Description

Position Summary: The Senior Program Manager must have the industry experience / knowledge required to manage complicated / product development projects and be in position to mentor less experienced Program Managers. The Senior Program Manager is responsible for the coordination of all activities related to the fulfillment of assigned customer orders for commercial aircraft passenger seats, from the time a program is handed over by the Sales department, through development, certification, supply chain and production, and until program closure. The primary focus of the Senior Program Manager is to ensure complete satisfaction of assigned customers with the Recaro Aircraft Seating products and services, maintaining cost, quality and schedule control, as well as RECARO’s quality and design standards. The Senior Program Manager has primary responsibility to maintain program on time performance, quality, cost and weight targets.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following, other duties may be assigned:

Manage complex programs from sales handover to program closure with complete responsibility over cost, timeline, scope and quality of the product. Complex programs include but are not limited to:

• Full Certification Testing (Incl HIC)
• Complex IFE Installations
• High Level Customers
• Complex Seat Layouts
• Unique customer requested design solutions
• The Sr. PM must be able to advise lesser experienced PM’s regarding the aforementioned items

Responsible to maintain overall program timeline to support of agreed due dates at all times

• Develop full scale project plan in MS Project
• Manage ZACSA 
• Manage MS Tracking database updates
• Negotiate due date changes with OEM and customers
• Define project scope, goals and deliverables that support overall program baseline in collaboration with project team, senior management and stakeholders

Manage program scope and access the impact of scope changes

• Responsible for communication with customers and stakeholders
• Manage Master Change Proposals
• Manage Program budget and coordinate budget changes as necessary
• Service bulletin coordination

Responsible for program documentation 

• Program Action Items (both internal and external)
• Program Team Meeting minutes
• Program Checklist
• Audit files and results
• MCP and Purchase Order filing
• Program Milestone Meeting documentation including Agenda and Meeting minutes
• PSC / IPSC Presentations
• Concessions and commitment letters through OEM product support processes

Responsible to manage program team to achieve project results:

• Lead program task and team meetings in an efficient manner
• Follow up on open items with each individual prior to their due date
• Agree and maintain OEM submittal requirements and due dates.
• Manage customer changes in close coordination with all impacted team members.
• Estimate resources and participants required achieve project goals. Where required, negotiate with department managers for the support of required personnel
• Identify and manage project dependencies and critical path and continually manage project expectations with team members and other stakeholders
• Identify and resolve issues and conflicts within the project team and when not solved in team meetings escalate per the escalation process
• Define priorities within the project and agree on delegation of tasks and responsibilities to appropriate personnel with clear accountability within the program team
• Supervise all BFE activities, including the timely placement and receipt of BFE orders, required for CDR, test and HoV production seats
• Ensure IFE test equipment is loaded with correct software level and is functioning properly to test the required system within contract specifications

Responsible for overall program performance

• Primary focal for ITCM, PDR, CDR and other technical meetings
• Responsible to organize implementation of FAI open items
• Interface with OEM contact and provide regular program progress reports to ensure complete visibility of program at all times
• Continuously monitor OEM ratings and negotiate or correct as required
• Report program difficulties to the program review board and implement the decisions from review board
• Determine the frequency and content of status reports from the project team, analyze results, and troubleshoot problem areas

Responsible to adhere Department processes and procedures

• Actively participate in team and PMO meetings to support process upgrades or develop new processes/ procedures
• Develop and adhere to program management guidelines and standards for project execution. 
• Prepare project audits and implement risk analysis using RECARO standards and tools.
• Conduct project postmortems and create a recommendations report in order to identify successful and unsuccessful project elements (as part of lessons learned practice)

Responsible to take on the role as a mentor for less experienced colleagues (Assistant Program Manager / Program Manager I / Program Manager II) 

• Provide training for Program Management Processes
• Assist in customer meetings / preparations for customer meetings
• Aid in the preparation of program presentations 
• Provide availability for question / answer sessions

Requirements

Education/Experience:

Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree is required, Master’s degree is preferred. A degree in Business, Mechanical, Aerospace or Electrical Engineering is preferred with a minimum of 4 years’ experience in a Program Management role. 

Additional Skills:

• Must be able to manage complex and development programs including Research and Development work.
• Strong, proven customer relations skills are required
• The position requires a high level understanding of engineering concepts and FAA certification procedures for commercial aircraft seats
• Must possess strong negotiation skills and the ability to positively influence customer decisions, while maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction
• Proven track record of meeting commitments
• Strong problem solving skills with the ability to exercise mature judgment are required
• Ability to multi-task and operate in a fast-paced, high pressure environment. Excellent organization skills are essential
• Must have excellent internal and external communication and presentation skills
• Ability to take initiative and work with minimum supervision
• Multicultural background is a plus.

Computer Skills:

Must have good knowledge in MS Project, SAP, and Microsoft Office applications.

Certificates and Licenses:

Project Management Professional (PMP) should be obtained.