Launch Lead

General Motors•Arlington, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Body Shop Launch Lead is a manufacturing professional who leads launch readiness and execution for an assigned plant area, process, or functional discipline. The role connects the Plant Launch Team with area leadership, manufacturing and product engineering, quality, supply chain, maintenance, and production operations. It translates program requirements into plant actions and ensures the assigned area is prepared to build safely, at the required quality level, within takt time, and according to program timing. The Launch Lead identifies risks early, coordinates countermeasures, communicates status, and drives issues to closure through Launch Team Release and the transition to stable production. The specific area may include Body Shop, Paint, Stamping, General Assembly, Quality, Material, Electrical, Chassis, or another manufacturing function, depending on the launch program and plant structure. This role is categorized as onsite and requires reporting to Arlington, Texas, on a full-time basis. It may be eligible for relocation benefits. The role does not provide immigration-related sponsorship.

Requirements

At least 5 years of prior experience in automotive or program launch, or high-volume manufacturing.
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations, supply chain, business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Ability and willingness to work or rotate through all three shifts.
Ability to travel 25% or more, domestically and/or internationally, based on business needs.
Ability and willingness to work overtime, weekends, and holidays as needed.
Strong leadership and technical skills, with the ability to influence across levels.
Deep knowledge of manufacturing operations, safety standards, and lean principles.
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic and operational plans.
Experience with budget management and performance metrics.
Familiarity with labor agreements and corporate compliance standards.

Nice To Haves

Prior body launch experience or experience as a launch manager for a program.
High analytical ability in addressing unusual and difficult problems.
Strong technical skills and knowledge of work measurement techniques to drive continuous improvement.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with others.

Responsibilities

Lead flawless execution of program deliverables within Body Shop.
Provide Level 1 and Level 2 outlines for Body Shop Master Dot activities and maintain updates with appropriate countermeasures.
Communicate Body Shop status to the Plant Launch Operations Manager and Body Shop Area Director.
Work with the Material Launch Manager to coordinate and validate the Body Shop material plan.
Coordinate quality plans with Quality Systems.
Hold the team accountable for achieving manpower targets.
Identify and resolve issues to ensure a successful launch.
Lead cross-functional coordination between Production and Body Manufacturing Engineering.
Plan and execute layout, process, and equipment or technology deployment.
Train the Body Shop organization and share lessons learned for subsequent phases.
Provide leadership to the Body Shop launch structure and coordinate launch personnel's daily activities.
Manage activities involving PIT/IRT, facilities, equipment, and budget.
Establish plant participation in Validation Center builds and tool shops for system buyoffs.
Participate actively as a member of the Launch Team and attend all Launch Team meetings, including daily build wrap-up meetings.
Provide input into pre-production budget requirements, including resources, materials, and training aids.