General Motors

Project Manager - Specialty Program Manager, Global Artisan Innovation Center

General Motors • $110K — $130K *
Warren, MI 48089In-Person
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, operations, project management, or related field.
  • Significant experience in leading complex, cross-functional programs within manufacturing or defense environments.
  • Demonstrated expertise in program planning, resource analysis, and executive communication.
  • Proven track record of coordinating across multiple functional teams and managing competing priorities.
  • Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and production-readiness considerations.
  • Ability to establish structure in ambiguous work environments.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to present effectively.

Responsibilities

  • Act as the primary contact for GMD and specialty customers regarding new business requests.
  • Set up a disciplined intake process for non-traditional work requests.
  • Lead cross-functional review forums and influence design/buildability factors.
  • Create agendas, criteria for decision-making, and governance practices for opportunity reviews.
  • Assess organizational capacity, staffing, cost, tooling requirements, and schedule feasibility for new initiatives.
  • Manage detailed program studies from the initial request stage to final recommendation.
  • Ensure clear communications and status updates between GAIC/PPO and stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead cross-functional collaboration in a dynamic environment.
  • Engagement in innovative projects at the Global Artisan Innovation Center.
  • Ability to influence executive-level decision making and contribute to strategic growth.
  • Professional development through exposure to automotive manufacturing best practices and processes.
  • Participation in a structured program development and governance process.
Full Job Description
Job Description

The Role

The Project Manager - Specialty Program Manager, Global Artisan Innovation Center will serve as the central program leader and primary point of contact between General Motors Defense (GMD), other Specialty Programs and the Global Artisan Innovation Center/PPO organization. This role will establish and lead a structured work-intake, evaluation, and approval process for new Business and ultra-low volume opportunities, ensuring that requests are assessed consistently for capacity, staffing, cost, tooling, process impacts, capital requirements, and schedule feasibility before commitments are made.

The position will coordinate cross-functional teams, lead feasibility and cost-estimating activities, manage strategic studies, and develop repeatable processes that support sustainable GM growth opportunities while protecting existing GAIC/PPO core work commitments.

What You'll Do
  • Serve as the primary interface between GMD & other specialty customers and GAIC/PPO for new work requests, studies, and business opportunities.
  • Establish and maintain a single, disciplined intake funnel for all non-traditional requests.
  • Lead cross-functional review forums involving Manufacturing Engineering, Body, General Assembly, MTS, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Facilities, Strategy and Planning and other stakeholders, including regular interaction and providing direction to Program Teams to influence design and buildability for overall program success.
  • Develop agendas, decision criteria, governance practices, and approval recommendations for opportunity reviews.
  • Direct assessments of:
    • Organizational and production capacity, working with the scheduling team in Program Management.
    • Salaried and hourly manpower requirements
    • Staffing availability and workforce risks
    • Tooling, equipment, and process impacts
    • Capital investment requirements
    • Cost estimates, Manufacturing Planning Studies (MPS) and business-case assumptions
    • Schedule feasibility, timing, and execution risk
  • Coordinate detailed program studies from initial request through recommendation and leadership decision and discussion.
  • Lead studies as a pilot for the future opportunities-evaluation model as we develop standardized work processes.
  • Ensure vehicle content, MTS, Body, General Assembly, scope are clearly understood before commitments are made. Driving to a total-enterprise solution that delivers on SPQRC&E metrics.
  • Establish consistent communication routines and status reporting between GAIC/PPO and Program stakeholders.
  • Prevent unauthorized commitments by ensuring requests are evaluated through the approved process.
  • Develop repeatable standards, templates, tools, and lessons learned for future studies.
  • Identify risks, constraints, dependencies, and escalation needs; develop mitigation plans with functional leaders.
  • Partner with shop leadership to evaluate staffing projections, retirements, workforce reductions, apprentice development, and advance-hiring needs.
  • Support strategic capacity planning and resource prioritization across competing GAIC/PPO and GMD requirements.
  • Provide Sr. Leader and Executive-level updates, recommendations, and decision packages to leadership.
  • Influence stakeholders across organizational boundaries without direct authority.
  • Promote disciplined program-management practices, accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement

Core Competencies
  • Manufacturing program interaction
  • Strategic planning and prioritization
  • Cross-functional collaboration
  • Capacity and workforce planning
  • Cost and feasibility analysis
  • Risk and issue management
  • Stakeholder alignment and communication
  • Executive influence
  • Process development and standardization
  • Decision-making and accountability
  • Continuous improvement
  • Operational and manufacturing acumen


Measures of Success
  • All requests are routed through a defined and consistently applied intake process.
  • Opportunity decisions are supported by documented capacity, staffing, cost, tooling, capital, and schedule assessments.
  • GAIC/PPO & program team stakeholders receive clear, timely, and consistent communication.
  • Study Opportunities establishes a repeatable standardized model for evaluating future opportunities.
  • Program risks, assumptions, and resource constraints are identified early and escalated appropriately to all stakeholders.
  • GAIC/PPO growth is aligned with sustainable capacity and workforce plans.
  • Cross-functional leaders have confidence in the quality, transparency, and timeliness of recommendations.


