Vice President of Program Management

Turning Point Search, Inc.; Royal Oak (MI); On-site; USD 260,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Turning Point Search, Inc. is seeking an exceptional executive to serve as Vice President of Program Management.

The role drives execution, profitability, and launch compliance for Tier 1 automotive programs from RFQ through production, leading cross-functional engineering and customer teams and partnering with sales and manufacturing to secure new business and maximize margins. The position demands extensive leadership experience in BIW manufacturing environments, a deep command of program

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive program management experience in a Tier 1 automotive environment.
• Deep understanding of BIW processes including stamping, welding and automated assembly.
• Direct, verifiable experience steering complex automotive programs through full lifecycle launches.

Responsibilities

• Govern the Product Development Process (PEP) as the global process owner to guarantee standard delivery across all programs.
• Direct cross-functional technical customer teams including Engineering Managers, System Technical Engineers, Product Engineers, and Residents.
• Oversee core operational workflows including RFQ development, Engineering Change Management, and tooling deployment.
• Drive modern PMO infrastructure by championing enterprise tools including PLM, PDM, SAP, and MS Project.
• Collaborate on market expansion by analyzing emerging industry segments and developing technical roadmaps to capture new business.

Skills

Leadership

Compliance literacy

Analytical dexterity

Education

University Degree in Engineering

Tools

PLM

PDM

SAP

MS Project

Job description

The Vice President of Program Management drives the execution, profitability, and launch compliance of Tier 1 automotive programs from initial RFQ through to production. This executive leader oversees cross-functional engineering and technical customer teams, optimizes the Product Development Process (PEP), and directly partners with sales and manufacturing to secure new business and maximize margins.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Process Ownership

• Govern the Product Development Process (PEP) as the global process owner to guarantee standard delivery across all programs.
• Direct cross-functional technical customer teams including Engineering Managers (EM), System Technical Engineers (STE), Product Engineers (PE), and Residents.
• Oversee core operational workflows encompassing RFQ development, Engineering Change Management (ECM), and tooling deployment.
• Drive modern PMO infrastructure by championing enterprise tools including PLM, PDM, SAP, and MS Project.
• Collaborate on market expansion by analyzing emerging industry segments and developing technical roadmaps to capture new business.

Technical Acquisition & Commercial Execution

• Lead technical acquisition strategies and manage complex RFQ projects for vehicles, subsystems, and components.
• Partner with the Director of Sales to establish commercial priorities, alignment on targets, and customer interface strategies.
• Enhance lifetime program profitability by driving continuous manufacturing efficiencies, cost-reduction initiatives, and value engineering.
• Evaluate product design feasibility during conceptual reviews, ensuring robust Body-in-White (BIW) manufacturing viability and best-in-class cycle times.

Operational Excellence & Compliance

• Enforce absolute compliance with IATF 16949, ISO 14001, internal engineering standards, and Ontario/regional health and safety legislation.
• Champion 5S disciplines (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) across all facilities to ensure a safe, efficient working environment.
• Establish communication matrices and regular project reporting schedules for executive leadership and external stakeholders.

Accountability & Decision-Making

• Strategic Judgement: Authorized to define business-unit tactics, determine project priorities, and course-correct program trajectories to hit timeline objectives.
• Operational Performance: Fully accountable for departmental budget control, resource optimization, and meeting or exceeding strict launch deadlines.
• People & Culture: Responsible for mentoring, performance management, conflict resolution, and maintaining strong employee relations across technical divisions.

Position Requirements

Experience & Technical Expertise

• Industry Tenure: 15+ years of progressive program management experience within a Tier 1 automotive environment.
• Manufacturing Knowledge: Deep, fundamental understanding of Tier 1 Body-in-White (BIW) processes including stamping, welding, and automated assembly.
• Launch Execution: Direct, verifiable experience steering complex automotive programs successfully through full lifecycle launches.

Core Competencies

• Leadership presence: Demonstrated success managing, coaching, and scaling senior teams of Program Managers and technical professionals.
• Compliance literacy: Rigorous understanding of IATF 16949, ISO 14001, and regional occupational health and safety regulations.
• Analytical dexterity: Strong financial and operational acumen with a track record of handling high-stress situations and changing priorities.

Education & Tools

• Academic Background: University Degree in Engineering (highly preferred), Business Administration, or an equivalent combination of a certified Skilled Trade and executive experience.