Senior Program Manager

JB Poindexter & Co•Houston, TX

23d

About The Position

J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. (JBPCO) is a privately held, diversified manufacturing company forecasting more than $2.5 billion in annual revenue and employing more than 8,000 team members. Its six operating subsidiaries operate across 60 locations and produce commercial truck bodies, step-vans, utility trucks, ambulances, electric and alternative-fuel vehicles, and expandable foam plastic packaging. The Senior Program Manager leads automation projects from concept through implementation across JBPCO manufacturing sites. The work includes identifying and justifying opportunities, developing concepts and scopes of work, selecting vendors or integrators, preparing and presenting business cases, validating designs, ensuring compliance with JBPCO standards, and launching solutions at plants. The role manages multiple projects at once, potentially across different North American facilities and manufacturing processes, including chassis-frame welding, fiberglass laying, machine tending, and general assembly. The position partners with manufacturing sites, business units, engineering, operations, suppliers, and other stakeholders to improve safety, quality, cost, and throughput. It also supports standardized manufacturing practices, automation safety, workforce training, maintenance readiness, and the development of internal project-management capabilities. The role has a travel expectation of 75%. A valid driver’s license and passport are required.

Requirements

Self-starter with strong project leadership experience.
Experience leading projects that transform traditional low-volume/high-mix manual manufacturing environments to automation.
Demonstrated ability to lead manufacturing projects of varying sizes and deliver measurable improvements in cost, quality, safety, or delivery metrics.
Experience with different types of automation, automation vendors, and automation applications.
Experience in a high-volume, complex manufacturing environment and/or a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment.
Ability to communicate, collaborate, and build rapport with personnel at all levels in a manufacturing environment.
Understanding of manufacturing design elements, tools, systems, processes, and regulatory requirements.
Understanding of design principles and methods such as data analysis, DOE, FMEA, and DFM/DFA.
Excellent automation, electrical, and mechanical aptitude.
Ability to work collaboratively in a team and independently.
Passion for and strong working knowledge of safety, workplace organization, and continuous improvement, with a focus on Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Lean implementation.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Microsoft Project or Smartsheet, and JD Edwards.
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent.
At least 10 years of directly related experience in manufacturing engineering or advanced manufacturing; preferably in a multi-site or complex manufacturing environment.
At least five years of program or project leadership experience.
Valid driver’s license and passport.
Ability to meet the stated travel expectation of 75%.

Nice To Haves

3D CAD competency; SolidWorks, Draftsite, or similar software preferred.
Visual Basic programming, Ladder Logic, or other programming knowledge.
Certifications in PE, Lean Six Sigma, PMP, or relevant engineering credentials.

Responsibilities

Lead manufacturing initiatives that improve processes through targeted automation and advance safety, quality, cost, and throughput metrics.
Lead automation systems through the concept-to-commissioning process in collaboration with internal manufacturing customers and external system integrators.
Help define business processes that support transformation and automation of JBPCO’s manufacturing footprint.
Drive cross-functional engagement and stakeholder alignment, including development, justification, and presentation of capital investment proposals and business cases.
Coordinate with planning and design staff on product design and tooling to support efficient Lean production methods.
Coordinate with management, engineering, and other staff on manufacturing capabilities, production schedules, throughput ramp-up plans, and production-process considerations.
Lead collaboration with subject matter experts to evaluate manufacturing requirements, develop process solutions, assess costs, and establish manufacturing practices.
Collaborate on standardized work instructions, PFMEAs, and other control plans.
Develop equipment specifications and RFQs, negotiate equipment and materials purchases, and evaluate equipment against requirements and quality standards through design reviews and gated acceptance testing.
Work with business units on production times, staffing requirements, and related costs to inform stakeholder decisions.
Support customer-focused quality policy and continuous improvement activities.
Follow JBPCO and industry safety requirements, including applicable RIA, ANSI, ISO, IEEE, and NFPA standards.
Facilitate concept-development workshops at manufacturing sites to define project scope, including the base process, automation selection, man-machine charts, cardboard mockups, and cost estimates.
Control project budgets, timelines, resource allocation, documentation, and purchase orders.
Create and maintain controlled JBPCO documents, including solid models, drawings, procedures, and work instructions.
Lead supplier design reviews, build validation, factory acceptance testing (FAT), and site acceptance testing (SAT), ensuring JBPCO representation is incorporated.
Provide leadership and cross-functional stakeholders with project updates covering progress, risks, dependencies, and mitigation strategies.
Lead enterprise training so manufacturing operations can run, maintain, and modify automation systems independently.
Execute or assist vendors and integrators with standardized task-based risk assessments in accordance with A3 and JBPCO requirements, including ANSI/RIA TR R15.306.
Work with maintenance teams on policies, procedures, and spare parts.
Lead and train business units on mechanical and electrical automation safety standards.
Coach and mentor junior engineers to build enterprise project-management capabilities.
Partner with site-level engineers, operations leaders, and corporate stakeholders to deploy best practices, standards, and advanced technologies.
Conduct process capability analyses, time studies, and value stream mapping to identify and eliminate waste.
Provide technical support for new product introductions, manufacturing cell designs, and layout optimization.
Monitor emerging manufacturing technologies, including Industry 4.0, robotics, and additive manufacturing, and assess their suitability for the organization.
Maintain current project-management standards and technical skills to support JBPCO business units.