Senior Manager - Program Management

Johnson Electric Group; Mississauga; Hybrid; CAD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson Electric Group in Mississauga, ON seeks a Senior Manager of Automotive Program Management to lead a team driving product development from RFQ to series production. You will partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Operations, and Sales to meet customer expectations, quality standards and profitability.

Travel ~15% annually, with travel between local sites and occasional international assignments; 100% onsite in Mississauga.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering (preferred Electrical/Electrification/Powertrain knowledge).
• 5+ years leading and developing program managers or technical project teams.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• 10+ years automotive design and development experience, including OEM engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead a portfolio of product development and launch programs aligned with growth targets.
• Define scope, objectives, schedules, budgets, and KPIs.
• Ensure quality, cost, timing, customer satisfaction, and profitability of programs.
• Establish program plans, milestones, risks, and mitigation actions.
• Lead cross-functional teams to resolve risks and issues.
• Oversee resource planning and capability development within PMO.
• Act as primary customer interface and provide regular status updates.
• Support RFQs, business case development, and customer proposals.
• Drive alignment with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Finance.

Skills

Leadership experience

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Global business experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

APQP

PPAP

FMEA

MSA

SPC

GD&P

Job description

Join Our Team as a Senior Manager – Program Management! Location: Mississauga, ON (100% onsite) Salary Range: $150-175K annually, plus annual bonus Vacancy Type: Existing position Schedule: Straight Day Shift Travel: 15% including travel between local sites and occasional international travel

Our next Senior Manager, Automotive Program Management will provide strategic leadership to a team of Program Managers responsible for driving automotive product development and successful program execution from RFQ through series production. This role serves as a key leader and customer interface, partnering closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Operations, and Sales to ensure the successful launch of new products while meeting customer expectations, business objectives, quality standards, and profitability targets.

Why You’ll Love Working Here:

• Employee Well-being: Focus on employee health and well-being with various wellness programs and initiatives.
• Sustainability Commitment: Work for a company committed to sustainability and making a positive impact on the environment.
• Inclusive Workplace: An inclusive and diverse workplace where all employees are valued and respected.
• Technological Leadership: Be part of a company that is a leader in its field, driving technological advancements.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Lead and manage a portfolio of product development and launch programs aligned with business unit growth and product roadmap objectives.
• Define project scope, objectives, deliverables, schedules, budgets, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Ensure successful execution of program deliverables related to quality, cost, timing, customer satisfaction, and profitability.
• Establish and monitor program plans, milestones, deliverables, risks, and critical path activities.
• Lead cross-functional teams to identify, assess, and mitigate program risks while driving timely resolution of open issues.
• Manage resource planning, workload balancing, and capability development within the Program Management team.
• Serve as the primary customer interface for program execution, providing regular updates on project status, milestones, risks, corrective actions, and launch readiness.
• Support business development activities, including RFQs, commercial reviews, business case development, and customer proposal submissions.
• Drive alignment across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Finance to achieve program objectives and financial commitments.
• Ensure development and maintenance of all program management documentation, including project schedules, risk registers, action item trackers, change management records, and phase-gate review materials.
• Lead program reviews with executive leadership and support strategic decision-making through accurate reporting and performance metrics.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence within the Program Management organization.
• Develop, implement, and standardize program management tools, processes, and best practices to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Ensure team members receive appropriate training, mentoring, and professional development to support business needs and succession planning.

What We Are Looking For:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related discipline required. Knowledge of Electrical Engineering, Electrification, or Powertrain systems is preferred.
• Leadership Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience leading and developing Program Managers or technical project team.
• Communication & Leadership Skills: Strong communication, negotiation, conflict resolution, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills.
• Industry Experience: Minimum 10 years of experience in automotive product design and development, including direct engagement with OEM customers.
• Customer & Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams and interface with key customer stakeholders, including Design Release Engineers (DREs), Supplier Quality Engineers (SQEs), Purchasing, and Manufacturing teams.
• Global Business Experience: Experience working within global engineering organizations and familiarity with Asian business culture is preferred.
• Quality & Automotive Core Tools: Solid understanding of IATF 16949 requirements and proficiency in APQP, PPAP, FMEA, MSA, SPC, and GD&P.
• Technical Knowledge: Working knowledge of Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), 3D CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, CATIA, Creo/Pro-E, or NX), validation testing, and manufacturing processes including casting, machining, and assembly.
• Travel Requirements: Ability to travel approximately 15%, including occasional international travel with the ability to travel between our Ancaster and Mississauga sites.

What we offer:

Johnson Electric offers talented people like you the opportunity to grow professionally and personally, surrounded by some of the most dedicated, innovative, and entrepreneurial colleagues you will find anywhere. Of course, we offer competitive pay and benefits, and far more than that, we offer you a culture driven by our values and designed to ensure that our most important asset—our people—can flourish.

Johnson Electric welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. In accordance with applicable legislation, Johnson Electric is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process. Applicants should advise Human Resources if they require accommodation during the recruitment process.

Please note: Johnson Electric may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools as part of our process. Come join our global, inclusive & diverse team Our purpose is to improve the quality of life of everyone we touch through our innovative motion systems. We are a truly global team bound together by our shared values. Our culture is built on the diversity, knowledge, skills, creativity, and talents that each employee brings to the company. Our people are our company’s most valuable asset. We are committed to providing an inclusive, diverse and equitable workplace where employees of different backgrounds feel valued and respected, regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity or religious background. We are committed to inspiring our employees to grow, act with ownership and find fulfilment and meaning in the work they do.

About Johnson Electric Group

The Johnson Electric Group is a global leader in electric motors, actuators, motion subsystems and related electro-mechanical components. It serves a broad range of industries including Automotive, Smart Metering, Medical Devices, Business Equipment, Home Automation, Ventilation, White Goods, Power Tools, Lawn & Garden Equipment, Warehouse Automation, Liquid Cooling and Robotic joints. The Group is headquartered in Hong Kong and employs over 30,000 individuals in over 20 countries worldwide. Johnson Electric Holdings Limited is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 179). For more information, visit johnsonelectric.com. Join our Talent Community!