Program Manager - Manufacturing transformation

About the role

The Program Manager will plan, govern, and drive execution across manufacturing transformation initiatives. You will work closely with client business and technology stakeholders, plant and operations teams, Ascentt delivery teams, product owners, data teams, and offshore delivery partners to ensure objectives are clearly defined, workstreams stay coordinated, risks are managed early, and measurable business outcomes are delivered.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of program management across multiple manufacturing transformation workstreams — planning, governance, execution, and value tracking.
• Manage stakeholders across business and technology functions, engaging senior managers and above to align priorities, drive decisions, and resolve escalations.
• Establish and run program governance, operating cadence, status reporting, RAID management, and escalation paths.
• Build and maintain integrated program plans spanning scope, milestones, dependencies, resources, risks, and business outcomes.
• Cook up coordination across business, technology, plant operations, data, analytics, and delivery teams to maintain alignment and execution discipline.
• Facilitate workshops, planning sessions, status reviews, and executive updates.
• Translate business priorities and transformation goals into actionable execution plans.
• Track progress against timelines, deliverables, success metrics, and stakeholder commitments.
• Define and monitor KPIs, value measures, adoption goals, and roadmap priorities.
• Prepare executive-ready artifacts — status updates, roadmap views, milestone plans, risk summaries, and value-realization updates.
• Work effectively across onsite and offshore teams to sustain delivery momentum and accountability.

Requirements

• 15+ years of professional experience across technology, consulting, operations, manufacturing, enterprise applications, data, or digital transformation (20+ years preferred).
• Substantial, proven program management experience running large, complex, cross-functional programs end to end.
• Mechanical engineering, manufacturing, industrial engineering, information systems, computer science, or a related field — or equivalent experience.
• Command of all aspects of program management — planning, governance, status reporting, risk and dependency management, value tracking, and roadmap management.
• Strong executive communication skills, including the ability to produce executive-level updates and facilitate decision-making.
• Ability to operate in ambiguous environments and bring structure, clarity, and focus.
• Experience working with onsite/offshore delivery teams.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in automotive or other complex, discrete manufacturing and industrial environments.
• Experience with digital transformation, manufacturing systems (MES/SCADA), Industry 4.0/smart manufacturing, data platforms, analytics, AI/ML, or enterprise applications.
• Familiarity with Agile, hybrid delivery, product operating models, or scaled program governance.
• PMP, PgMP, SAFe, Scrum, Lean Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing/TPM, or related certifications.
• Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, manufacturing, industrial engineering, information systems, computer science, or a related field.
• Master's degree or MBA.

Benefits

This is a client-facing role for someone who operates confidently with senior stakeholders, stays close to execution, and brings structure and discipline to a fast-moving transformation environment.

Schedule

Full-time

Pay

To be determined based on experience and qualifications.