Program Manager (Automotive)

Overview:

Program Manager is responsible for leading the program in all aspects, from program award (or "Request For Quotation Approval" [RFQA] in some cases) until 6 months after Start of Production.

He/she is the guarantor of customer satisfaction in conjunction with the achievement of program Quality, Cost and Delivery objectives, while ensuring profitability throughout the entire program lifecycle.

Responsibilities:

• Develop strong relationships and manage the ongoing negotiations with the customer as company representative.
• Prepare and submit the RFQA to Management if relevant.
• Liaise with Program Controller, build the initial Business Plan, define the Program investment scheme, and release investments in compliance with controlling procedures; take economical responsibility for all deviations from initial requirements.
• Launch and monitor the Program : track progress by updating Business Plan, Program Dashboard and Budget Reports and by leading reviews of program steps and results.
• Conduct Risk/Opportunity analyses and develop and implement appropriate action plans.
• Arbitrate any conflicts with the customer on financial and/or technical issues.
• Staff, manage and co-ordinate a cross-functional program team (Sales, Controlling, Purchasing, Quality, Production, Supply Chain, Product & Process engineering) and define team members' objectives and assignments.
• Create a "Program Management culture" by ensuring processes defined in the Company Program Management System (PMS) are applied at all steps and by developing synergies between all actors involved in the program.
• Organise communications throughout the program lifecycle.
• Ensure smooth program transfer from Development Centre to Production Plant.
• Organise key program information to ensure Program continuity and to contribute to knowledge management

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, ideally in engineering
• Minimum 7 years of job experience (in an automotive environment and/or with electronics product experience a plus)
• Minimum 5 years of full cycle project / program management experience
• Background and experience in sales, engineering, manufacturing operation and, production working with plant manager are welcome to challenge.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills
• Conflict management skills : ability to prevent and solve conflicts
• Ability to work in a matrixed organisation
• Good knowledge of Program Management System-Process
• Good knowledge of Program standards, tools and methods
• Fluent in English and in Japanese
• Ability to establish, develop, lead and unite a team
• Strong financial knowledge (incl. building and following a Business Plan)
• Problem solving techniques
• Strategic and analytic capabilities
• Planning and organizing abilities