Operations Program Manager Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Reports To: Director of Program Management Location: Wixom, MI Employment Type: Full-Time in Person (Hybrid schedule is possible for the right candidate)

Position Summary

The Program Manager is responsible for leading multiple customer programs within an Engineer-to-Order (ETO) manufacturing environment. This role ensures alignment with business objectives while delivering projects on schedule, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. The Program Manager serves as the primary customer contact and coordinates cross-functional teams across global operations to achieve project goals and maintain customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Execution

• Lead multiple concurrent customer programs throughout the project lifecycle.
• Drive achievement of project objectives related to cost, schedule, quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Coordinate activities across engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, finance, and other functional departments.
• Ensure projects are executed in accordance with quoted specifications, contractual requirements, and company standards.
• Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies to maintain program performance.

Financial & Budget Management

• Establish, monitor, and communicate project budgets and forecasts.
• Drive achievement of budget targets and communicate financial expectations to department leaders.
• Maintain and update project forecast and budget tracking tools.
• Prepare and lead Program Management Financial Reviews.
• Maintain ownership of project summary reporting and ensure accurate updates within project management systems.
• Prepare all information required for project invoicing and ensure invoice logs are maintained accurately, including customer-specific documentation requirements.

Customer Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers throughout the duration of the program.
• Maintain strong customer relationships through effective communication and issue resolution.
• Manage engineering change requests, including cost calculations, customer negotiations, and order processing.
• Coordinate customer reviews and project status meetings.

Project Coordination & Communication

• Conduct regular project team meetings.
• Create, maintain, and distribute Lists of Open Points (LOPs).
• Follow up on project action items and escalate issues when required.
• Communicate project status, risks, and critical issues to management and stakeholders.
• Lead cross-functional and global teams to ensure project objectives are achieved.

Customer Acceptance & Delivery

• Organize and coordinate customer acceptance activities, including: Pre-Acceptance Testing at FRIMO facilities.
• Final Acceptance at customer locations.
• Travel to customer sites may be required to support installation, commissioning, and acceptance activities.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including: On-Time Delivery
• Budget Performance
• Change Order Performance
• Customer Satisfaction    

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• 5–10+ years of experience in an Engineer-to-Order (ETO), capital equipment, tooling, or manufacturing environment.
• Experience working with ERP systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional and global teams.
• Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Engineering, Technical, or related degree.

Preferred

• Experience in custom machinery, automation, tooling, or capital equipment manufacturing.
• Formal project management training or certification is considered an asset.

Core Competencies

• Customer Focus
• Leadership & Team Coordination
• Financial Acumen
• Project Planning & Execution
• Change Management
• Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Communication & Negotiation
• Risk Management
• Organizational Effectiveness

Working Conditions

• Office and manufacturing environment.
• Periodic travel may be required for customer meetings, installations, and acceptance activities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Disclaimer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Management reserves the right to modify duties and responsibilities as business needs require.