Program/ Launch Manager

Camaco•Columbus, OH

About The Position

The Program Manager – Automotive Seating leads and coordinates new product launches, engineering changes, customer programs, and continuous improvement initiatives for automotive seating systems. The role is the primary point of contact among customers, internal cross-functional teams, suppliers, and manufacturing operations, ensuring programs meet timing, cost, quality, delivery, customer satisfaction, and profitability objectives. The Program Manager manages programs from award through launch, production ramp-up, stabilization, and ongoing change management. The role ensures compliance with customer requirements, APQP standards, IATF 16949 expectations, and company procedures. It involves regular interaction with manufacturing operations, engineering teams, suppliers, and customers, with production-floor time, customer meetings, launch support outside normal business hours, and travel as needed. The position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related field.
At least 5 years of experience in automotive program management, launch management, engineering, manufacturing, or quality.
Strong knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, MSA, SPC, Run-at-Rate, and customer launch requirements.
Experience working with OEMs or Tier 1 automotive customers.
Understanding of IATF 16949 and automotive customer-specific requirements.
Strong project management skills, including timing, budget, risk management, and cross-functional coordination.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Strong communication, negotiation, escalation, and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Project, Excel, PowerPoint, ERP/MRP systems, and program tracking tools.
Ability to prioritize projects, resolve problems, conduct research, and pay attention to details.
Excellent computer skills.
English and business writing skills.
Proficiency with MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Outlook.
Proficiency in advanced word processing, desktop publishing, and database management.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Knowledge of business communication, transcription, proofreading, and accounting principles.
Ability to communicate with employees at all levels, vendors, and customers.

Nice To Haves

Experience with automotive seating systems, including seat structures, mechanisms, trim, foam, plastics, welding, assembly, or JIT/JIS operations.
Experience with seating customers such as GM, Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, Honda, Tesla, Rivian, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or similar OEMs.
PMP certification or formal project management training.
Experience with launch gate reviews, customer audits, safe launch, GP-12, run-at-rate, or production readiness reviews.
Knowledge of seating validation, safety requirements, FMVSS, comfort, ergonomics, and durability requirements.
Experience managing tooling suppliers, automation suppliers, and component suppliers.
Experience in welding, robotic assembly, recliners, adjusters, seat frames, tracks, latches, trim covers, foam, and complete seat assembly.

Responsibilities

Lead automotive seating programs from nomination or award through launch, SOP, ramp-up, and production stabilization.
Serve as the primary customer interface for program status, timing, risks, open issues, engineering changes, and launch readiness.
Develop and maintain program timelines, milestone trackers, open-issue lists, escalation plans, and launch-readiness reports.
Coordinate cross-functional activities with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, Materials, Purchasing, Finance, Tooling, Maintenance, Launch, and Operations teams.
Drive APQP deliverables, including timing plans, design reviews, process flow, PFMEA, control plans, MSA, capability studies, PPAP, run-at-rate, and customer approvals.
Manage program budgets, tooling costs, engineering expenses, capital requirements, and financial performance against the approved business case.
Monitor and control program profitability, including cost changes, customer recoveries, supplier costs, labor assumptions, scrap, rework, and launch expenses.
Lead internal and customer program reviews to communicate status, risks, actions, and recovery plans.
Ensure customer requirements are understood, communicated, and implemented throughout the organization.
Manage engineering changes and customer change requests, including ECR/ECN activities, timing and cost impacts, and implementation plans.
Support seating system manufacturing processes, including frame assembly, welding, foam, trim, plastics, mechanisms, headrests, armrests, complete seat assembly, and JIT/JIS sequencing where applicable.
Coordinate tooling, fixtures, gauges, poka-yoke devices, packaging, line layout, and manufacturing readiness for new or modified programs.
Identify launch risks and drive corrective actions before they affect quality, delivery, or customer satisfaction.
Support structured problem-solving using 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, Red X, Lessons Learned, and other methods.
Ensure compliance with IATF 16949, customer-specific requirements, safety standards, and internal program management procedures.
Manage supplier readiness for program components, including timing, PPAP status, capacity, quality risks, and delivery performance.
Support capacity planning, manpower planning, line balancing, and production ramp-up.
Track program KPIs, including launch timing, APQP completion, PPAP status, budget performance, tooling readiness, open issues, customer scorecards, quality performance, and delivery readiness.
Escalate risks and roadblocks to leadership with supporting data, recovery plans, owners, and due dates.
Maintain documentation for audits, customer reviews, gate reviews, and internal management reviews.
Capture and apply lessons learned from previous launches to improve future program execution.