Program Manager

Job description

Program Manager
Location: Twinsburg, OH
Compensation: Competitive Pay & Benefits

Position Overview
The Program Manager is tasked with directing cross-functional teams focused on achieving customer satisfaction, ensuring program profitability, and meeting program objectives while effectively addressing risks. Reporting to the Senior Program Manager, this position manages assigned programs throughout the entire lifecycle, starting from contract award to end-of-service support.

In this role, the Program Manager is responsible for fostering alignment between internal stakeholders and customer expectations, ensuring timely and budget-conscious program delivery that adheres to defined program management standards, processes, and procedures. This position is integral to coordinating operational, engineering, financial, and customer-facing functions across a matrix organization.

Primary Duties

• Guide assigned programs to meet customer satisfaction, financial goals, and operational targets.
• Facilitate the coordination of cross-functional teams to align program initiatives and priorities.
• Oversee program scope, schedule, budget, risks, and deliverables throughout their lifecycle.
• Develop and sustain program business plans and Medium-Term Plans (MTP).
• Track program performance metrics and implement corrective measures as needed.
• Ensure timely, clear, and precise internal and external program reporting.
• Conduct program reviews and milestone assessments to guarantee successful outcomes.
• Participate in bid and proposal efforts by validating cost estimates and underlying assumptions.
• Identify and mitigate program risks to protect against operational and financial exposure.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, Production, Quality, and Sales units to ensure program success.
• Assist with program audits and initiatives aimed at continuous improvement.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with customers, acting as a primary point of contact for program-specific matters.
• Coordinate activities across various sites and international stakeholders as necessary.

Program Scope & Complexity
The programs managed in this position may encompass:

• Annual budgets ranging from approximately $1M to $5M.
• Annual revenue responsibilities between approximately $1M to $10M.
• Direct interaction with key customer accounts and support for customer relationships.
• Complex product development and operational execution activities.
• Coordination of activities involving multiple locations and/or countries.

Performance Metrics (KPIs)

• Attainment of annual revenue and budget goals.
• Customer satisfaction metrics, focusing on on-time delivery, quality, responsiveness, and adherence to schedules.
• Timely completion of program milestone assessments and reporting obligations.
• Effective risk management and the implementation of corrective solutions.
• Successful execution of program goals within defined scope, cost, and time expectations.

Qualifications
Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or a similar combination of education and practical experience.
• Demonstrated experience in leading cross-functional teams within a program or project management context.
• Experience operating in a matrix organizational framework.
• Preferred background in engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated sectors.
• Strong knowledge of program management principles, including planning, monitoring, cost control, scheduling, and risk management.
• Familiarity with operational processes like procurement, production planning, order fulfillment, and supply chain management.
• Prior experience managing customer-facing programs and business performance indicators.

Essential Skills & Competencies
Leadership & Team Management

• Effective leadership and interpersonal abilities, fostering collaboration across diverse functional teams.
• Capacity to inspire teams and promote accountability in a dynamic environment.

Program & Project Management

• Deep understanding of program management methodologies related to cost, schedule, quality, and risk control.
• Proficient in managing multiple priorities and intricate deliverables simultaneously.

Communication & Customer Management

• Superior verbal and written communication skills.
• Adept at fostering trusted relationships with customers, stakeholders, and internal teams.
• Capable of delivering program updates and leading discussions at the executive level.

Problem Solving & Decision Making

• Strong analytical skills and decision-making capabilities.
• Aptitude for proactively identifying issues and executing effective corrective measures.

Negotiation & Influence

• Effective negotiation skills with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to facilitate consensus and align teams toward common program goals.

Autonomy & Accountability

• Proactive and self-driven, capable of working independently while managing programs with minimal supervision.
• Comfortable working within a fast-paced, multi-disciplinary environment with tight deadlines.

Reporting Structure & Cross-Functional Interaction
The Program Manager directly reports to the Senior Program Manager and collaborates closely with leaders in various areas, including:

• Engineering
• Finance
• Sales & Marketing
• Supply Chain & Purchasing
• Production & Operations
• Quality
• Industrialization
• Customer Support & Aftermarket Services

This position operates within a matrix organization necessitating strong collaborative, communicative, and coordinative skills to ensure effective program execution.

Decision-Making Authority
The Program Manager has the authority to:

• Manage daily tactical operations of designated customer programs.
• Oversee the execution and management of approved program budgets.
• Prioritize program tasks and implement corrective measures.
• Escalate and resolve risks and issues related to the program.