The Advanced Development Project Manager is responsible and accountable for the execution of new products and technology that can later be sold to external customers.  The Program Manager will work within the New Technology Introduction (NTI) process methodology for Advanced Development. The output of the NTI process is an “on-the-shelf” technology that can integrated into customer applications led by Launch Program Management.

The Advanced Development Project Manager plays a major role in problem identification and resolution during the program by highlighting potential areas of concern and promptly driving resolution of issues that affect program execution.  Focus is on: translation of voice of the customer needs into product requirements; translation of product requirements into detailed plans; execution of those plans; management of cross functional teams; and program profitability.  The Program Manager may be required to manage more than one program simultaneously over a number of locations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Planning, organization and target setting:
• Set up / maintains program structure (timing, team, budget), plans required resource
• Cascades agreed program targets to team members
• Develops program plans including timing, work plans, program milestones, critical path, risk management, cost/benefit analysis, staffing, and budgets
• Plans team meeting schedules and timing for key meetings including technical and launch readiness reviews
• Has input to team members’ annual performance evaluation
• Controlling / Managing / Problem Solving
  • Systematically manages program risks
  • Solves conflicts at his/her level and within the team
  • Escalates issues to management that cannot be solved within team
  • Assigns necessary tasks and co-ordinates the different functions within the projects (Engineering, Finance, OE Account management …)
  • Meets internal targets (Profitability & cost targets, program budget, quality & technical requirements, capital & tooling budget, program timing,)
  • Follows up task completion, ultimately responsible to deliver program on time
  • Ability to drive all aspects of the NTI process to completion
  • Able to capture process improvements and drive them through the appropriate groups to potential agreement and then incorporation

• Task Execution
  • Leads multi-discipline team; Advanced Development team typically consists of Research & Development, Advanced Development Engineering, Product Management, Sales, Advanced Manufacturing, and Strategic Sourcing
  • Integrates lessons learned from previous programs
  • With the project chief engineer, lead the design and development of the Product selecting appropriate technologies to ensure optimized performance.
  • Receives and critically assesses cost for price / engineering changes decisions/opportunities
  • Responsible for tracking product development financials
  • Responsible for planning and follow-up of prototype/engineering development runs
  • Responsible for generating lessons learned
  • Responsible for ensuring new or novel ideas are properly captured and protected by initiating and follow through with the legal team for intellectual property
• Communication and Reporting
  • Communicates to internal customer (timing, program status, change management) in customer language/format.
  • Cascades / publishes information to team and reporting to management by using program review templates.
  • Ensures timely and complete update of program documentation
  • Records minutes of program meeting
  • Provides immediate feedback on team member performance to functional managers
  • Utilizes central storage of information and encourages use to ensure one source.
  • Ensure team recognizes key milestones and maintain progress towards and achievement of these milestones

• Bachelor Science in Mechanical or Electromechanical Engineering with strong capabilities to absorb technical information.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience, with managing advanced technology projects
• Basic understanding of electronics 
• Prior Project Manager or Program Manager experience

Preference

• Master Degree (preferable in mechanical or electromechanical engineering) with strong capabilities to absorb technical information.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in product design and development
• Formal management qualifications preferred (DMS, MBA, PMP etc.)
• Experience of Electronic Control Systems would be advantageous
• Experience with Systems Engineering and the development V-cycle would be advantageous
• Proven knowledge of program management methodology, tools and techniques.