Senior Program Manager

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Program Manager to lead complex product development and product improvement programs from concept through production launch and sustainment. As a key member of GILLIG's Program Management organization, you will be responsible for driving cross-functional execution across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Operations, Finance, Service, and other stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of strategic programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver new product development and product improvement programs on time, on budget, and on specification while fostering a culture of product excellence.
• Serve as the single accountable leader for overall program execution and communication across assigned programs.
• Develop and maintain integrated program plans, schedules, milestones, critical paths, dependencies, and deliverables.
• Drive estimation, planning, organization, execution, and monitoring of cross-functional activities throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Ensure alignment of program objectives with business goals, customer requirements, and organizational priorities.
• Coordinate engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, service, and operations readiness activities to support successful product launch and production ramp.
• Drive cross-functional alignment on priorities and resource allocation, proactively addressing competing demands that may impact program execution.
• Identify, assess, communicate, and mitigate program risks, issues, dependencies, and opportunities throughout the program lifecycle.
• Track, analyze, and report program performance related to schedule, cost, scope, quality, and overall execution health.
• Support program budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance management activities.
• Develop mitigation and recovery plans when programs deviate from established objectives.
• Prepare and deliver program status updates, executive reviews, milestone reports, and decision-support materials.
• Facilitate program team meetings, leadership reviews, and cross-functional decision-making discussions.
• Build strong relationships across all levels of the organization to foster collaboration, accountability, and successful outcomes.
• Partner with suppliers, customers, and external stakeholders as required to support program objectives.
• Support continuous improvement of product development processes, deliverables, and organizational capabilities to support successful program execution and launch.
• Capture and institutionalize lessons learned through structured post-program reviews and continuous improvement activities.
• Support adoption of evolving business systems, tools, and processes, including ERP and PLM-related initiatives where applicable.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related technical discipline; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of experience leading complex product development, new product introduction, or cross-functional programs within commercial vehicle, automotive, aerospace, industrial equipment, manufacturing, or related industries.
• Demonstrated success leading major product development programs from concept through production launch and sustainment.
• Experience operating within structured product development, phase-gate, APQP, or equivalent new product introduction environments.
• Strong understanding of product development lifecycles, manufacturing readiness, launch planning, and cross-functional program execution.
• Experience managing program schedules, budgets, risks, dependencies, and stakeholder communications.
• Excellent business acumen with demonstrated ability to align cross-functional teams to strategic objectives.
• Exceptional verbal, written, presentation, and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, including the ability to transform complex information into actionable insights and decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority and drive alignment across highly matrixed organizations.
• Proven strategic thinking, sound judgment, initiative, and ability to successfully navigate ambiguity and organizational complexity.
• Experience working with ERP, PLM, or related product development systems preferred.