Description

Demonstrates SoundOff Signal’s Core Values in daily interactions with internal and external customers.

Responsibilities include leading all aspects of the program, from program award until six months after start of production. The Program Manager is principally responsible for the achievement of program Quality, Cost and Delivery objectives while ensuring profitability throughout the entire program lifecycle. The Program Manager will be supported in achieving these metrics by the various departmental leaders (VP Sales/Marketing, VP Product Development, VP Operations and CFO). The main objectives of the role are to:

? Develop strong relationships and manage the ongoing negotiation of priorities inside SoundOff or SCVP and with the designated supply base.

? Manage internal/external cost studies in support of program financial objectives.

? Manage internal and external product, process, and program changes through appropriate change request and approval system(s) finding offsets in terms of cost or timing as required to meet program objectives.

? Liaison with Finance to build the program financial model projecting program cost with sales price and duration to generate appropriate financial metrics. Develop the program expenditure budget and release the investments per the program timeline. Control and communicate program economical variances via the program financial model.

? Launch and monitor the program by using the program financial model, timelines, open issues list, and gate reviews. Communicate relevant variances of the program plan to senior management on a predetermined and impromptu basis.

? Conduct risk and opportunity analysis (financial, product, process, commercial, and industrialization), and develop and implement appropriate action plans to address deficiencies

? Manage and co-ordinate the cross-functional program team (Sales, Finance, Purchasing, Quality, Production, Supply Chain, Product & Process Engineering), by defining team members' objectives and goals in conjunction with the program requirements.

? Arbitrate any conflicts with the customer (directly or through the assistance of the sales team) and internal cross-functional teams on financial, timing and technical issues.

? Create a "Program Management culture" by ensuring processes defined in the Program Management System are applied at all steps, and by developing synergies between all disciplines involved in the program.

? Organize communications throughout the program lifecycle.

? Ensure smooth program transfer from program/product inception to production launch.

Essential Program Management Tools:

Timeline (Gantt Chart): Communicates significant customer and internal dates by defining gate/phase/milestone points of the program. Defines the critical path and transformation points of the program allowing internal departments to align personnel, equipment and capital resources for adequate support of the program.

Open Issues List: Defines action plans to address program roadblocks, risks, and opportunities by clearly assigning required tasks to appropriate team members while tracking due and completion dates along with the resulting outcome.

Financial Model: Outlines program financial performance by evaluating the programs cost (capital, tooling, development/engineering, testing, operations, packaging, costs of goods sold, SG&A, overhead, and logistics) and associated sales prices and volumes in turn satisfying corporate defined financial metrics (IRR, operating margin, variable margin, manufacturing margin, etc.). 

Gate Reviews: A series of predefined program requirements in accordance with the program timeline to ensure program obligations are met. The defined gates control and monitor the required activities of all internal departments facilitating the successful launch of the program.

Change Management System: A cross-functional conduit to communicate, quantify, and qualify changes to the program. Includes but not limited to product, process, tooling, capital, logistic, and commercial changes. 

Communication: Appropriately scheduled Milestone meetings and Product Launch Meetings using the above mentioned tools to monitor the program and guide the cross-functional team to fulfill the program objectives and eliminate roadblocks for a successful program launch as well as timely meetings with Senior Management to review and keep them abreast of the status of program metrics. 

Travel

This position will require occasional international travel at key points during tooling development and launch of new products. It may also require occasional travel domestically to suppliers as well as customers. 

Able to perform job consistently and without excessive absenteeism or tardiness.

Additional duties as assigned.

Bachelor’s degree in a related field. Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

A technical background is preferred for this position along with at least 5 years of successful program management experience - automotive experience in terms of project engineering and program management will be considered a positive factor.

Must have either formal or significant work experience in program management tools and discipline

Self directed and proven ability to solve technical issues using data and sound troubleshooting principles to derive decisions.

 Multi-tasking capabilities

Excellent organizational skills

Computer skills – Windows Office Suite, Project management software tools; MS Project / OPENPROJ

Team player

Mostly office environment, occasional light manufacturing environment 

Fast-paced, team-oriented environment

Low noise level in a temperature-controlled setting

Some level of domestic and/or international travel may be required

May work remotely

Mostly normal business hours with occasional need to flex hours