Program Manager, Variable Cost Productivity

Dematic; Grand Rapids (MI); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 137,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career Development

Competitive compensation and benefits

Pay transparency

Global opportunities

Job summary

Dematic is seeking a Program Manager, Cost Engineering to drive cost reduction programs for the Modular Conveyor Systems portfolio. You will lead cross-functional teams, build a robust project pipeline, and partner with Engineering and Product Management to lower component costs while maintaining quality.

The role requires 8+ years in PM or value engineering, PMP or equivalent, and the ability to travel up to 20%. The position is based in Grand Rapids, MI with a hybrid 50% in-office expectation.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in project management, value engineering, cost optimization or related functions.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams across domestic and international organizations.
• Proven ability to develop and secure approval for business cases supporting investments.

Responsibilities

• 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 and manage the VCP scorecard for MCS with regular updates to executives.
• Build and expand the Cost Engineering project pipeline for future savings objectives.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to execute prioritized cost reduction projects.
• Establish governance for project identification, execution, savings validation, and reporting.
• Facilitate ideation sessions to identify value engineering opportunities.
• Collaborate globally with Sales, Engineering, Product Management, Marketing, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Operations.
• Develop business cases and ROI analyses to support investment decisions.
• Monitor project performance and savings realization to meet objectives.

Skills

Cost engineering

Project management

Data visualization

Dashboard development

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive communication

Microsoft Office

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

PMP certification

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

Learn More Here: https://www.dematic.com/en-us/about/careers/what-we-offer/

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.