Program Manager, Automotive

Shawmut Corporation•Detroit, MI

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position can be fully remote or hybrid to our Port Huron, MI plant, but requires the successful candidate to be located in the Greater Detroit, MI area to allow for regular local/regional travel to customers in addition to both domestic and international travel, mostly around North America. The Senior Program Manager is a plant-based leadership role responsible for managing automotive commodity programs from initiation through successful completion. This position leads complex program launches, engineering changes, and cross-functional project activities to ensure customer requirements, business objectives, timelines, quality standards, and launch milestones are achieved.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Project/Program Management or related field required.
2-4 years Project/Program Management Experience; CAPM or PMP certification preferred but not required.
Strong organizational and communication skills to plan, organize and facilitate cross-departmental activities.
Excellent analytical and communication skills
Experiences with automotive OEM/Tier customer interface preferred
Superior proficiency with Microsoft Office suite of products, including Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Project
Ability to work independently with minimum supervision
A collaborative approach to work with the ability to interact productively with all disciplines and levels of the organization
A self-starter with a flexible mindset and team orientation
Ability to build working relationships through trust and effective communication skills
A positive outlook and professional demeanor
Ability to travel approximately 25-30% as needed (domestically and internationally)

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, direction, and supervision to Program Management staff, functions, processes, and systems.
Lead cross-functional teams to achieve customer and program milestones, including coordination with Design, Product Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain/Procurement, Business Management, Sales, Customer Service, Quality, and other key stakeholders.
Develop, maintain, and manage program launch and engineering change timelines, ensuring project schedules are accurate, risks are identified, and status is clearly communicated to stakeholders.
Ensure all assigned programs and projects follow established stage-gate management procedures for project planning, execution, deployment, and completion.
Align Program Management activities with company goals and business objectives to support overall organizational performance.
Participate in customer strategy discussions to understand expectations, address concerns, resolve issues, and support long term customer satisfaction.
Prepare and present program and project status reports to management and key stakeholders.
Support and comply with all company policies, procedures, and standards, including IATF 16949, QMS, FMEA, PPM, and other applicable quality and compliance requirements.
Serve as a leader who indirectly manages cross-functional team members by clarifying expectations, understanding capabilities and motivators, guiding associate development, and driving team performance.
Manage complex programs and projects involving design, development, engineering, manufacturing readiness, production launch, and ongoing program execution.