Automotive Program Manager (Bilingual in Korean)

Cesna Recruitment•Troy, MI

About The Position

The Automotive Program Manager will serve as the primary point of contact for customers on assigned programs, leading all program-related communications and ensuring prompt and effective resolution of business-related issues. This role involves acting as a liaison between customers and internal teams, coordinating closely with Headquarters (HQ) to monitor and resolve issues, and providing regular updates on project status. The manager will analyze customer requirements, provide tailored solutions for business and engineering challenges, and assist customers in resolving technical and operational issues. A key aspect of this role is program leadership and ownership across the full product lifecycle, from award to post-production, leading cross-functional teams to achieve objectives related to timing, quality, and customer satisfaction. This includes establishing and monitoring program plans, facilitating meetings, and delivering business results that meet or exceed expectations. The role also involves managing the global Change Management process, the Series Production phase, and ensuring compliance with automotive standards and quality systems. Business travel to manufacturing sites or HQ is expected to support customer visits and project reviews.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required, or equivalent experience (three additional years of relevant technical experience in degree). A technical or engineering degree is strongly preferred.
Minimum of 5 years of program management experience within the automotive industry, with a demonstrated record of successful program execution.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex programs across multiple phases of the product lifecycle.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
Familiarity with project management tools and software.
Solid understanding of automotive product development processes and cross-functional engineering practices.
Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to drive results in a global environment.
Ability to communicate effectively with global clients and internal teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience coaching or developing project and/or program managers is preferred.
Project Management certification is preferred.
Prior experience in a Program manager or Design release engineer environment is a plus.
Bilingual in Korean and English preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the first point of contact for any business-related issues, ensuring prompt and effective resolution.
Function as a liaison between customers and internal teams, facilitating clear and timely communication.
Work closely with HQ to monitor and resolve issues, ensuring alignment with company policies and procedures.
Provide regular updates to HQ on project status, customer feedback, and potential challenges.
Clarify customer requirements through detailed discussions and documentation.
Provide tailored solutions to address both business and engineering-related challenges.
Assist customers in resolving technical and operational issues, ensuring smooth project execution.
Collaborate with engineering teams to develop and implement effective solutions.
Own and manage assigned programs across the full product lifecycle, including program award, development, supplier selection, launch, series production, post-production performances and lessons learned, in alignment with our product delivery process lead and coordinate multi-disciplinary, cross functional teams to achieve program objectives related to timing, quality and customer satisfaction.
Establish, maintain, and monitor top-level programs plans, including customer milestones, internal deliverables, and resource requirements.
Serve as the primary point of contact for customers on assigned programs, leading all program-related communications.
Build strong customer relationships and represent with professionalism, accountability, and transparency.
Participate in lessons learned analyses for both awarded and lost business opportunities.
Arrange and facilitate meetings for design, innovative technology promotion, process, and business discussions between us and customers.
Ensure all stakeholders are aligned on project goals, timelines, and deliverables.
Deliver business results that meet or exceed our expectations for awarded programs, with clear accountability for timing, quality performance.
Regularly communicate program status, risks, and mitigation plans to internal teams and management steering committees.
Coordinate and monitor program documentation, schedules, technical performance (including tooling, and capacity), quality deliverables, and production readiness.
Proactively manage risks, implement countermeasures, and escalate issues when required.
Lead the global Change Management process, ensuring alignment to design, specifications, cost, and timing commitments.
Manage the Series Production phase, including claims management, change execution, continuous improvement initiatives, ECR/APQP change/validation change activities, and ongoing commercial negotiations.
Ensure sufficient resources are planned and allocated to support quality, timing, safety, and security objectives.
Ensure programs are executed in accordance with Supplier Quality Management System (SQMS) requirements.
Ensure compliance with applicable automotive standards and customer-specific requirements, including IATF 16949, Automotive SPICE, ISO 17025.
Maintain working knowledge of APQP and regulations and ensure all program activities are performed in a safe manner.
Conduct business trips to manufacturing sites or HQ to support customer visits and project reviews.
Function as a key representative during customer visits, ensuring a positive and productive experience.
Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information appropriately, ensuring data security and compliance.