Program Manager NPI (51688)

Gradian is an engineering-led, full-line thermal solutions partner serving data center and other mission-critical, commercial, and industrial markets. Headquartered in Maple Grove, MN, with additional facilities across North America, we design and manufacture liquid cooling systems, air handling equipment, heat rejection units, and modular, factory-assembled thermal management solutions.
Gradian was founded through the unification of four complementary, established brands: MAS HVAC, Daedex, DeepCoolAI, and EcoChillers. Together, we act as a single-source provider, deploying cooling technologies as scalable systems optimized for efficiency, spatial constraints, and overall performance. With a vertically integrated engineering and manufacturing model, we pair rapid design turnaround with precision fabrication, so customers can move faster on complex projects where reliability, timeline, and quality all matter.

Why work here:
At Gradian, you'll work alongside others who get genuinely fired up by complex problems, see your work go from first sketch to job site in weeks, not years, and know that while we're developing the technologies critical for AI infrastructure to scale, our culture remains people-first by design.
It is core to our identity that we operate as one team — driving to win together, energizing others, and building lasting relationships that make the work fun and rewarding.

Position Summary:
The Material Program Manager (MPM) serves as the primary supply chain leader for assigned customer programs, ensuring material readiness, and successful execution from product development through production. The MPM drives cross-functional alignment between Engineering, Strategic Sourcing, Planning, and Operations to ensure products are launched on schedule, material is available to support customer commitments, and program margins remain on target. Throughout Gradian's NPD process, the MPM provides supply chain input to ensure designs align with supplier capabilities, lead-time requirements, and cost objectives, while identifying sourcing risks and partnering with Strategic Sourcing to develop effective solutions.
Key Responsibilities:
•    Own and drive the job lifecycle process, ensuring all stage-gate milestones are achieved on time and in accordance with company lead times.
•    Ensure timely completion of customer submittals, BOM releases, supplier engagement, purchasing, and material planning activities.
•    Lead material readiness reviews and drive Clean-to-Build execution.
•    Partner with Engineering during NPD to ensure designs support cost, lead-time, manufacturability, and supply chain objectives.
•    Communicate supply chain requirements, risks, and gaps to Strategic Sourcing to support category strategy development.
•    Ensure timely completion of customer submittals, BOM releases, supplier engagement, purchasing, and material planning activities.
•    Monitor material cost performance, PPV, and margin impacts throughout the program lifecycle.
•    Develop and maintain program dashboards, readiness metrics, and status reporting.

Qualifications & Requirements:
Required:
•    Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
•    7+ years of experience in Supply Chain, Sourcing, Program Management, Materials, Operations, or a related manufacturing function.
•    Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to drive execution across cross-functional teams.
•    Strong analytical skills with experience monitoring cost performance, PPV, and program margin impacts.
•    Experience supporting new product development, product launches, or engineered-to-order manufacturing environments
•    Excellent communication and influencing skills with the ability to drive alignment across Engineering, Strategic Sourcing, Planning, Operations, and Program Management. 
•    Self-motivated and capable of delivering results in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Preferred:
•    Experience within data center infrastructure, thermal management, HVAC, liquid cooling, or other complex engineered product industries. 
•    Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and product structures. 
•    Experience with stage-gate product development processes and new product introductions. 
•    Experience working with ERP systems such as NetSuite, Oracle, SAP, or equivalent platforms. 
•    APICS/ASCM, PMP, CPSM, or other relevant professional certifications.
•    Masters Degree (Operations/Supply Chain)

Benefits:

• Medical, vision, and dental plans
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Group term life insurance coverage
• HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care plans available
• 8 paid holidays, 4 floating holidays, and generous PTO policy
• 401k matching
• Company paid events
• Annual safety shoe allowance
• Education assistance progra

EEO Statement:

Gradian Thermal Solutions is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other legally protected status.

Employment decisions at Gradian are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind and actively promote a culture of fairness, equity, and opportunity.

We also provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances, in accordance with applicable laws.