3rd Party Manager - Supply Chain

GM•Kansas City, KS

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The 3rd Party Manager is responsible for leading launch and operational readiness activities for Value Added Assemblers (VAAs) supporting Fairfax Assembly. In this role, the successful candidate will serve as a primary liaison between GM, the VAA supplier, and the assembly plant to help ensure supplier readiness, launch execution, quality alignment, and material flow support. This role supports VAAs that assemble key modules such as suspensions, headliners, consoles, and tire and wheel assemblies for shipment in sequence to the GM assembly plant. The position is expected to treat the VAA as an extension of the assembly plant and ensure alignment to GM operating expectations, including GMS and BIQ principles.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent experience.
Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing operations, supply chain, assembly processes, program management, launch execution, or a related field.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and coordinate effectively across multiple stakeholders.
Experience using Microsoft Office tools such as Excel, PowerPoint, Project, and Word.
Ability to work off shifts, overtime, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Nice To Haves

Previous project lead experience with responsibility for timelines, status reporting, and cross-functional coordination.
Experience supporting launch, supplier readiness, sequencing, sub-assembly, or 3rd party manufacturing operations.
Exposure to automation execution and material flow automation concepts.
Knowledge of PFMEA, engineering change management, manufacturing requirements, and launch systems/processes.
Experience working with VAA suppliers, launch teams, and plant materials or supply chain functions.

Responsibilities

Lead strategy and execution activities for 3rd party VAA suppliers supporting program launch and plant readiness.
Serve as the primary liaison between Fairfax Assembly, the GM launch team, and VAA suppliers to drive readiness, issue resolution, and cross-functional alignment.
Manage contracts and support facility readiness, including ensuring the VAA building is available on time to meet launch timing.
Collaborate in VAA-led GSC MasterDot reviews and participate in RV Checklist reviews, taking ownership of related supply chain deliverables and actions.
Ensure the VAA validation plan supports the build schedule, including timing, restrictions, and acceleration needs.
Complete and manage Appendix H requirements, including broadcast window analysis and related supply chain readiness activities.
Ensure onboarding and training plans are in place and executed for production, quality, materials, and skilled trades support.
Drive hiring plan reviews with suppliers, including hourly and salaried manpower requirements, launch team staffing, timing plans, and retention considerations.
Review supplier training plans to confirm launch readiness across functional groups, including production, skilled trades, material operators, quality systems, and launch core team members.
Support material readiness by reviewing storage plans, floor space allocation, equipment strategy, mobile equipment requirements, safety processes, and launch PFEP development.
Partner with plant and supplier teams to maintain compliance to GM building, facility, safety, and material protection expectations.