NPI (New Product Introduction) Merchandising Manager

Job description

Requisition ID

73693 About Whirlpool Corporation Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is a leading home appliance company, in constant pursuit of improving life at home. As the only major U.S.-based manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances, the company is driving meaningful innovation to meet the evolving needs of consumers through its iconic brand portfolio, including Whirlpool, KitchenAid, JennAir, Maytag, Amana, Brastemp, Consul, and InSinkErator.

In 2025, the company reported approximately $16 billion in annual net sales - close to 90% of which were in the Americas - 41,000 employees, and 35 manufacturing and technology research centers. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com.

This role in summary The NPI (New Product Introduction) Merchandising Manager plays a critical role in de-risking and maximizing the commercial and financial success of KitchenAid Small Appliances product launches by establishing a systematic, data-driven framework for pre- and post-launch execution. Reporting directly to the Commercial Strategy & Analytics Senior Manager, this role collaborates with Category Merchandising Managers to rigorously vet baseline commercial assumptions and execute flawless GTM (Go-To-Market) strategies.

Your responsibilities will include

• Establish and lead a standardized, repeatable management system to govern and track all pre- and post-launch activities across the NPI (New Product Introduction) lifecycle.
• Map out timeline milestones, line review schedules, and asset requirements—including digital, POS (Point of Sale), and marketing content—across cross-functional partners.
• Identify early-warning variances against launch milestones, proactively developing and executing gap-closure action plans.
• Serve as the primary Merchandising lead for MLR (Merchandising Leadership Review) launch tollgate reviews, enforcing stage-gate governance and cross-functional readiness criteria.
• Embed rigorous commercial modeling into the pre-launch pipeline to validate business case assumptions prior to G2 (Gate 2) investment approval.
• Partner with Category Merchandising Managers and Sales to define launch positioning, pricing, promotional depth, trade spend allocations, and high-margin retailer exclusivity agreements.
• Establish post-launch reporting to monitor sell-through metrics, market share capture, and margin realization against baseline targets.
• Conduct post-launch performance reviews to capture learnings, optimize ongoing promotional cadence, and refine assumptions for future NPI (New Product Introduction) pipelines.

Minimum requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 3+ years of data analysis experience

Preferred skills and experiences

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• 5+ years of experience in Merchandising Strategy, Retail Analytics, Category Management, or Product Commercialization / NPI (New Product Introduction) within CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) or Consumer Durables
• Proven ability to establish governance, stage-gate tollgates, and cross-functional management systems under tight timelines and high organizational visibility.
• Strong knowledge of retail channel dynamics, line review cadences, promotional mechanics, and retail exclusivity strategies.
• Demonstrated executive presentation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Strong strategic mindset with high proficiency in turning complex commercial data into actionable go-to-market strategies.

What we offer Generous benefits package, Whirlpool employee discount, fitness & educational reimbursement programs, kitchenettes, and more!

Saint Joseph/Benton Harbor locations

Beautiful, recently renovated office space, free coffee, biking/walking trails, and access to The Eddy - Early Childhood Center (depending upon availability - additional costs required).

Additional information Whirlpool’s Ways of Working

Our goal is to provide an environment that helps you bring your best to Whirlpool every day. We offer flexibility and industry-leading time-off benefits that will help you balance what’s important at work and at home, including:

• Always On Flexibility \- You will have the autonomy to manage personal, family, and outside-of-work commitments as needed.
• Two-Week Work from Anywhere \- Minimum of one-week increments for a total of two weeks per year.
• Sabbatical \- Four weeks paid leave after every five years of service. Connect with us and learn more about Whirlpool Corporation See what it's like to work at Whirlpool by visiting Whirlpool Careers.

Additional information about the company can be found on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Whirlpool Corporation is committed to equal employment opportunity and prohibits any discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable law. #LI-JR1