Program Manager

Location: Appleton, Wisconsin

Employment Type: Full-time | On-site

About the Position: This is a hands-on, customer-facing manufacturing role. Program Managers at SMT are responsible for understanding customer needs, coordinating internal resources, communicating clearly as conditions change and ensuring commitments are carried through. Success requires more than providing status updates. It takes judgment, accountability, follow-through and the ability to bring Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Quality and Planning together around a common execution plan.

Key Responsibilities: Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned customers and build strong, trusted relationships. Understand customer requirements, priorities and changing business needs. Coordinate execution across Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Quality, Planning and other departments. Manage customer orders, purchase-order alignment, demand changes and execution flow. Monitor production schedules and communicate status, risks and changes clearly and proactively. Coordinate customer-requested changes, evaluate internal impacts and provide timely responses. Support new-product introductions, production ramps and ongoing manufacturing programs. Help resolve execution issues and escalate matters when appropriate. Monitor program performance against expected sales and customer demand. Identify opportunities to expand relationships with existing customers. Maintain accurate follow-up and ensure customer commitments are understood and executed internally. Help customers understand the information, approvals and decisions SMT needs to execute successfully.

Qualifications: Strong candidates will typically demonstrate: Experience in electronics manufacturing, EMS or another manufacturing environment. Experience working directly with customers and managing professional relationships. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate difficult information clearly. Ability to coordinate across multiple departments without relying on formal authority. Sound judgment, practical problem-solving skills and the ability to perform under pressure. Strong organization, accountability and follow-through. Ability to manage competing customer priorities. Familiarity with production schedules, customer orders, demand planning and manufacturing data. Ability to recognize risks, manage issues and escalate appropriately. A demonstrated commitment to customer satisfaction and execution. A four-year degree is preferred, but relevant manufacturing experience and demonstrated capability are more important. Previous EMS or electronics manufacturing experience is especially valuable, including familiarity with customer demand, material constraints, engineering changes, contract manufacturing and production execution. Who May Be a Strong FitCandidates may come from backgrounds including EMS Program Management, Customer Program Management, Manufacturing Account Management, Customer Service within manufacturing, Materials or Production Coordination, Supply Chain, or Operations roles with significant customer-facing responsibility. What Makes SMT DifferentSMT is a smaller, flatter organization than many large EMS providers. Our Program Managers work directly with the people responsible for manufacturing execution, including Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Operations and company leadership. That provides meaningful visibility, responsibility and the opportunity to influence decisions. We value clear communication, early identification of risks, accountability, practical problem-solving and long-term customer relationships. Our philosophy is simple: Execution Over Talk. SMT has been manufacturing electronics in Appleton since 1997 and has paid profit sharing for 10 consecutive years.

Work Environment: This is a full-time, on-site position in Appleton, Wisconsin. Program Managers work closely with manufacturing teams and are expected to be actively engaged with customers and internal departments throughout the business day.