Program Manager

Cooper Standard•Northville, MI

30d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is responsible for the overall management of assigned customer product development programs. Interface with all levels of internal and customer management on all aspects of planning, scheduling, organizing, directing and controlling the program is required. The program manager leads the Program Team to meet timing, quality, finance and product requirements for Cooper Standard and customer systems and processes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering preferred.
A minimum of five years’ experience in the automotive industry or closely related industry.
Preferable experience with a tier 1 supplier.
Experience in at least two cross functional areas (Quality, Engineering, Operations, Purchasing and/or Sales); preferably including launch of a product.
Project leadership experience in a matrix organization.
Excellent planning, collaboration, and facilitation skills, a must to coordinate and leverage capabilities across a highly matrixed organization involving multiple products, channels & functions.
Ability to influence their peer group in that environment.
Proficiency in MS Office and other systems supporting program management.
Data‐driven problem solving skills, with understanding of problem solving tools and key performance indicators / metrics.
Understanding of project accounting financials, detailed cost management, and desire to be an expert in program financials.
Willingness and ability to travel, as necessary

Nice To Haves

MBA/MS/MA/PMP certification a plus.

Responsibilities

Leads the program team and takes personal responsibility for the program’s success by holding the team accountable, ensuring appropriate staffing, maintaining the team morale by resolving conflicts between team members and elevates effectively when needed.
Manage and maintain program documentation and processes including customer statement of work, Open Issues List, Timeline, Monthly Project Reports and CLauS.
Establish program timeline with internal and external targets, objectives and deliverables that supports a successful launch by working with Management, Customers and Program Team.
Supports the Manufacturing Team in production builds, team meetings, plant based customer reviews and critical production preparation activities.
Clarify roles and responsibilities to ensure program team members support launch efforts.
Achieves all internal and external financial targets.
Ensures successful on‐time completion of program deliverables.
Utilize CLauS scope change document including, written responses to scope change requests and quotes that include product, cost and timing impact to ensure Cooper Standard’s position is protected.
Use a risk management approach to anticipate and prevent problems from occurring.
Apply sound judgment in elevating risks to management.
Identify management specific tasks, deliverables and support needed to mitigate future risk.
Ensure program meets all internal and external quality targets while adhering to all customer quality systems and processes.
Launch products below targets for launch cost, scrap and containment.
May, on occasion, be required to perform duties other than those specified in this description.