Senior Program Manager (Japanese Bilingual)

Panasonic Automotive•Farmington Hills, MI

About The Position

The Senior Program Manager defines program scope and bridges customer requirements to the outputs of functions across the global enterprise. The role plans, directs, and coordinates designated program activities to achieve or exceed goals and objectives within established timelines and funding parameters. It requires a highly organized leader who can bring cross-functional teams together, hold team members accountable, and drive complex products from development into production. The Program Manager works closely with customers and serves as a window into the organization. The role leads program planning, resource alignment, product launch activities, financial modeling, business planning, customer communication, and cross-functional reviews. It also supports new business pursuits and leads teams through the company’s Phase and Gate Process, ensuring milestones, deliverables, and executive review materials are completed as required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field.
Five to seven years of program management or related industry experience.
Intermediate proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, Project, and Outlook.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Automotive industry end-to-end product launch experience.

Responsibilities

Plan program milestones and align company resources toward successful program launches.
Lead and direct program activities, including planning, organizing, and managing resources and processes to meet scope, schedule, quality, and budget objectives.
Develop and maintain detailed local and global profit-and-loss cost models; simulate scenarios and recommend courses of action.
Present cost and sales-price information to company executives to support winning business and maintaining profitability.
Track profit-and-loss elements and drive cross-functional cost-reduction opportunities, including VA/VE, to completion.
Assist with or lead Business Plan and Mid-Term Plan budget development for a portfolio of programs.
Build positive working relationships and drive integration among Engineering, Sales, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, and Purchasing.
Lead internal and customer-facing cross-functional program review meetings.
Create and maintain actionable Open Issues Lists and master program timelines, and coordinate issue progress, roadblock resolution, risk mitigation, and escalation.
Engage customer decision-makers to align expectations and lead the team in presenting consistent program commitments and updates.
Lead cross-functional teams through the Phase and Gate Process, verify functional progress against milestones and deliverables, and ensure timely, complete preparation of executive gate review materials.
Lead new business pursuits with the Sales Team by developing business cases, pursuit strategies, and risk analyses.
Present to the Executive Team to secure finalization of customer quote packages.
Provide direction and guidance to cross-functional team members and their managers.