Senior Program Manager

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies; Cleveland (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K Match

Health Insurance

Vacation

Personal Development

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies in Cleveland, GA is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead engineering projects from planning to launch. You will coordinate cross-functional teams across design, produit development, and manufacturing to ensure timely, cost-effective launches.

The role requires 7+ years in program management, strong APQP/lean experience, and a solid ability to read drawings and analyze costs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering preferred; MBA is a plus.
• 7+ years of experience in Program or Project Management.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams within a structured product development framework.
• Expertise in APQP and lean systems; Six Sigma skills preferred.
• Strong business acumen and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
• Proficiency with reading product drawings and understanding product costing.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to cross-functional teams for engineering projects related to new business development and design/material change management.
• Manage multiple complex programs through all phases of the Product Life Cycle, applying APQP and related methodologies to ensure timely launches.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, milestones and deliverables aligned with objectives and customer expectations.
• Serve as primary interface to the customer, supported by internal teams, to deliver updates and track progress.
• Coordinate with Product Engineering, Quality and Metrology during prototype kick-off to define measurement techniques.
• Collect and vet prototype and production documentation from internal and external suppliers with Quality review.
• Lead costing activities and pricing strategies for key projects, aligning with cost targets.
• Conduct investment and profitability analysis for new and improvement initiatives.
• Identify and manage risks; implement mitigation plans for deviations from quotes/contracts.

Skills

APQP

Lean systems

Six Sigma

Cross-functional teams

Read drawings

Product costing

Project management

Microsoft Office

QAD

Sales Data Warehouse

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

MBA

Tools

QAD

Sales Data Warehouse

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Working at Freudenberg: "We will wow your world!" This is our promise. As a global technology group, we not only make the world cleaner, healthier and more comfortable, but also offer our 52,000 employees a networked and diverse environment where everyone can thrive individually. Be surprised and experience your own wow moments.

We at Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies run the business operations of Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) in the Americas. Being part of the global Freudenberg Group, our company is a leading producer of advanced sealing technologies for automotive and general industries. Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is a joint venture between Freudenberg and NOK Corp. in Japan, is headquartered in Plymouth, MI, operates more than 20 facilities and employs about 4,700 people across the Americas.

Some of your Benefits

• 401K Match: Save for retirement with the company's help.
• Health Insurance: Rely on comprehensive services whenever you need it.
• Vacation: We offer time off to refresh and recharge.
• Personal Development: We offer a variety of trainings to ensure you can develop in your career.
• Paid Holidays: With paid-time off, local holidays are all the way more relaxing.

The Senior Program Manager is responsible for the planning, governance, and monitoring of a program to ensure successful delivery. This position strategically directs all interconnected internal and external stakeholders and their sub-projects simultaneously for new business launch developments and change management.

Cleveland, GA

On-Site

Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership

Senior Program Manager

• Provide strategic leadership and guidance to cross-functional teams for engineering projects related to new business development and design/material change management.
• Manage multiple complex programs through all phases of the Product Life Cycle, applying APQP and other relevant methodologies to ensure timely and successful launches.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, milestones, and deliverables, ensuring alignment with business objectives and customer expectations.
• Serve as the primary interface to the customer, supported by internal teams, to deliver updates, track progress, and ensure satisfaction.
• Coordinate with Product Engineering, Quality, and Metrology teams during prototype kick-off to define measurement techniques and product layout.
• Collect and vet prototype and production documentation from internal and external suppliers, ensuring compliance through Quality review.
• Lead costing activities and pricing strategies for key projects, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and cost targets.
• Conduct investment and profitability analysis for new projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify and manage risks, including deviations from quotes, contracts, or project agreements, and implement mitigation plans.
• Track and report project status weekly and monthly, escalating issues when necessary to maintain timelines and budgets.
• Analyze market trends, competitor activity, and customer needs to inform strategic planning and margin improvement.
• Manage supplier relationships to ensure timely delivery of project components within budget.
• Communicate project variances in budget, scope, and schedule to Product Marketing and Management.
• Ensure product launches are completed on time, within budget, and with optimized material costs.
• Actively contribute to continuous improvement of project management methodologies, incorporating lessons learned and best practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering preferred; MBA is a plus.
• 7+ years of experience in Program or Project Management, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams within a structured product development framework.
• Expertise in APQP and lean systems; Six Sigma skills preferred.
• Strong business acumen and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with QAD and Sales Data Warehouse is a plus.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work under tight deadlines.
• Must be able to read product drawings and understand product costing.
• Communication & Collaboration: Communicates clearly and concisely, while engaging proactively with colleagues at all levels of the organization.
• Value for Customers: Anticipates, understands and meets internal/external customers’ needs and expectations. Develops solutions based on a customer centric approach.
• Innovation: Drives and supports innovative ideas, while taking informed risks to seek and develop new or improved solutions.
• Drive & Execution: Proactively identifies what needs to be done and takes action. Explores new ways and pursues new opportunities.

The Freudenberg Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all applicants and associates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.