Automotive Program Manager Jobs in Southfield, MI

[Job Description]

- Initial Communication & Issue Resolution:

o Serve as the first point of contact for any business-related issues, ensuring prompt and effective resolution.

o Function as a liaison between customers and internal teams, facilitating clear and timely communication.

- Coordination with Headquarters (HQ):

o Work closely with HQ to monitor and resolve issues, ensuring alignment with company policies and procedures.

o Provide regular updates to HQ on project status, customer feedback, and potential challenges.

- Customer Requirement Analysis & Solution Provision:

o Clarify customer requirements through detailed discussions and documentation.

o Provide tailored solutions to address both business and engineering-related challenges.

- Customer Support & Engineering Collaboration:

o Assist customers in resolving technical and operational issues, ensuring smooth project execution.

o Collaborate with engineering teams to develop and implement effective solutions.

- Program Leadership & Ownership:

o Own and manage assigned programs across the full product lifecycle, including program award, development, supplier selection, launch, series production, post-production performances and lessons learned, in alignment with our product delivery process lead and coordinate multi-disciplinary, cross functional teams to achieve program objectives related to timing, quality and customer satisfaction.

o Establish, maintain, and monitor top-level programs plans, including customer milestones, internal deliverables, and resource requirements.

- Customer & Stakeholder interface:

o Serve as the primary point of contact for customers on assigned programs, leading all program?related communications.

o Build strong customer relationships and represent with professionalism, accountability, and transparency.

o Participate in lessons?learned analyses for both awarded and lost business opportunities.

- Meeting Coordination & Facilitation:

o Arrange and facilitate meetings for design, innovative technology promotion, process, and business discussions between us and customers.

o Ensure all stakeholders are aligned on project goals, timelines, and deliverables.

- Program Execution & Performance:

o Deliver business results that meet or exceed our expectations for awarded programs, with clear accountability for timing, quality performance.

o Regularly communicate program status, risks, and mitigation plans to internal teams and management steering committees.

o Coordinate and monitor program documentation, schedules, technical performance (including tooling, and capacity), quality deliverables, and production readiness.

o Proactively manage risks, implement countermeasures, and escalate issues when required.

- Change, Risk & Production Management:

o Lead the global Change Management process, ensuring alignment to design, specifications, cost, and timing commitments.

o Manage the Series Production phase, including claims management, change execution, continuous improvement initiatives, ECR/APQP change/validation change activities, and ongoing commercial negotiations.

o Ensure sufficient resources are planned and allocated to support quality, timing, safety, and security objectives.

- Compliance, Quality & Safety:

o Ensure programs are executed in accordance with Supplier Quality Management System (SQMS) requirements.

o Ensure compliance with applicable automotive standards and customer?specific requirements, including IATF 16949, Automotive SPICE, ISO 17025.

o Maintain working knowledge of APQP and regulations and ensure all program activities are performed in a safe manner.

- Business Travel & Customer Support:

o Conduct business trips to manufacturing sites or HQ to support customer visits and project reviews.

o Function as a key representative during customer visits, ensuring a positive and productive experience.

Requirements

- Education & Experience:

o Bachelor's degree required, or equivalent experience (three additional years of relevant technical experience in degree). A technical or engineering degree is strongly preferred.

o Minimum of 5 years of project and/or program management experience within the automotive industry, with a demonstrated record of successful program execution.

o Proven ability to lead cross?functional teams and manage complex programs across multiple phases of the product lifecycle.

o Experience coaching or developing project and/or program managers is preferred.

o Project Management certification is preferred.

o Prior experience in a Program manager or Design release engineer environment is a plus.

- Confidentiality & Information Management:

o Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information appropriately, ensuring data security and compliance.

- Technical Skills:

o Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).

o Familiarity with project management tools and software.

o Solid understanding of automotive product development processes and cross?functional engineering practices.

o Strong communication, leadership, and stakeholder?management skills, with the ability to drive results in a global environment.

- Language Proficiency:

o Bilingual in Korean and English preferred.

o Ability to communicate effectively with global clients and internal teams.