Global Product and Program Launch Manager

About the Role

This role is responsible for the Product and Program Launch introductions for various brands across North America, Europe, and Asia. Provides quality and processes related guidance to engineering, product design teams, and management with a focus on developing new and improving existing launch processes to reduce startup delays and exceed customer satisfaction. Champion all launch processes through strong leadership, providing direction, coaching, and training.

Responsibilities

• Manage the new product launch technicians with a focus on ensuring a smooth transition from design to implementation at manufacturing sites by ensuring adherence to Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) and LPDS stage gate deliverables.
• Oversee readiness (scheduling, material, quality checks, documentation) for verification trips in various global manufacturing sites, develop detailed timelines with all required activities, and ensure team members across different functional areas complete tasks on time.
• Represent the “voice of the customer” toward the internal organization and the “voice of the plant” toward R&D partners by identifying and resolving issues upfront that could challenge a successful launch or quality customer experience through DFM, Safety reviews, FMEA, PFMEA, product reviews, and other risk avoidance tools.
• Coordinate training and documentation required for new product/program launch, manage the execution of safe launch protocols such as layered process and out-of-box quality audits on first production runs, and ensure all gaps are addressed by the responsible management team.
• Drive resolution and timely mitigation of risks, and escalate serious issues that impact successful customer release to management.
• Establish and manage a process for reviewing “lessons learned” for product launches, ensure effective countermeasures are implemented for future launches, and provide continuous improvement to the new product and program launch process to ensure a “flawless” launch.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field with 6–8 years of relevant experience or equivalent.
• Supervisory/Leadership experience.
• Highly competent in estimating, planning, tracking, and reporting project status, managing change requests, and project scope.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and conflicting priorities under project deadlines.
• Comfortable utilizing both internal and external resources to complete project assignments.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Project, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Outlook).
• Advanced proficiency in English.
• Up to 25% travel required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Certified Project Management Workshop Leader.
• Certified Problem Solving & Decision Making Workshop leader.
• Experience with APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) or similar product development methodology.
• Experience launching products in a plant environment (Manufacturing), with a focus on Quality.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Up to 10 direct reports.

Work Environment

Office environment with no specific or unusual physical or environmental demands. Often required to sit, perform repetitive hand motion (such as typing), hear, listen, and talk. Required to perform under floor environment, mid-level management, and upper management.

Benefits

• Medical, Vision, Dental, and Basic Life Insurance.
• 401k retirement plan with company match of up to 6%.
• Paid time off: 9–11 paid holidays each year, two weeks’ prorated vacation as a new hire, and either personal time (non-exempt only) or state-mandated sick time.

Weekly hours: 40