Program Manager, Variable Cost Productivity

Kion Group AG; Grand Rapids (MI); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Dematic is seeking a Program Manager, Cost Engineering, to lead and drive cost optimization initiatives for the Modular Conveyor Systems portfolio. The role focuses on developing strategic cost reduction programs delivering year-over-year improvements and large-scale savings with a hybrid work model based in Grand Rapids, MI.

You will build a robust pipeline of future savings, partner with global teams, and develop business cases with ROI analyses to prioritize investments and governance across

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in project management, value engineering, cost optimization, or related business functions.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional teams across domestic and international organizations.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or similar field; equivalent experience may be substituted; PMP certification is preferred.
• PMP certification or equivalent experience in project management.
• Must be able to work cross-regionally and travel up to 20%.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of Cost Engineering programs to achieve annual cost reduction.
• Deliver sustainable year-over-year cost savings and productivity improvements.
• Create and own the Variable Cost Productivity scorecard for MCS.
• Build and expand the Cost Engineering project pipeline.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to execute prioritized cost reduction projects.
• Establish governance processes for project identification, execution, savings validation, reporting.
• Facilitate brainstorming workshops for value engineering opportunities.
• Collaborate globally with Sales, Engineering, Product, Marketing, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Operations.
• Develop business cases and ROI evaluations to support investments.
• Monitor project performance, risks, and savings realization.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Initiative

Data visualization

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or similar field

PMP certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Dashboard software

Job description

Dematic is seeking a highly motivated Program Manager, Cost Engineering (CE) to lead and drive cost optimization initiatives for our Modular Conveyor Systems (MCS) product portfolio. This role is responsible for developing, coordinating, and executing strategic cost reduction programs that deliver sustainable year-over-year productivity improvements and financial savings across one of Dematic's most visible customer segments.
The Program Manager will serve as a key leader in identifying, prioritizing, and advancing Cost Engineering opportunities while building a robust pipeline of future savings initiatives to support 2026 and beyond. This position requires strong cross-functional collaboration, global stakeholder alignment, disciplined project execution, and executive-level communication.

We offer:

• Career Development
• Competitive Compensation and Benefits
• Pay Transparency
• Global Opportunities

Dematic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

The base pay range for this role is estimated to be $109,600 - $137,000 at the time of posting. Final compensation will be determined by various factors such as work location, education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Tasks and Qualifications:

What You Will do in This Role:

• Lead the development and execution of Cost Engineering programs to achieve annual cost reduction and productivity targets.
• Deliver sustainable year-over-year cost savings and operational improvements across the Modular Conveyor Systems portfolio.
• Create, maintain, and own the Variable Cost Productivity (VCP) scorecard for MCS, including regular updates and presentations to executive leadership.
• Build, manage, and continuously expand the Cost Engineering project pipeline to support future savings objectives.
• Coordinate and drive cross-functional teams to successfully execute prioritized cost reduction projects.
• Establish, improve, and enforce governance processes related to project identification, execution, savings validation, and reporting.
• Facilitate brainstorming workshops and ideation sessions to identify new value engineering and cost optimization opportunities.
• Collaborate globally with Sales, Engineering, Product Management, Marketing, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Operations teams to identify and implement cost reduction and market-driven initiatives.
• Partner closely with Engineering and Product Management to develop strategies that reduce component and piece-part costs while maintaining product performance and quality.
• Develop business cases, financial analyses, and ROI evaluations to support strategic investment and project prioritization decisions.
• Monitor project performance, risks, and savings realization to ensure business objectives are achieved.

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven ability to partner across organizations and foster collaboration to achieve shared business objectives.
• Energetic, self-directed professional who takes initiative and drives outcomes.
• Thrives in fast-paced environments with evolving priorities, effectively operating in situations with limited structure or guidance.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office tools and related productivity applications.
• Proficient in dashboard development, data visualization, and performance analytics to support decision-making.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in project management, value engineering, cost optimization, or related business functions.
• Proven experience leading and collaborating with cross-functional teams across domestic and international organizations to achieve business objectives.
• Demonstrated success in developing, presenting, and securing approval for business cases that support project investment and execution decisions.
• Working knowledge of Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VAVE) methodologies, including planning, facilitating, and driving follow-up actions from ideation workshops.
• Experience monitoring project performance, managing risks, and tracking savings realization to ensure targeted business outcomes and financial objectives are achieved.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or similar field is desired, however, equivalent experience may be substituted.
• PMP certification or equivalent experience in project management
• Must be able to work cross-regionally and travel up to 20% as needed.
• This role aligns to the Grand Rapids, Mi office and allows for a hybrid mode of working with an expectation of 50% in‑office presence aligning to the Be Where You Are Needed initiative.