Innovation Project Manager

Job Description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Working with Innovation Strategy Manager to understand industry strategy changes and apply these to new product and application designs
• Innovates creative product solutions to meet customer needs and works with internal patent department, collaborating with program managers, manufacturing, and sales team throughout the innovation process – from Discover through Create and into Develop
• Plans and formulates for project timetable to meet CBI pipeline needs
• Works with S&E teams to partner with customers (Automotive OEMs) and understand the needs, using market trends and current product knowledge to make appropriate recommendations
• Coordinate activities concerned with technical developments, scheduling and resolving engineering design and test problems reporting results and status as needed
• Manages and develops suppliers in various fields of manufacturing concerning metal, plastic injection mold makers and rubber industries.
• Forms production, QA and engineering teams dedicated to specific phases or aspects of project such as technical studies, product design, preparation of specifications and technical plans and product testing.
• Reviews product design for compliance with engineering principles, company standards and customer contract requirements and related specifications.
• Acts as facilitator to ensure commitments to customer are met in a timely manner and within budget.
• Coordinates parts design and tool design activities per customer specification
• Responsible for financial budget for individual preproduction and development projects
• Follows IATF 16949 procedures if customer required and descriptions per the ITW handbook.
• Interprets engineering specifications
• Authors DFMEA’s, PFMEAs and champions 8D problem solving activities
• Review RFQ package: Identify customer part numbers, create bills of materials, derive part weights, evaluate annual volumes, key dates, assembly plant locations.
• Develop BOM’s (bill of Materials)
• Interpret customer specifications.
• Prepare customer reviews, technical presentations and open issues list.
• Develop design validation test plans.
• Develop and maintain tooling, assembly and test equipment financial plans and documents.
• Participate in regular APQP activities and meetings and AAR events.
• Create FEA reports.
• Lead customer, supplier and ITW tooling and product design signoffs and kick offs.
• Lead RFQ activities with tooling, automation and gauge suppliers.
• Nominate supplier: Tooling/Parts/Gauges/Automation.
• Develop packaging plans per customer requirements.
• Support customer build and launch activities.
• Monitor tooling, gauge and assembly concepts according to ITW standards.
• Maintain customer milestone timing in customer portals.
• Issue molding sample requests.
• Monitor serial part history.
• Monitor release of production to operations.
  
  

Qualifications

• B.S. in Engineering or Engineering Technology with an emphasis in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience
• 5 years of experience in engineering and project management in a manufacturing environment
• Project management experience preferably Tier 1 automotive. PMI PMP certification preferred
• Knowledge in Plastic Injection Molding part design, performance, material selection, tooling technology
• Must be adaptable, flexible, organized and act with a sense of urgency and able to operate independently
• Must have demonstrated analytical/problem-solving, project management/task planning, engineering risk assessment, creativity/innovation and technical leadership skills
• Must be able to make sound, logical judgements using deductive reasoning, attention to detail; understand the cause and effect of such decisions
• Ability to travel up to 35% to support the customer and launch process
• Strong organization skills, and ability to take on special projects from concept to implementation and maintaining
• Fluent in MS Project, and MS Office Suite
• Decision making skills
• Project Management
• Cross functional communication
• Customer launch team interfacing
• Root cause analysis
  
  

Interpersonal Skills

Alternative or combined skills in understanding, counseling, and/or influencing people are important in achieving job objectives, causing action, understanding others, or changing behavior; and, skills of persuasiveness or assertiveness, as well as sensitivity to the point of view of others.

COMPETENCIES

• Technical and Analytical Skills
• Time Management and Communication Skills
• Prioritizes regular workload, special tasks and concurrent projects, allocating time and resources to ensure that work is completed accurately and efficiently within established time frame.
• Data collection and analysis
• Risk Taking
• Sales Negotiation
• Creativity
  
  

Compensation Information

$79,000-$105,000