Program Manager - Product Development

About the role

The Corporate Engineering and Product Development organization at JB Poindexter & Co. supports nine business units across the company's portfolio of commercial vehicle and upfit solutions. This team leads the development and launch of innovative products and technologies across a diverse set of applications and end markets.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development programs from concept through production launch and business unit handoff
• Own program schedule, budget, risks, deliverables, and cross-functional alignment across multiple concurrent projects
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, milestones, and launch readiness tracking
• Ensure alignment between engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and supplier execution
• Drive design maturity, validation activities, and launch readiness in coordination with Business Unit engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams
• Serve as primary customer interface for program status, commitments, issue resolution, and escalation management
• Lead customer reviews and cross-functional program gate reviews
• Coordinate with purchasing, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to ensure readiness of tooling, parts, and production requirements
• Manage engineering changes (ECR/ECN), assess impacts, and maintain program alignment with cost, timing, and customer expectations
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks related to schedule, technical execution, quality, and supply chain readiness
• Drive disciplined documentation of program decisions, actions, and change management

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree, preferred in Engineering, Sciences, Manufacturing, Business, or related field
• 3–5 years of experience in Program or Project Management in product development or manufacturing environments
• Experience managing full product development lifecycles through launch
• Experience working in cross-functional engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills in customer-facing environments
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent programs in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Automotive Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier experience
• Exposure to APQP and PPAP processes
• Experience in commercial trucks, heavy-duty vehicles, or vocational vehicle programs
• Background in high mix / low volume manufacturing environments
• Proficiency with Microsoft product suite – MS Project, Power BI, Power Apps

What We Are Looking For

A hands-on program leader who understands engineering, manufacturing, and execution - not just scheduling

Someone comfortable operating in ambiguity with evolving requirements and custom engineering solutions

A strong communicator who can translate technical details into clear customer commitments

A self-starter capable of managing multiple programs simultaneously in a fast-paced environment

A collaborative leader who drives accountability while enabling engineering problem-solving