Program Manager

ArtiFlex Manufacturing•Grand Rapids, MI

14d

About The Position

Program Manager – Mold Shop Position Summary: The Tooling Program Manager is responsible for managing assigned tooling programs from initial award through completion, including follow-up activities at customer facilities. This role ensures projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to quality standards while maintaining clear communication with customers and internal departments. The Tooling Program Manager plays a critical role in profitability, scheduling, documentation control, and continuous process improvement. What you will be responsible for: Manage assigned programs from kickoff through completion, serving as the primary customer contact. Develop and maintain mold build plans, schedules, and timelines to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery. Coordinate cross-functional teams and external vendors to support tooling builds, engineering changes, and job start-ups. Prepare quotes, review purchase orders, issue work releases, and monitor program costs to ensure profitability. Lead project meetings, track open issues and corrective actions, and drive timely resolution of design or schedule changes. Monitor progress through customer try-outs, attend try-outs as required, and determine appropriate corrective actions. Maintain accurate project documentation and provide regular status updates and reports to customers and internal teams. Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance cost, quality, and delivery performance. Develop, manage and maintain a good relationship with both customer and internal teams in order to bring program to successful completion. This may include on-site customer visits as needed. Comply with all quality systems, work instructions, and company policies. What you bring to the role: Bachelor degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field – or – a combination of education and hands-on tooling experience. 5+ years of experience in a die or mold build environment (injection molds, die casting dies, stamping dies, or similar tooling). Proven project and program management skills Excellent communication and customer-facing skills Ability to organize, lead and prioritize competing deadlines for multiple projects simultaneously, Experience with budgeting, scheduling, and vendor management Ability to read and interpret tooling drawings, CAD models, specifications, and engineering change documentation. Familiarity with mold build plans, work release authorizations, and structured quality systems. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams including Engineering, CNC, Manufacturing, Quality, and Purchasing. Experience coordinating outside vendors and specialty services (texturing, plating, heat treating, sampling, etc.). Where you will work: Combination of office and production floor Domestic and/or international travel as required Who We Are ArtiFlex Manufacturing designs and builds products and solutions for companies with tough challenges by employing people with a willingness and ability to be “ Innovative. Problem Solving. Partners. ” We support and embody a vision of safely growing our people and unleashing their full potential because we see greatness in everyone we hire. Better products and services for our customers result from the dedicated development of our employees. That’s our culture. Benefits Working at ArtiFlex Manufacturing is rewarding. We believe in investing in your development by offering support, leadership and training opportunities. Our full-time employees enjoy our benefit package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability and Life Insurance options, FSA and HAS. Additionally enjoying PTO days and Paid Holidays, along with 401k with company match. Annual Bonus, Tuition Reimbursement, Career Development, Vehicle Purchase Supplier Discount, Company Events, Celebrations, and more! Employee Owned Eligible ArtiFlex employees are ArtiFlex owners with our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) . This is a qualified retirement plan.

Requirements

Bachelor degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or a related field – or – a combination of education and hands-on tooling experience.
5+ years of experience in a die or mold build environment (injection molds, die casting dies, stamping dies, or similar tooling).
Proven project and program management skills
Excellent communication and customer-facing skills
Ability to organize, lead and prioritize competing deadlines for multiple projects simultaneously,
Experience with budgeting, scheduling, and vendor management
Ability to read and interpret tooling drawings, CAD models, specifications, and engineering change documentation.
Familiarity with mold build plans, work release authorizations, and structured quality systems.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams including Engineering, CNC, Manufacturing, Quality, and Purchasing.
Experience coordinating outside vendors and specialty services (texturing, plating, heat treating, sampling, etc.).

Responsibilities

Manage assigned programs from kickoff through completion, serving as the primary customer contact.
Develop and maintain mold build plans, schedules, and timelines to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.
Coordinate cross-functional teams and external vendors to support tooling builds, engineering changes, and job start-ups.
Prepare quotes, review purchase orders, issue work releases, and monitor program costs to ensure profitability.
Lead project meetings, track open issues and corrective actions, and drive timely resolution of design or schedule changes.
Monitor progress through customer try-outs, attend try-outs as required, and determine appropriate corrective actions.
Maintain accurate project documentation and provide regular status updates and reports to customers and internal teams.
Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance cost, quality, and delivery performance.
Develop, manage and maintain a good relationship with both customer and internal teams in order to bring program to successful completion. This may include on-site customer visits as needed.
Comply with all quality systems, work instructions, and company policies.