Senior Director, Program Management

GILLIG•Livermore, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

As a key leader within the Product Planning & Strategy organization, the Senior Director, Program Management will play a critical role in delivering the next generation of transit solutions that improve quality of life in communities across the country. The Senior Director, Program Management is responsible for leading GILLIG's Product Development Program Management organization and ensuring the successful execution of the company's product development portfolio. This leader will oversee a team of Program Managers responsible for driving cross-functional programs from concept through launch, ensuring alignment across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Operations, Finance, and other key stakeholders. GILLIG has established program management processes and governance structures and continues to invest in strengthening its product development capabilities. This role will be responsible for continuously improving program management practices, reporting, planning, risk management, and cross-functional execution while ensuring successful delivery of product development and product improvement programs. The Senior Director will also play an important role in helping evolve program management processes and governance as new ERP and PLM capabilities are implemented across the organization. This position requires a highly collaborative leader who can balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution, drive accountability across a matrixed organization, communicate effectively with executive leadership, and proactively identify and escalate risks to ensure successful program outcomes. Reporting to the Vice President, Product Planning & Strategy, this leader will work closely with GILLIG's executive leadership team to provide visibility into portfolio health, key decisions, resource needs, and program execution risks.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, or a related technical field; MBA or advanced degree preferred
12+ years of experience leading complex product development, new product introduction, or cross-functional programs within manufacturing, commercial vehicle, automotive, aerospace, industrial equipment, or similar industries
5+ years of experience leading Program Managers or Program Management organizations
Demonstrated success delivering complex product development programs from concept through launch
Experience improving program management processes, governance structures, reporting systems, and execution disciplines within an established organization
Experience operating within structured product development or phase-gate environments
Experience working in or alongside ERP, PLM, or related business system implementations preferred
Strong business acumen and demonstrated ability to align teams and resources to strategic objectives
Exceptional leadership, communication, presentation, and influencing skills
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership and drive alignment across a highly matrixed organization
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to transform data into actionable business insights
Proven ability to exercise sound judgment, make decisions in ambiguous situations, and drive results through others

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a team of Program Managers responsible for the successful execution of GILLIG's product development and product improvement portfolio
Ensure programs are delivered on time, on scope, and on budget while maintaining alignment with business objectives and customer requirements
Drive estimation, planning, organization, execution, and monitoring of cross-functional activities while maintaining visibility into schedules, risks, budgets, dependencies, and committed deliverables
Provide leadership, guidance, and proactive intervention for programs requiring additional support, escalation, or course correction
Facilitate effective decision-making and cross-functional alignment to remove obstacles and maintain program momentum
Continuously improve program management processes, governance, reporting structures, and execution disciplines to support predictable program delivery
Establish and maintain standard work, program review processes, escalation procedures, risk management practices, and portfolio reporting mechanisms
Ensure consistent application of program management methodologies, tools, and best practices across the organization
Institutionalize continuous improvement opportunities through structured lessons learned and post-program reviews
Support the evolution of program management processes and workflows as ERP, PLM, and other business systems are implemented and enhanced
Develop and maintain executive-level reporting that provides clear visibility into portfolio health, milestones, risks, resource constraints, and critical decisions
Regularly assess, communicate, and escalate program risks, issues, and dependencies to executive leadership
Provide concise and actionable updates on program performance, progress against commitments, and mitigation plans for emerging challenges
Drive a culture of transparency, accountability, and proactive communication across the Program Management organization and its cross-functional partners
Attract, develop, and retain high-performing Program Management talent
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and professional development
Build strong relationships across all levels of the organization to drive commitment, alignment, and successful execution
Lead by example through a combination of strategic leadership and hands-on engagement in critical programs, executive communications, and problem-solving activities