VAA Strategy and Planning Lead

Jobtailor; Missouri; On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Missouri seeks a seasoned Program Manager to lead VAA initiatives for GM assembly programs. You will coordinate third‑party suppliers, develop cost targets, and drive standardized VAA processes across plants and teams.

The role requires strong analytical, communication and leadership skills, with travel up to 5% to GM plants and supplier locations. Engineering degree preferred.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in an associated sub-system, assembly plant and/or product environment, program management, assembly operations, or launch-related work.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience in process and tooling
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and team-building skills
• Strong presentation and communication skills
• Understanding of short lead time environments
• Ability to travel domestically up to 5% to GM plants and VAA supplier locations
• Preferred Qualifications: 5+ years of experience in processing, tooling, M&E development, or launch management
• In-depth knowledge of VAA commodities
• Assembly plant experience
• Industrial engineering experience
• Understanding of GVDP (Global Vehicle Development Process)
• Engineering degree

Responsibilities

• Develop strategy and planning for third‑party Value Added Assembler (VAA) suppliers supporting new program launches.
• Help foster strong collaboration across GM teams and supplier partners.
• Support onboarding of third‑party VAA personnel into GM systems as needed.
• Build effective working relationships with plant teams, coworkers, and suppliers.
• Support Manufacturing Integration Managers (MIMs) with eSOR kickoffs and issue resolution.
• Author eSORs for programs within assigned plants.
• Provide VAA subject matter expertise and support technical reviews.
• Develop cost target estimates for VAA modules being sourced.
• Create and maintain VAA processes and documentation as needed.
• Develop and improve VAA standardized work, including TISs, RASICs, forms, and timelines.
• Support development and review of business cases as needed.
• Represent Vehicle Systems Manufacturing Engineering in interactions with VAAs.
• Provide VAA cost input to MPS studies, including target estimates, tooling and M&E costs, and trial part costs.
• Partner with CMEs to ensure VAA content and assembly requirements are included in design and PDT/CIT team activities.
• Support VAA Execution MEs in obtaining and delivering control drawings to VAAs.
• Support VAA Execution MEs in obtaining and delivering first‑release MPDs to VAAs.
• Ensure startup funding for VAA pre‑production activities, including training and system validation parts, is identified and provided to the IM and MIM for inclusion in MPS planning.
• Onboard appropriate VAA personnel into required GM systems and serve as sponsor as needed.
• Complete VAA RV checklist requirements for DSI and CSO gates.

Skills

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Presentation skills

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Travel

Lead time awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Responsibilities

• Develop strategy and planning for third‑party Value Added Assembler (VAA) suppliers supporting new program launches.
• Help foster strong collaboration across GM teams and supplier partners.
• Support onboarding of third‑party VAA personnel into GM systems as needed.
• Build effective working relationships with plant teams, coworkers, and suppliers.
• Support Manufacturing Integration Managers (MIMs) with eSOR kickoffs and issue resolution.
• Author eSORs for programs within assigned plants.
• Provide VAA subject matter expertise and support technical reviews.
• Develop cost target estimates for VAA modules being sourced.
• Create and maintain VAA processes and documentation as needed.
• Develop and improve VAA standardized work, including TISs, RASICs, forms, and timelines.
• Support development and review of business cases as needed.
• Represent Vehicle Systems Manufacturing Engineering in interactions with VAAs.
• Provide VAA cost input to MPS studies, including target estimates, tooling and M&E costs, and trial part costs.
• Partner with CMEs to ensure VAA content and assembly requirements are included in design and PDT/CIT team activities.
• Support VAA Execution MEs in obtaining and delivering control drawings to VAAs.
• Support VAA Execution MEs in obtaining and delivering first‑release MPDs to VAAs.
• Ensure startup funding for VAA pre‑production activities, including training and system validation parts, is identified and provided to the IM and MIM for inclusion in MPS planning.
• Onboard appropriate VAA personnel into required GM systems and serve as sponsor as needed.
• Complete VAA RV checklist requirements for DSI and CSO gates.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in an associated sub‑system, assembly plant and/or product environment, program management, assembly operations, or launch‑related work
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience in process and tooling
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and team‑building skills
• Strong presentation and communication skills
• Understanding of short lead time environments
• Ability to travel domestically up to 5% to GM plants and VAA supplier locations
• Preferred Qualifications: 5+ years of experience in processing, tooling, M&E development, or launch management
• In‑depth knowledge of VAA commodities
• Assembly plant experience
• Industrial engineering experience
• Understanding of GVDP (Global Vehicle Development Process)
• Engineering degree