Supervisor, VAA Strategy and Planning

About the role

As Supervisor, VAA Strategy and Planning, you will play a key role in shaping the future of Value Added Assemblers (VAA) across program planning, cost optimization, supplier strategy, and manufacturing integration.

Responsibilities

• Lead VAA strategy and planning for new vehicle launches and ongoing business needs
• Serve as the primary point of contact for VAA planning, strategy, and cross-functional issue resolution
• Lead a team responsible for VAA planning deliverables, business processes, and strategic execution
• Drive cost target development for VAA modules, including capital, tooling, M&E, launch, and trial part cost assumptions
• Build and enhance costing tools, templates, and databases to improve forecast accuracy and support future program planning
• Support sourcing strategy development, including supplier footprint optimization, single-sourcing evaluations, and business case development
• Integrate VAA headcount, steady-state, and related operating metrics into enterprise tools, scorecards, and manufacturing reporting systems
• Partner with Manufacturing Integration Managers, Manufacturing Excellence, Finance, Purchasing, and program teams to align VAA assumptions with plant and enterprise objectives
• Support execution teams by defining critical planning inputs, control documentation, and readiness expectations early and ensuring on-time delivery
• Partner with plants, suppliers, and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure VAA content is represented in design, manufacturing, and launch discussions
• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve VAA processes, timelines, RASICs, work instructions, and governance documents
• Ensure VAA content is represented in design, manufacturing, and launch discussions with plants, suppliers, and cross-functional stakeholders
• Support execution teams by defining critical planning inputs, control documentation, and readiness expectations early and ensuring on-time delivery
• Coordinate and support PFMEA workshops, process reviews, and standardized work development across VAA-related activities
• Establish, maintain, and continuously improve VAA processes, timelines, RASICs, work instructions, and governance documents

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, business, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, program planning, launch, industrial engineering, supplier strategy, or related disciplines
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and driving alignment across multiple stakeholders
• Strong analytical and strategic problem-solving skills
• Experience in cost development, business case support, or financial analysis tied to manufacturing or supplier operations
• Strong communication, presentation, and team leadership skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced program environment
• Willingness to travel to assembly plants and supplier facilities as needed

Qualifications

• Preferred Qualifications: Experience with VAA commodities, module sourcing, or third-party assembly operations; Strong understanding of manufacturing launch processes and supplier integration; Experience with capital, tooling, and M&E cost estimation; Experience integrating operational metrics into scorecards, dashboards, or enterprise reporting tools; Background in sourcing strategy, supplier consolidation, or cost optimization initiatives; Plant experience and understanding of assembly operations; Working knowledge of GVDP and related GM manufacturing processes; Engineering degree preferred