Program Manager

About the role

The program manager is responsible for the execution of customer strategies related to one or more customers including all products/programs from new product introduction through volume production. He/she is responsible for achieving high customer satisfaction, driving profitable business relationships and sales growth and providing strong leadership to the customer focus teams to ensure achievement of customer commitments.

Responsibilities

• Leader of the customer focus team (CFT).
  • Prioritize and monitors all CFT activities.
  • Acts as primary day-to-day customer point of contact and functions as the primary Customer contact in resolution management and responsible for the overall health of the customer relationship.
• Ensures successful new product introduction:
  • Executes to NPI standard process.
  • Understands and monitors S&OP.
  • Sets appropriate expectations with customers.
  • Maintains pricing and ECO prioritization during the process.
  • Gains understanding of customer product knowledge and roadmap.
  • Establishes and monitors KPI’s related to E&O, PPV and inventory turns.
• Manages recurring pricing activities.
  • Uses contract, pricing model and updated costs to present new pricing to customers.
  • Negotiates to successful completion.
  • Maintains technical, scheduling, financial and quality metrics.
  • Determines cause, and takes corrective action.
• Schedules Executive Business Reviews (EBR) and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBR).
  • Ensures appropriate attendees are well prepared for meeting.
  • Develops agendas and tools to accomplish objective.
  • Prepares internal teams for meeting.
  • Aligns topics and presentations with customer prior to meeting.
• Communicates critical problems encountered, action taken, and anticipated effect on project objectives.
  • Accountable for driving objectives related to continuous improvements.
  • Ensures execution to contract terms and conditions to meet Benchmark’s obligations.
• Works with SCA to ensure resolution of excess and obsolete inventory issues.
  • Ensures recovery for costs related to ECO activity, NRE and other miscellaneous.
  • Maintains customer demand in accordance with contract, site inventory objectives, equipment and personnel capacity.
  • Communicates updated data to close gap between customer request and Benchmark commitment (manage expectations).
  • Tracks, trends and reports On-Time Delivery to customer request and Benchmark commitment.
  • Monitors customer revenue plan through demand outlook.
• Ensures customer demand (PO and Forecast) is managed and well understood by CFT members.
  • Communicates contract requirements internally.
  • Executes customer quotation requests.
  • Assesses risk utilizing and the Risk/Liability Tool.
  • Validates the establishment of quotes to actuals costs comparisons.
  • Coordinates with procurement organization to develop supply chain strategy which aligns with customer contract and site goals.
  • Manages inventory days of sales.
  • Ensures Positive Price Variances alignment to site goals at the point of sale.
  • Reviews Supply Chain data related to component lead-time, MOQ, and impacts to total inventory exposure.
  • Determines if customer will be responsible for negative PPV and or associated procurement costs and if so, collects money from customer.
• Develops an understanding of DFx philosophy including Design for manufacturing, Design for Test, and Design for BOM or Cost and promotes with the customer and coordinates with the appropriate Benchmark function.
  • Ensures receipt and distribution of customer documentation packages.
  • Coordinates collection and distribution of customer quality data.
  • Makes sure ECO process and impacts are captured and reported to customer.
  • Makes sure customer DPPM, DPU or DPMO with customer focus team to ensure quality measurements are within contract and customer required limits.
  • Makes sure customer escapes events and lead customer focus team to root cause and corrective action driving closer of issues.
  • Makes sure customer COPQ and works with CFT to reduce.
  • Participates in MRB activities to drive rapid resolution of issues.
• Embraces change and adapts quickly to a new way of working.
  • Uses analytical skills to solve problems by gathering data, analyzing it and drawing concise solutions.
  • Uses, applies and promotes problem solving tools (root cause, 8D, 5 Why's, 6Ms, etc.) in daily activities to recognize and define problems, analyze data, develop and implement solutions, and evaluate outcome.
• Possess sound negotiating ability.
  • Effectively explores alternatives and positions to reach mutually beneficial sales agreements that gain customers’ acceptance and commitment.
  • Effectively explores alternatives to reach mutually beneficial agreements that gain customers’ acceptance and commitment.
• Exhibits solid understanding of the concepts and how to positively impact OI and RONA levers.
  • Recruits, interviews and hires team members.
  • Assesses individual and team strengths and development needs.
  • Counsels and mentors subordinates.
  • Creates and manages succession plans.
  • Establishes clear measurable goals and objectives by which to assess individual and team results (i.e. metrics, results against project timelines, training documentation, knowledge of roles and responsibilities, personal development goals).
  • Drives individuals and teams to continuously improve in key metrics and the achievement of organizational goals.
  • Ensures that the responsibilities, authorities, and accountability of all direct subordinates are defined and understood.
  • Drives a lean culture.
  • Identifies creative ways to reduce cost by streamlining processes and systems (i.e. modification of responsibilities or consolidation of tasks, elimination of non-value-added processes, or complete re-engineering of processes and systems).

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Effective multitasking skills and the ability to take on additional responsibilities as required.
• Effective organization and prioritization skills.
• Demonstrate high attention to detail.
• Ability to work with diverse groups.
• Discretion: Demonstrates discretion, confidentiality, independent judgment and professionalism.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and guidance, exercising discretion and independent judgment.
• Understanding of and ability to use continuous improvement tools.
• Strong customer service and client focus.
• Working knowledge of productivity tools, including Microsoft Office products and Teams conferencing software.
• Demonstrated leadership and people management skills including ability to effectively coach and mentor employees at all levels.
• Enthusiastic and motivational communicator with multi-cultural experience.
• Demonstrates effective customer interface skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact and influence individuals, internally and externally, across all levels, functions and geographies.

Additional Specific Qualifications

• 4-year degree in engineering discipline or business.
• Proven ability to take on project leadership/ownership and complete projects in a timely manner.
• Demonstrates discretion, confidentiality, independent judgment and professionalism.
• Excellent written and verbal communication as well as presentation skills.
• Manage, understand and present data for monthly program reviews.
• Understanding of and ability to use continuous improvement tools.
• Strong financial understanding, risk analysis ability, relationship building and project management.

Geographical Location

Minnesota:Rochester

Physical Location

Rochester, MN

Shift

Shift 1

Work Schedule

M-F 0800-1700

Full Time Compensation Range

$79,562.00 to $99,453.00 USD

Benefits and Other Compensation

Benchmark provides a comprehensive benefits package, including a Bonus Plan, 401(k), Paid Time Off, and Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance, all based on scheduled hours. Benchmark complies with applicable state and local employee leave laws.