Customer Program Management Director
About the role
The Director of Customer Program Management within our Connectivity and Cloud Solutions (CCS) segment is a senior-level, high-impact role. Initially operating as a strategic individual contributor, this position is designed for a high-potential leader who will master the operational complexities of the role, establish a strong track record of success, and rapidly grow with Celestica (CLS) to build and lead a dedicated program management team.
Detailed Description
Detailed Responsibilities
Trusted Partner & Executive Interface: Establish deep trust and a consultative relationship with customer counterparts. Interface directly with customer teams and executive leadership to align strategic goals with Celestica & operational capabilities.
Internal Stakeholder Alignment: Act as the critical bridge uniting Sales, Business Units, Global Supply Chain Management (SCM), and Site Operations to ensure flawless cross-functional execution.
Multi-Customer Coordination: Effectively balance, manage, and coordinate between multiple major customers concurrently when navigating complex, overlapping business opportunities and shared technology platforms.
JDM & Systems Integration Orchestration: Partner across internal teams to ensure execution of cutting-edge hardware programs—specifically focusing on Networking, Compute, Storage, AI infrastructure, and applicable lifecycle services.
Bid Management & Proposal Excellence: Actively participate in bid preparation for new business opportunities. Take ownership of aligning internal documentation, engineering inputs, supply chain commitments, and financial alignment for yourself and collaborating team members prior to bid submission.
Rigorous Action Item (AI) Ownership: Direct the tracking, management, and closure of project Action Items (AIs) for yourself and cross-functional team members. Ensure all internal parties meet deadlines for NPI (New Product Introduction), system testing, and mass-production milestones.
Leadership Development: Proactively master CLS operations, corporate structures, and account dynamics with the explicit intent to scale the function and transition into a team leadership role in the future.
Knowledge/Skills/Competencies
Advanced Infrastructure Technology Acumen: Deep understanding of Joint Design Manufacturing (JDM), complex Systems Integration, and hardware architectures spanning Networking, Compute, Storage, AI/ML platforms, and related services.
Multi-Account Matrix Management: Proven ability to manage multiple high-priority customer programs simultaneously without losing focus on critical deliverables.
Advanced Project & Bid Governance: Exceptional capability in organizing complex documentation, cost models, and technical requirements into structured, comprehensive bid submissions.
Execution & Accountability: A relentless focus on detail, tracking, and execution. Proven ability to influence and hold multi-disciplinary teams accountable to tight deadlines without direct reporting authority.
Leadership Potential: Strong foundational leadership traits with the desire and capability to transition from an individual contributor into a people manager.
Typical Experience
10+ years of progressive experience in program management, manufacturing operations, or supply chain leadership within JDM, Systems Integration, cloud infrastructure, or enterprise hardware industries.
Proven success driving large-scale programs and complex bid processes for Tier-1 technology companies, hyperscalers, or major cloud service providers in an individual contributor or lead matrix capacity. A demonstrable readiness to step into a formal people-leadership role.
Typical Education
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (BA), Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related field preferred.