Program Manager, Product Development

JB Poindexter & Co•Ann Arbor, MI

5d•Onsite

About The Position

JB Poindexter & Co (JBPCO) is a privately held, diversified manufacturing company forecasting $2.75B in annual revenue and 9,000 team members in 2026. JBPCO prides itself on providing best-in-class commercial automotive and industrial vehicles. The nine operating subsidiaries, covering approximately 70 locations, are engaged in the production of commercial truck bodies, step-vans, utility trucks, ambulances, funeral coaches, limousines, electric and alternative fuel vehicles, pickup truck bed enclosures, and expandable foam plastic packaging. For more information about our industry leading brands and products, visit JBPoindexter.com or connect on LinkedIn. We are the Corporate Engineering and Product Development organization within JB Poindexter & Co., supporting nine business units across the company’s portfolio of commercial vehicle and upfit solutions spanning Class 1–7 vehicles. This team leads the development and launch of innovative products and technologies across a diverse set of applications and end markets. We operate in a highly dynamic, project-based environment, managing programs ranging from rapid development cycles (weeks) to complex, multi-year product launches, while partnering closely with business units, customers, and suppliers to bring fresh solutions to market. We are seeking a hands-on Program Manager with 3–5 years of experience in product development and launch environments. This role leads cross-functional programs from concept through production launch with full ownership of schedule, budget, resource planning, and customer execution. The ideal candidate has experience in automotive or commercial vehicle environments and is comfortable managing technical programs in a fast-paced, evolving environment. This is not an administrative PM role—it requires execution discipline, strong communication skills, and technical awareness.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, preferred in Engineering, Sciences, Manufacturing, Business, or related field
3–5 years of experience in Program or Project Management in product development or manufacturing environments
Experience managing full product lifecycle through launch
Experience working in cross-functional engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams
Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills in customer-facing environments
Ability to manage multiple concurrent programs in a fast-paced environment
A hands-on program leader who understands engineering, manufacturing, and execution - not just scheduling
Someone comfortable operating in ambiguity with evolving requirements and custom engineering solutions
A strong communicator who can translate technical details into clear customer commitments
A self-starter capable of managing multiple programs simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
A collaborative leader who drives accountability while enabling engineering problem-solving

Nice To Haves

Automotive Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier experience
Exposure to APQP and PPAP processes
Experience in commercial trucks, heavy-duty vehicle, or vocational vehicle programs
Background in high mix / low volume manufacturing environments
Proficiency with Microsoft product suite – MS Project, Power BI, Power Apps

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end product development programs from concept through production launch and business unit handoff
Own program schedule, budget, risks, deliverables, and cross-functional alignment across multiple concurrent projects
Develop and maintain integrated project plans, milestones, and launch readiness tracking
Ensure alignment between engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and supplier execution
Drive design maturity, validation activities, and launch readiness in coordination with Business Unit engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams
Serve as primary customer interface for program status, commitments, issue resolution, and escalation management
Lead customer reviews and cross-functional program gate reviews
Coordinate with purchasing, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to ensure readiness of tooling, parts, and production requirements
Manage engineering changes (ECR/ECN), assess impacts, and maintain program alignment with cost, timing, and customer expectations
Proactively identify and mitigate risks related to schedule, technical execution, quality, and supply chain readiness
Drive disciplined documentation of program decisions, actions, and change management