{"schemaVersion":"jobsearcher.job.v1","id":"db0bf75095d04aab2140362f","url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/db0bf75095d04aab2140362f","canonicalUrl":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/db0bf75095d04aab2140362f","title":"Program Manager","description":"Title: Program/Project Manager\nFLSA: Exempt\nLocation: Maumee, Ohio (GSE)\n\nPosition Summary\nThe Program / Project Manager – Soft Trim Tooling is responsible for leading all Soft Trim tooling programs from initial customer award through tooling build, validation, launch, and production readiness. This role serves as the primary technical and program management leader for Soft Trim tooling activities entering the Maumee facility, ensuring projects are executed safely, on time, within budget, and in accordance with customer requirements.\nThe Program / Project Engineer coordinates activities across engineering, tooling, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and customer teams to ensure successful tool acceptance, production startup, and program ramp-up.\nThe ideal candidate combines strong project management skills with hands-on manufacturing and tooling expertise, particularly in automotive soft trim, thermoforming, vacuum forming, IMG/IMGL, interior trim systems, and related tooling technologies. This individual acts as the central point of communication between customers, suppliers, and internal operations throughout the program lifecycle.\nEssential Duties & Responsibilities\nProgram Management\nLead assigned Soft Trim tooling programs from customer award through production launch and post-launch stabilization.\nDevelop, maintain, and communicate detailed project timing plans, milestones, launch schedules, and risk assessments.\nServe as the primary customer contact for program-related activities, status updates, timing concerns, and issue escalation.\nCoordinate program reviews, internal status meetings, customer update meetings, and cross-functional launch readiness reviews.\nTrack program deliverables, engineering changes, open issues, approvals, and timing risks to ensure proactive resolution.\nSupport adherence to customer APQP, PPAP, and launch requirements, as applicable.\nDrive accountability for program timing, customer commitments, budget awareness, and project deliverables.\nTooling & Engineering Leadership\nManage incoming Soft Trim tooling work for the Maumee facility, including tooling design review, build coordination, validation, and readiness activities.\nReview engineering specifications, CAD data, tooling concepts, customer requirements, and technical risk items.\nSupport tool buy-off activities, tryouts, dimensional reviews, capability studies, and customer acceptance requirements.\nCoordinate corrective actions associated with tooling concerns, design issues, manufacturability risks, and launch-related problems.\nEnsure tooling is properly evaluated, documented, and ready prior to customer and production launch milestones.\nIdentify opportunities for tooling improvements, cost reduction, process efficiency, and long-term reliability.\nCustomer & Supplier Interface\nMaintain strong working relationships with customers, suppliers, and strategic partners throughout the program lifecycle.\nCommunicate program status, risks, timing concerns, technical updates, and open issues in a professional and timely manner.\nCoordinate supplier activities for outsourced tooling, components, engineering support, and launch-related requirements.\nSupport customer visits, audits, technical reviews, launch reviews, and issue-resolution meetings.\nBalance customer expectations with internal operational capabilities, timing, quality, safety, and cost objectives.\nCross-Functional Coordination\nCollaborate with engineering, tooling, CNC operations, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, purchasing, program management, sales, and plant operations.\nFacilitate problem-solving activities using root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies.\nEnsure clear communication of priorities, risks, constraints, and required deliverables across all affected functions.\nSupport internal alignment between Maumee tooling activities\nContinuous Improvement\nIdentify opportunities to improve launch execution, tooling performance, customer communication, and internal program management processes.\nMaintain lessons-learned documentation and apply learning to future tooling and launch programs.\nSupport standardization of best practices across tooling, engineering, and launch activities.\nContribute to operational excellence, cost-reduction, quality improvement, and productivity initiatives.\nEducation & Experience\nRequired\nBachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related technical discipline.\nMinimum of 5 years of experience in automotive tooling, manufacturing engineering, project engineering, program management, or launch support.\nExperience supporting tooling programs through validation, launch, and production startup.