Program Manager

Key responsibilities:LEAD & EMPOWERMENTGet empowerment from the management to be able to drive changes wherever needed to improve programs efficiency, and have safe launch in productionDrive the change to get consistent organizations in each plant of the region for NPI executionBuild a team and organization allowing Program Leadership and Ownership developmentDevelop customer orientation and knowledge among the program management teamIdentify, and manage the risks coming from various areas of the programs by defining adequate risk mitigation plans involving the appropriate functions and levels among the organizationSYSTEM & DISCIPLINEDeploy in the region the global APQP standard of the Braking business unitClarify Roles & Responsibilities related to programs wherever neededPut customer satisfaction in the center of the company focus when it comes to program managementInvolve Quality function into the programsImplement NPI related KPI's at different level, Plant & RegionWork together with Purchasing on supplier development improvementBring more discipline among the regional organization in order to get deliverables on time, and have a continuous improvement approach on this itemBring support to the IBP process by providing informations related to new programsComply with the safety and environment requirements and responsibilities.COMMUNICATION & EMULATIONReport to the Global NPI Programs Director and Regional Management team weekly,  and to the SMT monthly (OPS review)  about programs progress and issuesLead on a monthly basis with the plant managers a review related to the programs involving their own facilitySet a systematic way to report and communicate about programs among the organization in order to improve visibilityLead the team management for Program managers, including cross fertilization, lessons learned, continuous improvement related to process and peopleEnsure program managers are visiting the plants on a regular basis and have appropriate connections there in order to enhance team work and team spiritCOMPETENCIES AND SUPPORTLead together with regional functional leaders a gap analysis related to actual vs expected skillsDevelop together with global functional leaders a plan to fill the gap (personal development plan, hiring, mentoring-coaching, etc…)Organize the knowledge development at the plant level with the support of all appropriate functions and expertsSupport recognition towards the key people involved in NPI in order to make it clearly a key process for the companyDrive a global change to make NPI a "pull" process instead of a "push" oneIdeal candidate experience:EDUCATION:                BS Engineering, Professional Program Management Certification, or equivalent experienceMechanical Engineer, Materials Science EngineerEXPERIENCE:               Master degree (Diploma) in mechanical engineering or Material Science with a focus on Automotive3 to 10 years of experience in Friction - and/or Braking Engineering  Automotive industryQualifications/ certifications:LeadershipDisciplined and structuredClear and structured communicationAbility to coach, or identify skills development required for his teamCustomer orientedAbility to plan and manage complex projects crossing over many departmental linesGood problem solving skills.  Able to effectively use problem-solving tools such as Fault Tree Analysis, Ishikawa Diagrams, etc.Working knowledge of Continuous Improvement and Lean Manufacturing MethodologiesEffective communication skills, written and oral, to all levels of the organization (internal, customers, and suppliers)Working knowledge of computers and software, with the capability to thoroughly learn new applicationsThorough knowledge of MS ProjectAttention to detailsGoal oriented and results based thinking; self-driven motivated individualEffective in a team oriented environmentFrequent travel is requiredEnglish speaking is a must; additional language aptitude preferred