Program Manager - Product Development

J.B. Poindexter & Co; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

J.B. Poindexter & Co is seeking a Program Manager in Ann Arbor, MI to lead product development programs from concept to launch. The role requires 3-5 years of experience in product development or manufacturing, strong communication skills, and technical awareness. The ideal candidate will be comfortable managing multiple projects with a focus on execution discipline in a fast-paced environment. Familiarity with automotive or commercial vehicle sectors is preferred. This position includes responsibilities across scheduling, budget, and cross-functional alignment.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in Program or Project Management in product development or manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing full product development lifecycles through launch.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent programs in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development programs from concept through production launch.
• Own program schedule, budget, risks, deliverables, and alignment across projects.
• Serve as primary customer interface for program status and issue resolution.

Skills

Program Management

Cross-functional Leadership

Technical Awareness

Communication Skills

Risk Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

MS Project

Power BI

Power Apps

Job description

Location

Ann Arbor, MI (Required)

Company & Position Overview

JB Poindexter & Co (JBPCO) is a privately held, diversified manufacturing company forecasting $2.75B in annual revenue and 9,000 team members in 2026. JBPCO prides itself on providing best-in-class commercial automotive and industrial vehicles. The nine operating subsidiaries, covering approximately 70 locations, are engaged in the production of commercial truck bodies, step-vans, utility trucks, ambulances, funeral coaches, limousines, electric and alternative fuel vehicles, pickup truck bed enclosures, and expandable foam plastic packaging.

About the Role

We are the Corporate Engineering and Product Development organization within JB Poindexter & Co., supporting nine business units across the company’s portfolio of commercial vehicle and upfit solutions spanning Class 1-7 vehicles. This team leads the development and launch of innovative products and technologies across a diverse set of applications and end markets.

We operate in a highly dynamic, project-based environment, managing programs ranging from rapid development cycles (weeks) to complex, multi-year product launches, while partnering closely with business units, customers, and suppliers to bring fresh solutions to market.

We are seeking a hands-on Program Manager with 3-5 years of experience in product development and launch environments. This role leads cross-functional programs from concept through production launch with full ownership of schedule, budget, resource planning, and customer execution.

The ideal candidate has experience in automotive or commercial vehicle environments and is comfortable managing technical programs in a fast-paced, evolving environment. This is not an administrative PM role—it requires execution discipline, strong communication skills, and technical awareness.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development programs from concept through production launch and business unit handoff
• Own program schedule, budget, risks, deliverables, and cross-functional alignment across multiple concurrent projects
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, milestones, and launch readiness tracking
• Ensure alignment between engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and supplier execution
• Drive design maturity, validation activities, and launch readiness in coordination with Business Unit engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams
• Serve as primary customer interface for program status, commitments, issue resolution, and escalation management
• Lead customer reviews and cross-functional program gate reviews
• Coordinate with purchasing, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to ensure readiness of tooling, parts, and production requirements
• Manage engineering changes (ECR/ECN), assess impacts, and maintain program alignment with cost, timing, and customer expectations
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks related to schedule, technical execution, quality, and supply chain readiness
• Drive disciplined documentation of program decisions, actions, and change management

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree, preferred in Engineering, Sciences, Manufacturing, Business, or related field
• 3-5 years of experience in Program or Project Management in product development or manufacturing environments
• Experience managing full product development lifecycles through launch
• Experience working in cross-functional engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills in customer-facing environments
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent programs in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Automotive Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier experience
• Exposure to APQP and PPAP processes
• Experience in commercial trucks, heavy-duty vehicle, or vocational vehicle programs
• Background in high mix / low volume manufacturing environments
• Proficiency with Microsoft product suite - MS Project, Power BI, Power Apps

What We Are Looking For

• A hands-on program leader who understands engineering, manufacturing, and execution - not just scheduling
• Someone comfortable operating in ambiguity with evolving requirements and custom engineering solutions
• A strong communicator who can translate technical details into clear customer commitments
• A self-starter capable of managing multiple programs simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• A collaborative leader who drives accountability while enabling engineering problem-solving

Program Manager – Product Development