\nStrong customer-facing communication and project coordination experience.\nPreferred\nExperience with soft trim tooling, thermoforming, vacuum forming, IMG/IMGL processes, automotive interior systems, or related manufacturing technologies.\nExperience working with Tier 1 suppliers and/or automotive OEM customers.\nExposure to SAP or similar ERP systems.\nPMP certification, formal project management training, or equivalent practical project leadership experience.\nKnowledge, Skills & Abilities\nStrong understanding of automotive launch processes and manufacturing readiness requirements.\nWorking knowledge of APQP, PPAP, DFMEA, Control Plans, engineering change management, and corrective action processes.\nAbility to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.\nStrong technical problem-solving, root cause analysis, and decision-making skills.\nAbility to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, CAD data, specifications, and customer technical requirements.\nExcellent written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with customers and internal leadership.\nStrong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through.\nAbility to lead cross-functional teams and influence others without direct authority.\nProficiency with Microsoft Office applications and project management tools.\nWork Environment & Physical Requirements\nCombination of office, engineering, tooling, and manufacturing floor environments.\nRegular presence on the production floor and in tooling/manufacturing areas is required.\nRequires use of appropriate personal protective equipment in designated areas.\nMay require standing, walking, bending, reaching, and occasional lifting of up to 25–40 lbs. as needed.\nFlexible schedule and travel may be required to support tool trials, customer events, production launches, and urgent issue resolution.\nyXrAgUzWFd","company":"Standex","rawCompany":"standex","city":"Maumee","state":"OH","isRemote":false,"isActive":false,"createdAt":"2026-10-29T10:33:39.838Z","occupations":[{"code":"13-1082.00","title":"Project Management Specialists","slug":"project-management-specialists"},{"code":"11-9151.00","title":"Social and Community Service Managers","slug":"social-and-community-service-managers"},{"code":"15-1299.09","title":"Information Technology Project Managers","slug":"information-technology-project-managers"}],"industries":[{"code":"336370","title":"Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping","slug":"motor-vehicle-metal-stamping"},{"code":"333514","title":"Special Die and Tool, Die Set, Jig, and Fixture Manufacturing","slug":"special-die-and-tool-die-set-jig-and-fixture-manufacturing"},{"code":"336110","title":"Automobile and Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing","slug":"automobile-and-light-duty-motor-vehicle-manufacturing"}],"jobPosting":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Program Manager","description":"Title: Program/Project Manager\nFLSA: Exempt\nLocation: Maumee, Ohio (GSE)\n\nPosition Summary\nThe Program / Project Manager – Soft Trim Tooling is responsible for leading all Soft Trim tooling programs from initial customer award through tooling build, validation, launch, and production readiness. This role serves as the primary technical and program management leader for Soft Trim tooling activities entering the Maumee facility, ensuring projects are executed safely, on time, within budget, and in accordance with customer requirements.\nThe Program / Project Engineer coordinates activities across engineering, tooling, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and customer teams to ensure successful tool acceptance, production startup, and program ramp-up.\nThe ideal candidate combines strong project management skills with hands-on manufacturing and tooling expertise, particularly in automotive soft trim, thermoforming, vacuum forming, IMG/IMGL, interior trim systems, and related tooling technologies. This individual acts as the central point of communication between customers, suppliers, and internal operations throughout the program lifecycle.\nEssential Duties & Responsibilities\nProgram Management\nLead assigned Soft Trim tooling programs from customer award through production launch and post-launch stabilization.\nDevelop, maintain, and communicate detailed project timing plans, milestones, launch schedules, and risk assessments.\nServe as the primary customer contact for program-related activities, status updates, timing concerns, and issue escalation.\nCoordinate program reviews, internal status meetings, customer update meetings, and cross-functional launch readiness reviews.\nTrack program deliverables, engineering changes, open issues, approvals, and timing risks to ensure proactive resolution.\nSupport adherence to customer APQP, PPAP, and launch requirements, as applicable.\nDrive accountability for program timing, customer commitments, budget awareness, and project deliverables.