North America Automotive Program Manager

About the role

PennEngineering is a leader in the manufacturing of specialty fasteners and is committed to providing quality, value-added products and services. The Program Manager – Automotive, North America is responsible for planning, overseeing and leading automotive fastener programs from customer RFQ through Start of Production and post-launch handover. This position is a primary role within PEM North America and requires a multi-skilled, highly capable person who will interact with a range of stakeholders, internal departments and external customers, and will manage several programs simultaneously. The Program Manager is responsible for creating and managing the plan that will meet the objectives of each program while adhering to an agreed budget and timeline. The role is the single point of accountability for assigned programs and operates against the Master Automotive Fastener Launch Timeline, a fourteen-gate structure (G0 through G13) aligned to APQP and customer-specific requirements. Duties include defining program scope, securing the necessary resources, anticipating time and financial requirements, chairing gate reviews, communicating to all stakeholders and controlling program documentation. Join us as we build the future in Manufacturing and Engineering! Located in Danboro, PA.

Responsibilities

• Develop plans that will meet the objectives of each program
• Manage relationships with all internal departments, stakeholders, external parties and customers
• Manage program progress, adjusting work when required to ensure programs meet their deadlines
• Monitor and report on program progress. Measure and analyze programs to ensure they are developing as planned
• Coordinate internal program activities and resources across Commercial, Engineering, Manufacturing, Tooling, Quality, Supply Chain and Logistics
• Assemble and lead cross-functional program teams, holding functional owners accountable for the deliverables and exit criteria assigned to them at each gate
• Maintain the master launch timeline for each assigned program, expressed in weeks relative to SOP, and keep it aligned to customer build and PPAP dates
• Chair formal gate reviews and exercise the authority to approve, conditionally approve or hold a gate based on documented exit criteria
• Escalate gate holds, schedule risk and resource conflicts promptly and at the appropriate level
• Conduct program reviews and create detailed and summary program reports
• Oversee and ensure all program documentation is up to date and archived for future reference, providing a history that can be revisited when planning similar programs, including quote assumptions, timing plans, gate records and PPAP files
• Communicate clearly and regularly on program updates and progress with all stakeholders, external parties and customers
• Understand program risks and design contingency plans, so each program continues moving forward even when obstructions occur; own and maintain the program risk register
• Implement, optimize and improve program management procedures,