Program Manager

Gentex Corp•Rancho Cucamonga, CA

6d•$115,000 - $145,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Program Manager provides overall leadership, strategic planning, and operational execution for the Joint Service Aircrew Mask (JSAM) program at Gentex’s Rancho Cucamonga facility, along with related product development and production initiatives. The role serves as the primary point of contact for U.S. Department of Defense customer counterparts, prime contractors, and internal stakeholders. It coordinates work across engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain to meet program goals, quality standards, and technical requirements within prescribed schedules and funding parameters. The Program Manager aligns multidisciplinary teams to deliver life-support and respiratory protection capabilities for military aircrews while supporting profitability, proactively mitigating risk, and ensuring contractual compliance. The position leads Integrated Program Teams, tracks schedule and budget, reports program status, and develops recovery plans when plans or schedules are disrupted. It coordinates customer communications and meetings, reviews solicitation and contract requirements, contributes to proposal development, and participates in contract negotiations as required. The role requires government program management experience, technical and product development experience, leadership ability, and working knowledge of relevant defense acquisition, quality, and risk-management practices. The position is based at Gentex’s Rancho Cucamonga, California facility. Gentex describes its benefits as including medical coverage, a 401(k), paid time off, and work schedules including a 9/80 work week. Pre-employment drug, alcohol, and background screening is required.

Requirements

Minimum BS degree in an Engineering or Technical discipline.
At least five years of leadership experience; ten years of experience preferred.
Previous program management experience on government programs, with familiarity with DFARS and contracting.
Technical, product development, and defense acquisition experience.
Knowledge of Cost Accounting Standards applicable to U.S. Government or other customers’ research and development contracts.
Knowledge of people-management skills, particularly influence management and conflict management and resolution.
General knowledge of manufacturing operations, including scheduling, procurement, production, test engineering, and quality systems.
General knowledge of finance, including the ability to read and understand product income statements, return-on-investment analyses, and net-present-value analyses.
General knowledge of marketing, including market research, market sizing, pricing, marketing communications, and product launch.
Ability to understand, track, investigate, and question activities and issues across functional areas; make sound business decisions; and mitigate program risk based on available data.
Ability to lead cross-functional teams and demonstrate leadership behaviors and company values in pursuit of program objectives.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Strong attention to detail and follow-through skills.
Strong computer skills, including Microsoft word-processing, spreadsheet, database, scheduling (MS Project), and electronic-mail applications.
Working knowledge of Department of Defense acquisition policies and regulations, Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), and Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRLs).
Working knowledge of ISO 9001, AS9100C, or equivalent quality standards and procedures.
Familiarity with Risk, Opportunity, and Issue (ROI) management disciplines.
Ability to interpret contractual obligations and communicate project goals and requirements.
Experience working in a Staged/Gated NPD/NPI environment.

Nice To Haves

Ten years of leadership experience is preferred.
Experience as a second-level manager.
Experience in more than one of the following disciplines: New Product Development (NPD), Process Engineering, New Product Integration (NPI), and Government Program Management.

Responsibilities

Ensure the right product is developed and meets or exceeds customer requirements in accordance with AS9100C standards and internal SOPs.
Lead Integrated Program Teams (IPTs) and facilitate communication and interaction among functional representatives.
Track programs and projects against schedules, budgets, and phase-review objectives.
Report status regularly to the supervisor and to executive staff as needed.
Develop and implement recovery plans for off-schedule work and unanticipated events.
Coordinate with customers to provide program status and obtain customer feedback.
Prepare for and conduct periodic customer design and program meetings in accordance with contract and other program requirements.
Review, analyze, and interpret technical and administrative requirements in RFPs, RFQs, RFIs, IFBs, and similar documents to prepare materials for formal responses.
Write, edit, and review management and technical sections of proposals in response to solicitations, working with cross-functional subject matter experts.
Participate in contract negotiations as required.
Coordinate cross-functional activities across engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain to meet program goals, technical requirements, quality standards, schedules, and funding parameters.
Support program profitability, proactive risk mitigation, and contractual compliance.