Senior Program Launch Manager

Astemo Indiana•Harrodsburg, KY

13h

About The Position

The Site Senior Program Launch Manager is responsible for leading, coordinating, and tracking the successful introduction of new products, new models, manufacturing processes, equipment, and production lines at the manufacturing site. This includes new-product launches on new equipment or lines, as well as model changes, process changes, and capacity expansions on existing production lines. This position serves as the primary site leader for program launch activities and ensures that all launch requirements are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with customer requirements and company standards. The Site Senior Program Launch Manager will coordinate activities across all site functions and serve as the primary connection between the manufacturing site, global cross-functional teams, corporate functions, suppliers, and customers.

Requirements

Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, product launches, project management, and cross-functional program execution.
Ability to manage multiple programs, priorities, schedules, and competing deadlines.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment readiness, quality validation, change management, and production-launch requirements.
Ability to identify program risks, develop recovery plans, and drive open items to timely closure.
Strong leadership, decision-making, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills.
Excellent interpersonal, organizational, verbal, and written communication skills.
Ability to communicate effectively with production employees, technical teams, senior management, suppliers, global teams, and customers.
Ability to lead meetings, clearly communicate expectations, assign responsibilities, and hold team members accountable for deliverables.
Proficiency with current company software applications and standard project-management and reporting tools.
Ability to interpret program schedules, technical documents, customer requirements, process documentation, and performance data.
Ability to perform all duties in an ethical, professional, and confidential manner.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Project Management, Business, or a related field is preferred.
A combination of relevant education, technical training, and significant manufacturing-launch experience may also be considered.
Five or more years of related experience in manufacturing, program launch, engineering, project management, operations, or a similar area is preferred.
Previous experience leading new-product launches, model changes, equipment installations, or process introductions in a manufacturing environment is strongly preferred.
Previous leadership experience working with cross-functional, global, supplier, or customer teams is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead site-level planning and execution for new-product launches, new-model introductions, process changes, equipment installations, and production-line expansions.
Develop, maintain, and communicate detailed launch schedules, milestones, readiness reviews, action-item lists, and escalation plans.
Track program-launch activities to ensure all required approvals, reviews, validations, documentation, and company best practices are completed.
Lead pre-build planning meetings with the cross-functional team to ensure each prototype, sample, trial, validation, and production build is properly planned and supported.
Confirm that the site has the necessary manpower, materials, tooling, equipment, quality documentation, production controls, and technical support for each scheduled build.
Coordinate launch activities across Production, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Purchasing, Human Resources, Safety, Finance, and other supporting departments.
Ensure each build accomplishes its stated objectives for customer shipment, product validation, data collection, process development, equipment verification, and production readiness.
Monitor material availability, equipment readiness, tooling status, process documentation, quality requirements, operator training, production capacity, and customer deliverables.
Identify risks, gaps, and barriers that could affect launch timing, cost, quality, safety, or customer requirements, and lead the development of effective countermeasures.
Escalate critical issues to site leadership, program teams, and appropriate corporate or global functions when additional support or decisions are required.
Lead site launch-readiness reviews and provide clear status updates to site management, program leadership, global cross-functional teams, and customers.
Support production trials, sample builds, process validations, run-at-rate activities, customer audits, and the transition from launch status to stable mass production.
Ensure all lessons learned, open issues, process changes, and launch documentation are properly recorded and communicated.
Promote compliance with company standards related to safety, quality, production, change management, documentation, and continuous improvement.
Serve in a leadership role during internal, global, supplier, and customer cross-functional meetings.
Provide direction and mentorship to site team members supporting program-launch activities.
Perform other related duties as assigned by site or department management.