Project Manager

Focus; Auburn (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Focus in Auburn, Alabama seeks a results-driven Project Manager to direct automotive manufacturing programs from initiation through production launch. You will oversee program scheduling, financial management, supplier sourcing, and cross-functional team coordination to ensure milestones, cost targets, and quality standards are met.

In this role you will lead governance, supplier relationships, APQP/PPAP oversight, cost engineering, and regular status reviews with customers, while driving value

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5+ years in project management with hands-on operations.
• Experience with APQP, Stage-Gate, and PPAP processes.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and resolve conflicts.

Responsibilities

• Direct program planning, scheduling, and financial control to meet milestones and margins.
• Oversee RFQ creation, supplier negotiations, and sourcing decisions.
• Initiate and monitor APQP, vendor production readiness reviews, PPAP submissions.
• Drive VA/VE and cost-reduction initiatives with engineering and supply chain.
• Serve as technical and financial liaison to customers and manage status reviews.
• Track KPIs with plant management, quality, manufacturing, and logistics.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Problem solving

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Management, or related field

MBA or PMI/PMP certification (preferred)

Tools

APQP

Stage-Gate

PPAP

Job description

We are seeking a results-driven Project Manager to direct automotive manufacturing programs from initiation through production launch. In this role, you will oversee program scheduling, financial management, supplier sourcing, and cross-functional team coordination to ensure all customer milestones, cost targets, and quality standards are met.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Governance & Execution: Direct overall program planning, scheduling, and financial control to achieve client milestones and hit business gross margin targets. Implement and enforce standardized project management gate systems.

• Supplier & Sourcing Management: Issue and analyze Requests for Quotations (RFQs) for component tooling, materials, and packaging. Lead sourcing decisions, negotiating pricing, payment, and delivery terms with key suppliers.

• APQP & PPAP Oversight: Initiate and monitor supplier APQP processes, vendor production readiness reviews, and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submissions for new award programs.

• Cost Engineering & Change Management: Drive Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE) and cost-reduction initiatives in collaboration with engineering and supply chain teams. Manage engineering change requests and cost-impact tracking.

• Client & Stakeholder Communication: Serve as a primary technical and financial liaison to customers, arbitrating project conflicts and conducting regular program status reviews.

• Cross-Functional KPI Tracking: Partner across plant management, quality, manufacturing, and logistics to ensure project Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are achieved.

Key Qualifications

• Education & Certifications: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Management, or a related field (MBA or PMI/PMP certification is a strong plus).

• Experience: Minimum of 5+ years of project management experience with hands-on operational knowledge.

• Program Management Tools: Strong proficiency in APQP, Stage-Gate program management, and PPAP submission processes.

• Leadership & Problem-Solving: Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in a matrixed organization and handle technical/financial conflict resolution.

Preferred / Nice-to-Have

• Prior program management experience within the automotive manufacturing sector.

• Hands-on familiarity with stamped metal components, welded assemblies, and associated tooling processes.

• Fluency in English (if non-native speaker).