Senior Program Manager

Theuniversityunion; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 100,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

401K with match

Weekly Pay

Paid Time Off

Employee Discounts

Job summary

Cascade Engineering in Grand Rapids, MI seeks a Senior Program Manager to drive new product launches, leading cross-functional teams from concept through production. You will balance quality, cost, timing, and customer expectations while partnering with customers and internal teams.

This high-impact leadership role requires experience in program management, strong problem-solving abilities, and a servant-leadership mindset aligned with the 7 Habits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Business, Manufacturing, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of program management or product development experience.
• Strong decision making/leadership abilities across multiple programs.
• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to lead a team and communicate effectively (written and verbal).
• Detail oriented with good organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Ensures the launch team adheres to all safety procedures and guidelines.
• Oversees the management of all programs and assumes responsibility for customer deliverables.
• Develops, teaches, and monitors common program management disciplines and ensures consistent use of these disciplines in all programs.
• Gate keeper for understanding expectations of the customers; pushes back respectfully when outside of scope.
• Owns program and is clear leader for mobilizing internal and external resources to meet program requirements.
• Leads and coordinates launch team meetings and updates the open issues matrix.
• Owns the APQP process and is responsible for the completion of checklist items.
• Develops business cases for additional expenses that could be better for the life of the program.
• Tracks and controls all projects in real time and assigns costs to the customer.
• Leads activities to meet quality and delivery goals for successful start of production.
• Leads program reviews with status, cost, timing, and risk updates.
• Obtains management approval before decisions affecting costs/schedule.
• Communicates program status to leadership and stakeholders.
• Develops and implements corrective actions when deviations occur.
• Coordinates gate reviews through gate 5 and ensures readiness for launch.
• Ensures timely closeout of complete programs and proper documentation.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Team leadership

Education

BS in Business/Engineering/Manufacturing

Tools

PMP

Agile PM

Microsoft 365

Job description

• Location 5055 36th Street,Grand Rapids, MI, 49512,United States
• Job Category Program Management, Project Management, Engineering/Product Development
• Industry Manufacturing
• Employee Type Full Time

Cascade Engineering is a Family of Companies that invests in our triple bottom line philosophy - People, Planet and Profit. We have been in business for over 50 years in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We manufacture injection molding/plastic products for automotive, office furniture, polymer compounding, waste and recycling industries. We focus on driving organizational excellence through a people centered leadership culture based on the principles of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Are you looking for a positive and encouraging environment? Are you seeking a position where you are included, recognized and celebrated? You belong here! Are you excited for what is ahead? We are too!

Scope of Responsibility

Join us as a Senior Program Manager, you'll be the driving force behind bringing innovative products to life, leading cross-functional teams from concept through production launch. You'll own program success by balancing quality, cost, timing, and customer expectations while building strong partnerships with both customers and internal teams. This is a high-impact leadership role where you'll solve complex challenges, manage risks, drive accountability, and ensure successful launches that deliver outstanding results.

Are you a collaborative leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and inspires others to perform at their best? Beyond managing programs, you'll help shape our culture by embracing servant leadership, building high-trust relationships, and living the principles of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, being proactive, putting first things first, seeking win-win solutions, and continuously improving. Are you a proactive leader who loves turning vision into action, challenges into opportunities, and goals into success? You belong here!

Location

West Plant at 5055 36th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI. 49512

Target Pay

The target starting base salary for this position is $100,000.00 - $136,000.00 / year (plus quarterly bonus and sales incentive). Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. Cascade Engineering considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and business considerations when extending an offer.

What You'll Be Doing

• Ensures the launch team adheres to all safety procedures and guidelines
• Oversees the management of all programs and assumes responsibility for customer deliverables
• Develops, teaches, and monitors common program management disciplines and ensures consistent use of these disciplines in all programs
• Gate keeper for understanding expectations of the customers. Together with account management, pushing back respectfully when outside of scope.
• Owns program and is clear leader for mobilizing both internal and external resources to meet program requirements
• Initiates and maintains project folders and APLS workbooks
• Leads and coordinates launch team meetings and updates the open issues matrix
• Owns the APQP process and is responsible for the completion of checklist items
• Is the voice of reason on launch - develops business cases for additional expenses short term that could be better for the life of the program for long term safety, quality, and efficiency
• Tracks and controls all projects in real time, ensuring that all chargeable costs are assigned to the customer
• Leads activities to meet quality and delivery goals for successful start of production as defined by the customer statement of work
• Leads program reviews that provide appropriate status, and updated for cost, timing, and risk management
• Obtains management approval prior to making decisions that will cause deterioration of established program, cost, and schedule objectives
• Clearly and effectively communicates program status to leadership and other stakeholders, including timing, financial status, business and technical risks, issues and actions, and need for support.
• Develops and implements corrective action plans when deviations from budgets and/or schedules are evident
• Coordinates and facilitates gate reviews from gate 1 through gate 5. With Plant Manager, is responsible for ensuring plant and program readiness for launch.
• Assures a timely closeout of complete programs to ensure that all obligations are satisfied and program documentation is properly recorded
• Performs additional responsibilities as requested to achieve business objectives

Culture Bearer

• Understands and supports the values of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL)
• Exhibits high moral and ethical standards and high integrity
• Values people regardless of their background
• Exhibits the traits of a servant leader
• Exhibit the principles of 7 Habits and Emotional Intelligence
• Encourages open dialogue and communication
• Develops high trust relationships within all levels of the organization

At Cascade Engineering, we welcome and celebrate diversity and inclusion. We are committed to fostering an authentic workplace where everyone belongs and thrives, and we look forward to welcoming candidates who are enthusiastic about contributing to our community. If you are passionate about this role, we encourage you to apply. We recognize that women and people of color are often underrepresented in manufacturing and want to see this change. When making hiring decisions, we believe in considering the whole person and the life experiences they bring to our teams. Our diversity drives our innovation and has been integral to our success.

Requirements

• Bachelors of Science in Business, Manufacturing, Engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in program management or product development function
• Demonstrated superior decision making/leadership abilities in managing multiple programs to meet goals (quality, cost, and delivery of programs)
• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to lead a team and communicate effectively (written and verbal)
• Detail oriented individual with good organizational skills
• Demonstrated accountability and drive for results, coupled with the ability to work with minimal supervision & ability to push self/others for results required
• Proficient in Microsoft 365

Preferred

• PMP (Project Management Professional) Certification
• Knowledge and application of agile project management processes
• MBA or Master's Degree in Engineering related field
• 10+ years of experience in product development function
• Ability to function independently in customer setting
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance - Starting on Day 1
• Life Insurance (Company Paid and Supplemental)
• 401K with match – Starting on Day 1
• Flex Spending and Health Savings Accounts
• Quarterly Bonus Program
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short- and Long-Term Disability (Company Paid)
• Onsite Medical Clinic
• Weekly Pay
• Childcare Assistance (Tri-Share)
• Attendance Recognition Program
• Voucher programs for Safety Shoes and Prescription Safety Glasses
• Employee Discount Programs
• Employee Referral & Retention Bonus Program