Program Manager Aftermarket Police & Fleet

USA GFX Solutions Career•Sterling Heights, MI

About The Position

The Program Manager leads aftermarket specialty vehicle programs from quote to cash, including new product development. The role is accountable for successful launches, customer satisfaction, program objectives, and delivery of projects on time and within budget. It coordinates cross-functional teams across Engineering, Process, Operations, Sales, Purchasing, Quality, and Finance, while driving program planning, execution, risk management, and continuous improvement. The position manages programs from RFQ through launch, delivery, invoicing, and cash-collection support using a structured aftermarket APQP framework. It establishes integrated program plans, monitors performance, resolves risks, validates customer and commercial requirements, and ensures configurations and production-readiness documentation are accurate. The role leads recurring internal program reviews and serves as the primary program interface for customer communication, issue escalation, launch support, and post-launch stabilization. The minimum education requirement is a university or college graduate in Business, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or equivalent related experience in automotive manufacturing, aftermarket upfit, or program management. At least 3 years of relevant experience is required; 5 or more years is preferred. The role requires maintaining a valid Ontario driver's license and legal entry status to the United States. Moderate travel to the United States and Canada is required. The work takes place in a normal office environment and involves using a desktop computer and peripherals.

Requirements

University/College graduate in Business, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or equivalent related experience in automotive manufacturing, aftermarket upfit, or program management.
At least 3 years in automotive program management, operations, engineering coordination, launch management, or customer-facing manufacturing support.
Strong understanding of quote-to-cash work steps, including RFQ intake, estimating inputs, customer quote approval, program award, release readiness, procurement, launch, shipment, invoicing, and cash-collection support.
Ability to manage launch timing, milestone tracking, open issues, risk registers, escalation paths, and cross-functional accountability.
Working knowledge of BOM structures, engineering releases, change control, routings, work instructions, material readiness, and manufacturing launch requirements.
Strong communication, organization, customer-facing problem-solving, and leadership skills in a matrixed environment.
Proficiency with spreadsheets, program trackers, ERP/MES/CRM systems, document control tools, and standard Microsoft Office applications.
Must have and maintain an appropriate and valid Ontario driver's license.
Must have and maintain legal entry status to the United States.
Ability to conduct presentations and perform Excel formulas and macros.

Nice To Haves

Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or Program Management background with experience supporting vehicle launches, specialty vehicle upfits, or customer-specific aftermarket programs.
PMP Certification.
At least 5 years in automotive manufacturing, aftermarket upfit, specialty vehicles, commercial/fleet programs, or cross-functional launch execution.
Experience with APQP, launch gate reviews, FMEA/control plan inputs, Lean problem solving, and continuous improvement methods.
Knowledge of specialty vehicle accessories, electrical content, upfit packaging, fleet/commercial customer requirements, warranty considerations, and revenue recognition impacts.

Responsibilities

Lead Specialty Vehicle programs from RFQ through launch, delivery, invoicing, and cash-collection support using a structured aftermarket Advanced Product Quality Planning framework.
Establish and manage integrated program plans covering scope, estimating, approvals, engineering release, BOM validation, procurement, production readiness, shipment, and financial closeout.
Monitor program performance through executive dashboards and proactively resolve schedule, material, cost, quality, and operational risks.
Translate customer requirements and new product development opportunities into controlled technical, operational, and commercial deliverables.
Validate vehicle content, option compatibility, regulatory and packaging requirements, delivery expectations, quote assumptions, margin impacts, and approval requirements before customer commitment.
Manage scope changes with Sales and Estimating to maintain alignment between customer expectations and program viability.
Ensure BOMs, engineering releases, configurations, drawings, work instructions, routings, sales codes, kit structures, sourcing plans, and build sequences are accurate and production ready.
Lead BOM scrubs, release-readiness reviews, and launch handoffs to ensure customer-specific content, substitutions, change levels, and manufacturing requirements are documented and executable.
Coordinate with Development, Process Engineering, Sales, and Production Management to establish and execute realistic vehicle PER development timelines.
Lead recurring program reviews with cross-functional teams and senior leadership to align priorities, confirm milestones, assign ownership, and resolve constraints.
Drive timely decisions and accountability for customer deliverables, recovery actions, material and quality issues, invoicing blockers, and launch readiness.
Participate in quality management system audits and support compliance with established processes and controls.
Serve as the primary program interface for customer communication, issue escalation, launch support, and post-launch stabilization.
Provide customer updates on timing, VIN readiness, upfit content, shipment dates, scope changes, and recovery plans; escalate unresolved matters with business impacts, decision requirements, owners, and due dates.
Lead lessons learned, launch retrospectives, standard-work updates, and corrective actions to improve future Specialty Vehicle program execution.