Senior Program Officer Jobs in Arkansas (NOW HIRING)

The Senior Program Manager leads strategic programs that are critical to revenue, profitability, and future business opportunities, with a primary focus on the New Product Introduction (NPI) process and Customer Produced Product Transfer (CPPT). This role manages a defined market segment, oversees complex program and project activities, mentors program managers, and serves as a key liaison between cross-functional teams and Senior leadership. The Senior Program Manager drives continuous improvement in processes, ensures successful product launches, and provides clear, data-driven reporting on cost, quality, delivery, and overall program performance.

• Manage the New Product Introduction (NPI) process and Customer Produced Product Transfer (CPPT) for strategic programs that are essential to the organization’s revenue, profitability, and long-term business opportunities.
• Provide regular updates and progress reviews to Director and Officer-level leadership, ensuring transparent communication on NPI status and key milestones.
• Evaluate existing NPI processes and procedures, identify opportunities for improvement, and recommend and implement enhancements to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Manage an assigned market segment by mentoring lower-level Program Managers, maintaining visibility into program status within the segment, and ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Form and lead cross-functional launch teams, organizing and driving regular team meetings to review progress, resolve issues, and maintain accountability.
• Generate, track, and maintain cross-functional action item lists and NPI checklist archives to ensure proper documentation, traceability, and follow-through on commitments.
• Assess program risks, develop and implement solutions, drive change where needed, and clearly communicate responsibilities and expectations across the organization.
• Manage and mentor strategic quoting activities and the Request for Quote (RFQ) process, ensuring accurate, competitive, and timely responses to customer opportunities.
• Elevate critical issues to upper management when necessary, providing clear analysis and recommendations to support decision-making.
• Apply complex financial analysis to programs, including incremental margin, fixed and variable costing, absorption, departmental rate determination, and overall financial performance evaluation.
• Negotiate and administer contracts by leveraging strategic knowledge of the customer’s business scope, the organization’s sales strategy, and the RFQ process to achieve mutually beneficial agreements.
• Assess customer needs and adapt the business model to ensure program success, while facilitating effective communication and collaboration among functional groups.
• Understand the roles and responsibilities of functional departments, proactively identify potential areas of concern, and assist in resolving technical, operational, and commercial issues.
• Generate, maintain, and publish periodic reports on cost, quality, and delivery, including revenue plans and product roadmaps, to provide clear visibility into program performance.
• Interact and communicate effectively with all levels of management, both professionally and technically, in written and oral form.
• Present information clearly and respond to questions from small groups of managers, engineers, clients, and customers, ensuring that complex topics are understandable and actionable.
• Apply engineering mathematics, statistics, and business and economic analysis to support data-driven decisions and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Define problems, collect relevant data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions to support effective program management and risk mitigation.
• Interpret a wide variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and manage multiple abstract and concrete variables within complex projects.
• Use Microsoft Word, Excel, and Project at an intermediate to advanced level to create reports, track timelines, and manage program documentation.
• Maintain a critical understanding of business practices from the sales process through production, ensuring that program decisions align with commercial and operational realities.

• 5+ years of program or project management experience, with demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• 2+ years of experience in contract manufacturing, preferably within electronic manufacturing environments.
• Seven years of cross-functional project management experience in two or more organizations, including at least two years specifically in program management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong understanding of New Product Introduction (NPI) processes and Customer Produced Product Transfer (CPPT) within contract manufacturing and electronic manufacturing contexts.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or business, with a solid foundation in cost accounting and proficiency in managing to timelines.
• Ability to perform complex financial analyses, including incremental margin, fixed and variable costing, absorption, departmental rate determination, and evaluation of program financial performance.
• Proficiency in reading, analyzing, and interpreting scientific and technical publications and reports.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly document communications and present information to diverse audiences.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, engineers, clients, and customers in small group settings.
• Applied knowledge of engineering mathematics, statistics, and business and economic analysis to support program decision-making.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret complex technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and manage multiple abstract and concrete variables.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Project for report creation, data analysis, and timeline management.
• Critical understanding of business practices from the sales process through production, ensuring cohesive program execution.

• Experience mentoring and guiding lower-level Program Managers and project team members.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional launch teams and coordinate activities across engineering, operations, finance, and commercial functions.
• Strong contract negotiation and administration skills, with experience managing RFQ processes and aligning contracts with business strategy.
• Experience generating and maintaining detailed reports on cost, quality, delivery, revenue plans, and product roadmaps.
• Ability to work effectively with Senior leadership, providing clear, concise updates and recommendations on program status and risks.
• Comfort working with international customers and stakeholders, including those located in different time zones.
• Growth mindset with an interest in progressing from Program Manager to Senior Program Manager and potentially to Business Unit Manager, supported by a clear growth trajectory.
• High level of professionalism, initiative, and accountability in managing strategic programs and driving continuous improvement.

This role is based onsite, Monday through Friday, with flexibility on start times to accommodate collaboration with clients and stakeholders in other regions, including international locations such as China. The environment supports a strong culture of engagement and well-being, offering an onsite gym, discounted membership at a local fitness facility, and access to recreational amenities such as basketball and pickleball courts, table tennis, billiards, an indoor basketball shooting area, and a band/music area with scheduled jam sessions. Team-building and community involvement are integral to the culture, with regular department lunches, an annual holiday lunch, community service events during work hours, and a full week off during the Christmas period. The work setting is professional and collaborative, with frequent cross-functional interaction and use of standard office technology and productivity tools, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Project.

This is a Permanent position based out of Lowell, AR.

The pay range for this position is $83000.00 - $117000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

· Opportunity to grow into the Senior Role if only at the PM level and a clear growth trajectory to Business Unit manager in coming in at the Senior level · Bonus Eligible in this position (Sending over 2026 benefit guide and bonus structure) · Access to onsite amenities including ( · Do department lunches regularly, Christmas lunch every year, Community service events during work hours, and the full week of Christmas off. · Onsite Gym as well as a Muv fitness membership discount, basketball/Pickleball court access, Ping pong table, Billiards, Indoor basketball shooting spot, Band/Music area with scheduled jam sessions, as well as ability to participate in company facilitated tournaments

This is a fully onsite position in Lowell,AR.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 1, 2026.

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.