Program Manager

Actalent, Inc.; Plymouth (MI); Hybrid; USD 6,199,000 - 7,947,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre‑tax and R

Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D)

Short and long‑term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick)

Job summary

Actalent, Inc. seeks a Program Manager for Automotive Plastics / Lighting in Plymouth, MI. You will oversee multiple engineering and manufacturing programs, coordinating cross‑functional teams from sourcing through plant launch and maintaining strong customer relationships.

The role requires 3–5 years of automotive PM experience, plastics/lighting program knowledge, and a solid foundation in budgeting, resource planning and PM tools. Hybrid work with a focus on successful plant launches.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience as a Program Manager in automotive Tier 1 high‑volume manufacturing environments.
• Experience in plastics or lighting programs for interior/exterior components.
• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• Proven experience in budgeting, cost forecasting and financial reporting for engineering projects.
• Experience with resource planning and reporting for engineering projects.
• Familiarity with purchasing processes, accounting methods, and cost estimating.
• Experience supporting a full automotive program from cradle to grave, from sourcing through launch.
• Program management experience across engineering, electrical, mechanical and automotive domains.
• Experience with plastic injection molding and automotive plastics manufacturing.
• Strong customer interface skills with external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Own assigned programs and drive cross-functional teams using internal processes and PEP, ensuring compliance with program execution protocols.
• Outline program timing and monitor customer strategy activities to support new business opportunities and financial targets.
• Prepare and present weekly metrics related to program and customer strategies to the cross-functional team.
• Coordinate activities using timing plans, resource plans, issue lists, and meeting reports.
• Lead cross-functional teams to achieve deliverables on schedule and within strategy.
• Provide leadership with data‑driven insights for strategy decisions and business objectives.
• Maintain and report on program budgets, including cost forecasting and financial performance.
• Plan and report resource utilization to balance capacity, timing and budget constraints.
• Collaborate with customer representatives as the main interface throughout the program lifecycle.
• Develop and improve customer relationships to gain competitive advantage for future business.
• Apply purchasing, accounting and cost estimating knowledge to support financial decisions.
• Support full automotive programs from cradle to grave across concept, development, validation, launch and post‑launch.

Skills

Automotive PM

Cross-functional leadership

Budget forecasting

Resource planning

Customer interface

Plastics & Lighting

PM certification

Microsoft Project

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

Microsoft Project

Job description

The Program Manager plans, coordinates, and oversees multiple related engineering and manufacturing projects to ensure they are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with organizational objectives. This role serves as a key liaison between cross‑functional teams, leadership, and the customer, driving strategic initiatives from initial sourcing through plant launch and establishing strong customer relationships to support current and future business opportunities.

Program Manager – Automotive Plastics / Lighting

The Program Manager plans, coordinates, and oversees multiple related engineering and manufacturing projects to ensure they are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with organizational objectives. This role serves as a key liaison between cross‑functional teams, leadership, and the customer, driving strategic initiatives from initial sourcing through plant launch and establishing strong customer relationships to support current and future business opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Own assigned programs and drive cross-functional teams using established internal business processes, including the PEP process, while ensuring full compliance with critical business protocols for program execution.
• Outline program timing and monitor all customer strategy activities, both internal and external, to support new business opportunities, including customer cost targets, key value drivers, technical targets and desires, and internal financial targets.
• Prepare, obtain, and present weekly metrics related to program and customer strategies to the cross-functional team, ensuring transparency and alignment on performance.
• Use company and customer timing plans, time and resource activity plans, program open issues lists, and meeting reports to coordinate and control the activities of all resources assigned to the program strategy.
• Lead cross-functional teams to achieve program deliverables according to defined program timing and both internal and external program strategies.
• Provide guidance to leadership on strategy‑related decisions, offering data‑driven insights and recommendations that support program and business objectives.
• Maintain and report on program budgets, including cost forecasting and financial performance for engineering projects, ensuring programs meet financial targets.
• Plan and report on resource utilization for engineering projects, balancing capacity, timing, and budget constraints to meet program milestones.
• Collaborate effectively with customer representatives, acting as a primary customer interface throughout the program lifecycle from initial sourcing through launch.
• Continuously develop and improve customer relationships to gain competitive advantage and support new and future business opportunities.
• Apply working knowledge of purchasing, accounting methods, and cost estimating to support accurate program financial planning and decision‑making.
• Support full automotive programs from cradle to grave, ensuring successful execution through all phases, including concept, development, validation, launch, and post‑launch stabilization.

Essential Skills

• 3–5 years of experience as a Program Manager working directly with automotive Tier 1 high‑volume manufacturing suppliers, with responsibilities tied to manufacturing plant launches.
• Commodity expertise in automotive plastics or automotive lighting, specifically mid to large size plastic components for interior or exterior applications.
• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
• Proven experience maintaining program budgets, including cost forecasting and financial reporting for engineering projects.
• Demonstrated experience in resource planning and reporting for engineering projects.
• Working knowledge of purchasing processes, accounting methods, and cost estimating methodologies.
• Experience supporting at least one full automotive program from cradle to grave, from initial sourcing through launch.
• Program management experience within engineering, electrical, mechanical, and automotive industry environments.
• Experience with plastic injection molding and automotive plastics manufacturing.
• Ability to serve as a strong customer interface, communicating effectively with external stakeholders.
• Experience managing programs involving exterior lighting and automotive electronics.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with automotive exterior lighting programs.
• Exposure to or experience with automotive electronics.
• Program management certification (PM certified) is a plus.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Project or similar project management tools.
• Experience directly supporting General Motors as an end customer.
• Experience working with large Tier 1 suppliers supporting North American original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Work Environment

This role operates in a plant environment with dedicated office space. The Program Manager works closely with manufacturing operations and engineering teams on the production floor while also performing planning, reporting, and coordination activities in an office setting. The environment involves collaboration with cross‑functional teams, use of program management tools and standard office software, and regular interaction with customer representatives and internal stakeholders to support high‑volume automotive manufacturing and plant launches.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Plymouth, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $57.69/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your jobclassification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may besubject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefitsavailable for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Plymouth, MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 29, 2026.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

Contact Information Collection

We collect your phone number and email so that an Actalent representative can reach out to you regarding potential job opportunities. Please ensure that the phone number and email you provide are accurate, as an incorrect phone number or email may affect our ability to contact you.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.