Program Manager

Join us as we empower the world to work out, creating healthier lives together. The Program Manager is responsible for the cost, schedule, and performance of major cardiovascular and strength product development programs at Life Fitness / Hammer Strength. This role coordinates continuous improvement, product development, and systems engineering programs for consumer and commercial cardiovascular and strength equipment. The Program Manager leads programs through all phases of development, including proposal development, trade studies, preliminary design, fabrication, testing, performance evaluation, documentation, cost reduction, product improvement, and lifecycle maintenance.

The role requires effective collaboration with Life Fitness / Hammer Strength product management, senior leadership, subcontractors, development partners, and customers. The successful candidate should have experience leading electrical, mechanical, and software development programs, including management of internal and external cross‑functional teams. Experience working with overseas and domestic development partners is also expected.

• Organize, manage, and deliver major consumer or commercial cardiovascular and strength programs using the Product Development Process (PDP).
• Coordinate proposal preparation; establish and monitor master plans, budgets, and schedules for new development programs.
• Track program spending and product costs against approved plans.
• Generate and maintain program schedules; monitor actual progress against planned milestones.
• Direct the Program Development Team, which may include Purchasing, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing, and other functional areas.
• Manage all program phases from inception through completion and monitor work in progress to support program objectives.
• Oversee the development of design concepts and test criteria.
• Prepare program financial and functional status reports.
• Create and present design review packages to management.
• Assign clearly defined and prioritized work to team members.
• Coordinate and implement cost-reduction initiatives related to redesign and procurement.
• Coordinate resolution of service and manufacturing issues related to product design.
• Analyze the impact of schedule changes on affected functional areas.
• Recommend corrective actions, including schedule revisions, labor adjustments, funding allocations, and revised work requirements.
• Evaluate the technical impact of schedule changes against established plans and parameters; determine the most practical and cost-effective path forward.
• Identify issues before they become problems and recommend solutions.
• Prepare statements of work and negotiate technical details for subsystem designs with outside suppliers and customers.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in program management, engineering, business management, or a related scientific field is required.

• Ability to manage multiple programs and priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to plan for contingencies and determine when to implement them.
• Highly organized and process‑oriented approach to program execution.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to manage teams through challenging projects.
• Demonstrated track record of launching successful programs.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project, Excel, Word, SharePoint and PowerPoint.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Minimum of four years of product development experience.
• Minimum of two years of program management experience.

• Additional program management experience beyond the minimum requirement.
• Management experience with technical product development.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

At Life Fitness / Hammer Strength, we believe in taking care of our team with a comprehensive total rewards package that includes competitive pay and a range of valuable benefits. The salary range for this position, intended for U.S. applicants, is $93,000 - $135,900 annually. The actual salary will vary based on applicant’s education, experience, skills, and abilities. This position is eligible to…