Design Project Manager

About the role

We are seeking a highly organized, collaborative, and proactive Project Manager to support our Design organization in delivering innovative products from concept through execution. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced, creative environments and has a proven ability to coordinate complex projects, manage competing priorities, and build strong relationships across cross-functional teams. The successful candidate will bring a blend of project management expertise, business acumen, and an appreciation for the design and product development process. This individual is a natural problem solver who can anticipate challenges, identify risks, and drive solutions while maintaining alignment with project objectives, timelines, and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Creating, reviewing and updating task-based project plans, reflecting changes in scope or schedule to ensure that the project stays on track
• Communicating with key stakeholders to provide regular updates on project status
• Communicating with team members to ensure they are meeting deadlines, resolving issues, and following procedures
• Managing project budgets by tracking progress and expenditure against plan
• Reviewing project deliveries to ensure they meet the defined scope of requirements
• Scheduling resources, both internal and external, to support Design team deliverables
• Liaising with key stakeholders, including other internal teams and external partners, to agree inputs, deliverables, dependencies, and timing
• Assisting Design Leadership in all managerial tasks related to physical modeling, surfacing, and asset development
• Organizing and ensuring on-time completion of physical modeling team deliverables
• Building relationships with internal design team members and key stakeholders, such as Brand, Commercial, Engineering, and Manufacturing teams, relating to asset development
• Supporting the definition and procurement of tools and materials for project team members to successfully deliver content
• Producing monthly project reports, including a dashboard to clearly communicate status
• Thinking creatively and working collaboratively to resolve issues and mitigate risks to projects
• Proactively working with colleagues within and outside of Design to develop solutions that constantly improve processes
• Appropriately working in a creative space while collaborating independently and together with others
• Maintaining wide latitude for independent judgment with only general supervision
• Keeping abreast of and supporting wider vehicle program and company needs
• Demonstrating flexibility to support activities outside of the role
• Willingness to travel domestically to support activities at other company locations
• Identifying critical paths and associated risk mitigations
• Creating Scope of Work documents for outsourced activities

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a professional product development environment, ideally in an automotive design studio
• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Engineering, or Business disciplines
• Good working knowledge of project software management tools, such as Microsoft Project or Monday
• Aptitude to read technical drawings and models
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Pay

Annual Base Pay Range: $105,000 - $132,000 USD

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance and disability insurance
• Vacation and 401k
• Eligibility to participate in the equity program and/or a discretionary annual incentive program, subject to program rules

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time.

Why join Slate?

At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness moves our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, motivated by shared principles:

• Safety First
• Delight Customers
• One Team
• Relentless Improvement
• Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy
• Respectful Collaboration
• Positive Legacy