Program Director - Technical Writing and NPI Commercialization

Join the world's largest HVAC company, named by Forbes as one of America's Best-In-State Employers 2025!Make your mark at the world’s largest HVAC companyDaikin Applied is seeking aTechnical Writing Director who is a strategic, cross functional leader responsible for shaping how Daikin brings HVAC solutions to market. This role oversees a team of technical writers and illustrators who produce installation and maintenance manuals, 3D graphics and animations, and other technical documentation that meets the highest standards of clarity, compliance, and customer usability. Beyond documentation leadership, this role serves as the central orchestrator of the commercialization workstream for new product introductions (NPI). Acting as the lead facilitator between Marketing, Training, Engineering, Product Management, Technical Writing, Parts, the Technical Response Center, and the Product Selection Software team, the Program Director ensures that every team receives the right inputs, at the right time, to deliver a fully ready, coordinated product launch. This is a high visibility role that drives consistency, readiness, and excellence across the entire product lifecycle. Come be a part of an exciting journey at Daikin Applied, where innovation and excellence drive ourevery endeavor!Location: Remote, NYWhat you will do:Provide strategic leadership for Technical Writing and Illustration functions, setting vision, priorities, and long‑term direction aligned to business and product strategiesEstablish and enforce documentation governance, quality standards, and best practices to ensure clarity, accuracy, regulatory compliance, and a consistent customer experienceOversee end‑to‑end delivery of all customer‑facing documentation, including installation manuals, service guides, wiring diagrams, quick start guides, and control system documentationPartner with Engineering, Product Management, and Marketing by translating complex technical concepts into clear, user‑focused content that drives customer successOwn the NPI commercialization workstream, providing strong program leadership to ensure cross‑functional readiness and flawless execution for all product launchesServe as the central point of accountability and escalation for commercialization activities across Technical Writing, Training, Parts, Technical Response, Marketing, Software, and Product teamsDrive alignment and decision‑making across cross‑functional stakeholders, ensuring timely delivery of all customer‑facing assets in support of launch commitmentsStandardize and mature NPI and documentation processes to improve predictability, efficiency, and launch excellence at enterprise scaleChampion continuous improvement initiatives that enhance documentation quality, cycle time, scalability, and team effectivenessAdvocate for and lead adoption of systems, tools, and platforms that improve workflow automation, version control, content reuse, and team productivityDefine, monitor, and communicate KPIs related to documentation quality, cycle times, NPI readiness, and cross‑functional performance to senior leadershipLead a high‑performing team of technical writers, editors, and illustrators, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvementWhat’s in it for you: The ability to make an impact and shape your career with a company that is passionate about growthThe support of an organization that believes it is vital to include and engage diverse people, perspectives, and ideas to achieve our bestMinimum Qualifications:Bachelor's degree or Equivalent Experience in liberal arts, journalism, communications or marketing12 years of experience in technical documentation, product commercialization, or program management8 + years of people leadership experienceProven experience managing creative or technical writing teamsStrong understanding of product development and NPI lifecycle processesExceptional program management and cross‑functional leadership skillsAbility to translate highly technical information into clear, user‑centric communicationsStrong organizational and communication skills with the ability to influence at all levelsKnowledge of commercial HVAC equipment technologies or related B2B equipment marketsExceptional communication and presentation abilitiesAbility to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlinesCollaborative mindset with the ability to build relationships across teams and external partnersWork visa sponsorship is not available for this positionPreferred Qualifications:Masters Degree15+ years; incl 10+ years people leadership experience in the HVAC, data center industry or related technology sectorsBenefits:Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance 401K retirement plan with employer contributions matching 100% of the first 3% of employee contributions and 50% o