Program Manager

Guided Search Partners; Portageville (MO); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Guided Search Partners is seeking a Site Program Manager for an automotive manufacturing facility in Portageville, MO. This role is crucial for managing program activities from RFQ through launch, ensuring effective communication and coordination across various departments.

The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and experience in program management, particularly with new product introduction, quality, and customer communication. This position combines strategic planning with hands-on execution, making it essential for successful product launches.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of progressive program management experience.
• Experience managing projects, programs, launches, or customer facing initiatives.
• Strong experience with New Product Introduction and APQP.

Responsibilities

• Lead site-level program management activities from RFQ through launch.
• Coordinate APQP activities and support PPAP submissions.
• Manage timelines, milestones, risks, deliverables, scope, schedule, and cost baselines.

Skills

Program Management

New Product Introduction

APQP

Communication

Customer Focus

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related technical field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Power BI, Planner)

Job description

Guided Search Partners (GSP)

Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long‑term Relationships. We connect high‑performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

About the Opportunity

We’re partnering with an automotive manufacturing facility seeking a Site Program Manager in Portageville, MO. This is a newly created position designed to bring program management responsibilities back to the plant level, creating stronger site‑specific focus and customer support. The role will serve as the dedicated program management resource for the facility, supporting new product launches, quoting activity, customer communication, and quality‑related initiatives. This is a hands‑on, customer‑facing role that blends Program Management and Quality responsibilities. The right person will lead new product development and launch activity from RFQ through production launch while coordinating across molding, plating, paint, assembly, quality, engineering, customer service, and operations.

What You’ll Do

You’ll lead site‑level program management activity with a focus on launch execution, customer communication, APQP, PPAP, and cross‑functional coordination.

Key Areas of Focus

• Lead site‑level program management activities from RFQ through launch
• Support quotation activities and feasibility reviews
• Serve as the primary customer contact for assigned programs
• Coordinate APQP activities and support PPAP submissions
• Lead New Product Introduction programs from concept to launch
• Work cross‑functionally with molding, plating, paint, assembly, quality, engineering, customer service, and operations
• Interpret and communicate dimensional and quality data
• Facilitate customer meetings and internal program reviews
• Manage timelines, milestones, risks, deliverables, scope, schedule, and cost baselines
• Prepare and deliver program updates and technical presentations
• Support customer requirements, program plans, FMEAs, Control Plans, and PPAP documentation
• Build and maintain relationships with key subcontractors
• Use gated product lifecycle processes to support quality milestones and launch readiness
• Identify opportunities to improve performance and support business case objectives

Who You Are

You are organized, customer‑focused, and comfortable leading programs without needing direct authority over every function involved.

You can bring people together across engineering, operations, quality, and customer‑facing groups to keep launches moving. You communicate clearly, manage details well, and understand how to turn customer requirements into actionable plans.

You would do well here if you enjoy a role that sits close to the plant, close to the customer, and close to the launch process. This is a fit for someone who can balance strategic planning with day‑to‑day execution in a manufacturing environment.

Preferred Experience & Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related technical field
• 3–5 years of progressive program management experience
• Strong experience with New Product Introduction and APQP
• Manufacturing experience required
• Automotive or heavy vehicle manufacturing experience preferred
• APQP, PPAP, NPI, Quality, Engineering, or Program Management experience preferred
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Ability to lead discussions and influence without direct authority
• Experience managing projects, programs, launches, or customer‑facing initiatives
• Ability to interpret dimensional and quality data
• Strong customer focus and ability to manage internal and external expectations
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Power BI, and Planner
• Strong presentation, negotiation, and relationship‑building skills
• Data‑driven problem‑solving and decision‑making ability
• PMP certification desired

Why This Role Matters

This role is important because the facility needs a dedicated plant‑level resource to support launches, customer communication, and program execution. The Site Program Manager will help ensure customer requirements are understood, internal teams are aligned, and new product programs move from RFQ through launch with discipline and clarity. This is a meaningful opportunity for someone who enjoys customer‑facing work, cross‑functional leadership, and the challenge of driving programs through a manufacturing environment. For a program leader who can combine communication, quality awareness, and launch discipline, this role offers the chance to make a visible impact at the site level.