Nexteer Automotive

Program Manager (2026)

Nexteer Automotive$100K — $120K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years in automotive within cross-functional teams preferred
  • Proven financial acumen and business decision-making skills
  • Expert leadership ability, fostering high performance within teams
  • Strong analytical skills with capability to create executive summaries
  • Effective communication skills across various organizational levels
  • Skilled in conflict management and negotiation processes
  • Proficient in risk and issue management including timely escalations
  • Advanced project planning and tracking, specifically with MS Project and CPI Web

Responsibilities

  • Oversee program ownership, balancing cost, quality, and timing metrics
  • Achieve financial commitments adhering to organizational standards
  • Clarify expectations and responsibilities for team members
  • Utilize customer program implementation tools effectively
  • Conduct risk assessment workshops post-program charter
  • Lead development of program timelines to ensure customer requirements are met
  • Maintain program documentation to comply with ISO 9001/IATF 16949 standards

Benefits

  • Opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement
  • Collaborative cross-functional team environment
  • Engagement with key stakeholders, both customers and suppliers
  • Exposure to diverse automotive project management processes
  • Ability to drive meaningful impact on program success and company growth
Full Job Description
Position: Program Manager

About the Role:

The US Division Program Management Team is seeking to fill an opening for a Program Manager, accountable to execute and deliver new customer programs from Program Charter through 6 months post Program Launch. We are looking for a candidate that can lead a cross-functional team (Business Case Delivery Team) with strong leadership skills and confidence to interact at multiple levels both internally with externally with customers and suppliers. The ideal candidate has a bias for action, self-motivated, and driven to achieve the program metrics, including timing, quality, and financials.

Key Responsibilities

As a Program Manager, you will be responsible to:
  • Business Leader for their Program: Demonstrate ownership of, accountability for, and commitment to the Program balancing program metrics (cost, quality, timing, performance).
    • Leader of the BCDT, responsible for OI%, NPV$, Year 1 MRTS%, and Exiting ER's On-Time.
  • Achieve Financial Commitments as measured per the appropriation (organizational commitment) including OI, NPV, MRTS, CapEx, and Customer Tool Rebill, with focus on profitable launch at SOP + 6 months.
  • Ensure expectations and responsibilities are clear to team members and they understand their importance to the program.
  • Effectively utilize the Customer Program Implementation process and tools. Major tools include CPI Process Map, CPI Web System, Design Reviews and Enterprise Reviews.
  • Conduct cross-functional BOD/BOP Risk Assessment workshop to identify program risks shortly after Program Charter.
  • Lead program timing development, including timing dependencies and assumptions to meet customer requirements.
  • Drive discipline & accountability in project plans.
  • Clearly communicate risks and plans to mitigate those risks to ensure each CPI phase exits on time and adherence to program imperatives is met. Ensure Nexteer and Customer risk assessments are current.
  • Escalate Issues to Management if Issues and Step Outputs cannot be completed on time and work with the team to develop a risk mitigation plan to protect program launch timing and financials.
  • Maintain up-to-date and accurate program information in CPI Web throughout the year, including KPIs, CPI Step Due Dates, Customer SORP, and Financials.
  • Drive the BCDT/PDT to conduct DR and ER reviews on-time! Work to ensure ER's are fully exited on-time or < 30 days after the initial review was scheduled.
  • With our Customers: Lead with Sales and Engineering the customer relationship for the program including customer communication, coordination, and issue resolution within the enterprise.
  • With our Suppliers: Support MAPP Approval and APQP Processes on-site at key suppliers; build relationships with our suppliers' top management.
  • With our Plants: Develop strong relationship with Plant Launch Leader and Plant Staff.
  • Maintain appropriate program documentation to comply with ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 requirements.


Required Qualifications
  • 10 or more years of automotive experience within a cross functional environment preferred
  • Proven Business & Financial Acumen skills to make decisions based on a solid understanding of the business and organizational impact. Ability to see the impact a decision will have on timing and financial health of the program
  • Excellent leadership skills in a team environment - inspire and motivate team members to high performance
  • Strong Analytical and Reporting skills; ability to convey executive summaries
  • Effective External Communication with the Customer Organization at all levels and functions
  • Strong interpersonal skills to drive execution of program
  • Strong Conflict Management and Negotiation skills
  • Risk and Issue Management skills, including timely and effective escalation
  • Able to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and customers to successfully negotiate and meet program commitments.
  • Strong project planning and tracking capability using Microsoft Project and CPI Web
  • Understanding of Project Management Process knowledge
  • Understands Product Safety processes as it relates to the design, release, and manufacturing of products
  • Understanding of technical & commercial aspects of product line
  • Problem solving skills utilizing I&CIM tools (3L5Y, FAST X, Six Sigma, etc.)
  • Nexteer Business Process Knowledge
  • Nexteer Quality Management System Training
  • ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 Awareness Training
  • Proficient with Microsoft office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Project)
  • Willingness and ability to travel


Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree required, preferably in engineering

This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored work authorizationDo not apply for this role if you will need immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of Nexteer as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.)

About Nexteer Automotive

Nexteer Automotive is a global automotive supplier that specializes in developing and manufacturing steering and driveline systems. The company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Saginaw, Michigan. Nexteer Automotive has a presence in over 50 countries and has partnerships with many of the world's leading automakers. The company's products include electric power steering systems, hydraulic power steering systems, and driveline systems. Nexteer Automotive is committed to sustainability and has implemented a number of initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, including the use of renewable energy sources and the reduction of waste and emissions.
Learn more about Nexteer Automotive
Size
11,900 employees
Industry
Founded
1906
NASDAQ

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