\nTooling & Engineering Leadership\nManage incoming Soft Trim tooling work for the Maumee facility, including tooling design review, build coordination, validation, and readiness activities.\nReview engineering specifications, CAD data, tooling concepts, customer requirements, and technical risk items.\nSupport tool buy-off activities, tryouts, dimensional reviews, capability studies, and customer acceptance requirements.\nCoordinate corrective actions associated with tooling concerns, design issues, manufacturability risks, and launch-related problems.\nEnsure tooling is properly evaluated, documented, and ready prior to customer and production launch milestones.\nIdentify opportunities for tooling improvements, cost reduction, process efficiency, and long-term reliability.\nCustomer & Supplier Interface\nMaintain strong working relationships with customers, suppliers, and strategic partners throughout the program lifecycle.\nCommunicate program status, risks, timing concerns, technical updates, and open issues in a professional and timely manner.\nCoordinate supplier activities for outsourced tooling, components, engineering support, and launch-related requirements.\nSupport customer visits, audits, technical reviews, launch reviews, and issue-resolution meetings.\nBalance customer expectations with internal operational capabilities, timing, quality, safety, and cost objectives.\nCross-Functional Coordination\nCollaborate with engineering, tooling, CNC operations, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, purchasing, program management, sales, and plant operations.\nFacilitate problem-solving activities using root cause analysis and corrective action methodologies.\nEnsure clear communication of priorities, risks, constraints, and required deliverables across all affected functions.\nSupport internal alignment between Maumee tooling activities\nContinuous Improvement\nIdentify opportunities to improve launch execution, tooling performance, customer communication, and internal program management processes.\nMaintain lessons-learned documentation and apply learning to future tooling and launch programs.\nSupport standardization of best practices across tooling, engineering, and launch activities.\nContribute to operational excellence, cost-reduction, quality improvement, and productivity initiatives.\nEducation & Experience\nRequired\nBachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related technical discipline.\nMinimum of 5 years of experience in automotive tooling, manufacturing engineering, project engineering, program management, or launch support.\nExperience supporting tooling programs through validation, launch, and production startup.\nStrong customer-facing communication and project coordination experience.\nPreferred\nExperience with soft trim tooling, thermoforming, vacuum forming, IMG/IMGL processes, automotive interior systems, or related manufacturing technologies.\nExperience working with Tier 1 suppliers and/or automotive OEM customers.\nExposure to SAP or similar ERP systems.\nPMP certification, formal project management training, or equivalent practical project leadership experience.\nKnowledge, Skills & Abilities\nStrong understanding of automotive launch processes and manufacturing readiness requirements.\nWorking knowledge of APQP, PPAP, DFMEA, Control Plans, engineering change management, and corrective action processes.\nAbility to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.\nStrong technical problem-solving, root cause analysis, and decision-making skills.\nAbility to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, CAD data, specifications, and customer technical requirements.\nExcellent written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with customers and internal leadership.\nStrong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through.\nAbility to lead cross-functional teams and influence others without direct authority.\nProficiency with Microsoft Office applications and project management tools.\nWork Environment & Physical Requirements\nCombination of office, engineering, tooling, and manufacturing floor environments.\nRegular presence on the production floor and in tooling/manufacturing areas is required.\nRequires use of appropriate personal protective equipment in designated areas.\nMay require standing, walking, bending, reaching, and occasional lifting of up to 25–40 lbs. as needed.\nFlexible schedule and travel may be required to support tool trials, customer events, production launches, and urgent issue resolution.\nyXrAgUzWFd","datePosted":"2026-10-29T10:33:39.838Z","dateModified":"2026-10-29T10:33:39.838Z","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Standex","sameAs":"https://jobsearcher.com"},"jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Maumee","addressRegion":"OH","addressCountry":"US"}},"identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"JobSearcher","value":"db0bf75095d04aab2140362f"},"url":"https://jobsearcher.com/jobs/db0bf75095d04aab2140362f"}}