Global Customer Program Manager

Job Summary:

The Global Customer Program Manager (GCPM) is responsible & accountable for the planning and execution of all new product launches for an assigned customer. The GCPM will work with the customer commercial lead and the customer engineering lead to develop and execute a launch strategy to most effectively utilize company resources in meeting OEM customer requirements.

The Global Customer Program Manager is the main interface between the Customer and Tenneco for all issues related to launches with great visibility inside and outside the company. He / she plays a major role in problem identification and resolution by highlighting potential areas of concern and promptly driving resolution of issues that affect project execution. He / she will focus globally on: understanding of customer needs and requirements, Tenneco capability analysis, execution of individual launches, management of cross functional and global teams, project profitability, and development of customer relationships.

Main Activities:

• Planning, organization and target setting:

• Responsible for understanding customer new product launch timing, including design, quantity, and regional footprint changes, for both awarded and future potential business.
• Responsible and accountable for managing & coordinating team resources in a matrix organization across regions. GCPM has the responsibility to proactively escalate resource issues and needs to the global functional leaders as required.
• Ensure individual project requirements, schedules, deployment plans, and resource needs are defined to carry projects from start to finish, or concept through final production on a global basis.
• Work with Program Managers to develop project plans including work breakdown, project milestones, critical path analyses, risk management, cost/benefit analysis, staffing plans, project timelines, and project budgets, and ensure all regions comply with master timing and key milestones.
• Manage the global project team after Program Manager and Technical Project Leader assignment by functional Directors. This includes regular global team conference calls, and global face to face team meetings as required
• Agrees and cascades global targets (Tenneco / customer targets) to each regional program team
• Coordinate global design and production harmonization

• Controlling / Managing / Problem Solving

• Ensure project milestones are met on time and within team and project budget.
• Deliver projects to both the customer's and Tenneco's satisfaction.
• Drive decisions globally to ensure success of the project taking into account timing, investment, profitability, reliability and design integrity.
• Embrace global communication and resolution of issues among regions, to propagate quick solutions and better global awareness of issues.
• Ensure financial success of each launch globally for Tenneco. Includes business case development, CAR process, cost and pricing analysis, and budget and resource planning all on a global basis.
  • Meets customer targets (Quality & cost targets, technical & program objectives, specifications, development budget, timing/milestones, PPAP.)
  • Meets internal targets (Profitability & cost targets, program budget, quality & technical requirements, capital & tooling budget, program timing, supplier & end item PPAP.)
• Works with Program Managers and Launch Teams to follow TenPLUS discipline using the Planisware tool

• Task Execution

• Works with Program Managers to lead a multi-discipline and multi-cultural team - requires ability to manage a large variety of projects as well as the leadership skills to track, enforce and foster the project team's progress.
• Integrates lessons learned from previous programs : Identifies and shares running program issues that affects new development programs and drives the application of the communized solution
• Follows up task execution completion, ultimately responsible to deliver programs on time.

• Communication and Reporting

• Lead communication with customer on all aspects of program timing for new launches
• Coordinate global program review preparations with regional Program Managers and consolidates program status by program in appropriate review template. Leads global program reviews for assigned customer.

What We Are Looking For:

EDUCATION: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or Business Administrative

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• At least 3 years' relevant experience in Program Management
• Minimum 5 years' experience in the automotive industry
• Proven knowledge of program management methodology, tools and techniques, including relevant computer software tools
• Experience in at least two, preferably three or more, key functional areas: Program Management, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Operations or Sales preferred
• PMP certification preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to interface and influence at multiple organizational levels, within Tenneco and the customer.
• Must be well organized and able to function well in a multi-cultural team environment.
• Multi-regional work experience a plus.
• Must be willing to travel.
• Foreign language skills a plus. (English MUST)