional deployment and adoption of dimensional engineering practices, methods, processes, tools, and capability-building programs, while connecting regional priorities and execution with the global Dimensional Engineering program. The position requires demonstrated experience leading people, New Product Development (NPD) projects, strategic cross-functional initiatives, and the deployment of engineering transformation programs such as Lean Product Development, Robust Engineering, or Dimensional Engineering.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

· Lead, manage, mentor, and develop a team of engineers and technical associates focused on faucet current product development and sustaining engineering. · Provide clear direction, coaching, performance feedback, succession development, prioritization, and accountability for delivery through others. · Lead strategic engineering initiatives that require alignment and execution across multiple functions, regions, and Centers of Excellence. · Lead CPD projects and engineering workstreams from concept through validation, launch, and post-launch stabilization, ensuring alignment with business, quality, cost, and timing objectives. · Apply and promote Lean Product Development principles to improve learning cycles, decision quality, collaboration, flow, and execution effectiveness. · Champion Dimensional Engineering initiatives, including dimensional strategy, variation management, GD&T application, tolerance analysis, measurement planning, and cross-functional design-to-manufacturing alignment. · Serve as the Regional Dimensional Engineering Lead for Mexico, translating global program priorities into regional deployment plans aligned with business, product, and capability needs. · Lead and coordinate regional Dimensional Engineering and Robust Engineering workstreams, ensuring alignment across development centers, product categories, operations teams, and technical subject-matter experts. · Establish and sustain coaching, mentoring, training, and competency-development programs that strengthen dimensional and robust engineering capabilities across engineering teams. · Drive the deployment, adoption, and continuous improvement of dimensional engineering methods, standards, processes, tools, and governance practices across the region. · Build practitioner and subject-matter-expert networks, facilitate knowledge sharing, and support teams in applying dimensional strategy, GD&T, tolerance analysis, variation management, measurement planning, and robust engineering methods to active programs. · Track deployment progress, capability advancement, practice adoption, and program effectiveness; identify gaps, remove barriers, and communicate priorities, risks, and results to regional and global leadership. · Oversee product changes including design updates, material and component changes, obsolescence management, supplier changes, and documentation updates. · Guide multiple concurrent engineering workstreams and ensure robust decision-making, risk identification, and timely escalation. · Ensure engineering solutions are developed and validated using DFMEA, risk assessments, design verification, testing, structured problem-solving, and robust engineering practices. · Own engineering deliverables related to product specifications, regulatory compliance, reliability, quality, and performance. · Guide staff in the use of standard engineering tools and methods such as CAD (Creo), GD&T, DFMEA, FEA, validation planning, and engineering data management. · Act as the primary engineering interface between MTC, regional Faucets Operations teams, and global Centers of Excellence. · Partner with Marketing, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, VA/VE, Codes & Standards, Program Management, Manufacturing, and other supporting functions. · Analyze warranty, quality, cost, and performance data to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities. · Drive continuous improvement in products, processes, engineering tools, talent capabilities, and execution systems. · Manage engineering capacity, project portfolio priorities, and resource allocation in alignment with business needs. · Prepare and deliver executive-level presentations on engineering progress, strategic initiatives, risks, decisions, and improvement proposals. · Build strong internal networks and foster collaboration across regions and functions. · Occasional domestic and international travel as required.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Leadership and People Development · Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, and developing engineering professionals and teams. · Strong coaching, performance management, talent development, delegation, and succession-planning skills. · Ability to establish direction, build accountability, and deliver results through others. · Ability to lead through influence in a matrixed, global organization.

Strategic and Cross-Functional Leadership · Proven record of leading strategic initiatives with measurable business or organizational impact. · Demonstrated ability to align diverse stakeholders, resolve competing priorities, and drive cross-functional execution. · Ability to translate business priorities into engineering strategies, roadmaps, and executable plans.

Engineering Excellence and Transformation · Strong foundation in mechanical product development, current product development, and sustaining engineering. · Familiarity with Lean Product Development principles, learning cycles, visual management, knowledge capture, and flow-based execution. · Familiarity with Dimensional Engineering initiatives, including GD&T, tolerance analysis, variation management, dimensional validation, and measurement strategy. · Working knowledge of CAD systems (Creo preferred), GD&T, DFMEA, FEA, validation/testing, and structured problem-solving. · Ability to guide teams in applying robust engineering practices and technical rigor. · Ability to translate global engineering strategies into practical regional deployment plans, governance routines, measurable adoption targets, and prioritized capability roadmaps. · Demonstrated ability to lead organizational capability building through coaching, mentoring, formal training, practitioner networks, standard work, and sustained adoption of engineering methods.

Program Execution and Data Management · Demonstrated experience leading projects or major engineering programs involving cross-functional teams. · Strong program management, portfolio prioritization, risk management, and resource-planning skills. · Data-driven mindset with the ability to analyze quality, cost, warranty, schedule, and performance metrics. · Ability to manage multiple projects with competing priorities.

Communication and Influence · Strong verbal and written communication skills. · Ability to communicate complex technical information and strategic recommendations to senior leadership. · Confident presenter capable of influencing decisions and gaining alignment across functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

· Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent from an accredited institution required. · Master’s degree in Science, Engineering, Business, or Management is considered a value-added qualification. · Minimum of 10 years of experience in product design, product development, or sustaining engineering, preferably in consumer or engineered products. · Minimum of 2 years of experience leading engineering teams, directly or indirectly, with responsibility for coaching, prioritization, talent development, accountability, and delivery through others. · Demonstrated experience leading strategic initiatives involving multiple functions or regions. · Experience developing and deploying training, coaching, mentoring, standards, processes, and tools to build sustainable engineering capability and adoption across multiple teams or sites. · Demonstrated experience driving the execution and deployment of an engineering transformation or capability-development program in a complex organization, such as Lean Product Development, Robust Engineering, Dimensional Engineering, Design for Six Sigma, or a comparable system. · Demonstrated experience leading NPD projects or complex engineering programs from concept through launch or implementation. · Experience applying or working within Lean Product Development systems or practices is preferred. · Experience supporting or leading Dimensional Engineering, GD&T, tolerance analysis, variation reduction, or dimensional validation initiatives is preferred. · Experience with CAD systems (Creo preferred) and engineering data management systems (SAP preferred). · Experience with DFMEA, product validation/testing, quality systems, and regulatory compliance. · Experience with faucets, plumbing products, or consumer durables is preferred.

Why Choose Kohler?

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 more than 30,000 bold leaders across the globe, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.

About Us

It is Kohler’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. If, as an individual with a disability, you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact kohlerjobs@kohler.com. Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

More about this job

Skills

  • Coaching
  • Prioritization
  • Process improvement
  • Leadership
  • Documentation
  • Decision making
  • Problem solving
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Guide staff
  • PTC Creo
  • FEA
  • Data management
  • Supply chain management
  • Program management
  • Presentation skills
  • Performance management
  • Risk management
  • Communication skills
  • Mechanical engineering
  • Lean manufacturing
  • SAP
  • Quality control systems
  • Plumbing

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