Working Relationships

This position will work closely with:
  • GMD program and business-development teams
  • GAIC/PPO leadership and shop management
  • Manufacturing, Body, General Assembly, MTS, engineering, quality, and finance
  • Tooling, facilities, capital planning, and workforce-planning teams
  • Program Teams and their stakeholders
  • Space and facilities governance teams
  • Executive and senior leadership


Leadership Expectations

The successful candidate will demonstrate enterprise-level ownership, maintain a disciplined and impartial evaluation process, and build trust across Specialty Program Teams and GAIC/PPO. They will balance growth opportunities with current commitments, protect organizational capacity, and ensure that leadership decisions are based on complete, transparent, and fact-based information.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, operations, project management, or a related field or equivalent launch experience.
  • Significant experience leading complex, cross-functional programs in manufacturing, engineering, product development, defense, or a related environment.
  • Demonstrated experience with program planning, resource and capacity analysis, cost estimating, risk management, and executive communication.
  • Experience coordinating multiple functional organizations and managing competing priorities.
  • Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, tooling, equipment, facilities, General Assembly, and production-readiness considerations.
  • Proven ability to establish structure and governance in an ambiguous or developing work environment.
  • Strong written, verbal, facilitation, negotiation, and presentation skills.
  • Ability to make sound recommendations using incomplete information and clearly communicate assumptions, risks, and tradeoffs.
  • Proficiency with standard project-management, financial-analysis, and collaboration tools.


What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

  • Master's degree or advanced certification in project or program management.
  • Experience supporting Vehicle Launch as an aMIM or Plant Launch role.
  • Experience with Manufacturing Planning Studies (MPS's).
  • Familiar with General Motors Defense or other defense-related programs.
  • Familiarity with the Global Vehicle Development Plan (GVDP).
  • Experience with vehicle manufacturing, machining, body operations, General Assembly, or prototype and low-volume production.
  • Experience developing work-intake, portfolio-governance, or business-case processes.
  • Interaction & coordination with Strategy and Planning teams.
  • Knowledge of GM manufacturing systems, governance practices, and cross-functional decision processes.
  • Experience with workforce planning, apprentice pipelines, succession planning, or capacity modeling.
GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM 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).This role is categorized as onsite. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location on a full-time basis.

About General Motors

General Motors Company engages in the manufacture and sale of cars and trucks in the United States, China, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy. It offers sedans, crossovers, sport utility vehicles, pick-up trucks, coupes, sports/convertibles and hybrid vehicles, hatchbacks/wagons, and vans, as well as mini cars in India. The company also provides parts and accessories, such as iPod and MP3 compatibility, mobility accessories, performance parts, AC parts and services, and merchandise. In addition, it offers vehicle safety, security, and information services. The company provides used vehicles. It offers its products through dealers and distributors. General Motors Company was formerly known as NGMCO, Inc. and changed its name to General Motors Company in July 2009. The company was incorporated in 2009 and is based in Detroit, Michigan. It operates manufacturing facilities in India, the United States, and Canada. General Motors Company operates as a subsidiary of the United States Department of The Treasury. General Motors led global vehicle sales for 77 consecutive years from 1931 through 2007, longer than any other automaker, and is currently among the world's largest automakers by vehicle unit sales. General Motors acts in most countries outside the USA via wholly-owned subsidiaries but operates in China through 10 joint ventures. GM's OnStar subsidiary provides vehicle safety, security, and information services. In 2009, General Motors shed several brands, closing Saturn, Pontiac, and Hummer, and emerged from a government-backed Chapter 11 reorganization. In 2010, GM made an initial public offering IPOs to date and returned to profitability later that year.

General Motors Careers

Join the dynamic team at General Motors, a global leader in automotive innovation and technology. At General Motors, we offer unparalleled job opportunities that propel your career forward while contributing to a legacy of engineering excellence.

Work You’ll Do

Embark on a career with General Motors to drive the future of mobility. Our team is dedicated to redefining the automotive landscape through innovation and leadership in electric vehicles and sustainable solutions. By joining us, you will be part of a culture that values diversity, teamwork, and continuous professional growth.

Transform Your Career

General Motors is not just a company; it's a community where you can grow your skills alongside the best in the industry. Our leadership is committed to providing every employee—from interns to senior professionals—with opportunities for career advancement, leadership development, and diversity training.

Innovate and Lead

At General Motors, innovation is at the core of everything we do. From research and development to manufacturing, our teams work collaboratively to lead the industry with cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices. We encourage our employees to think big and push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Join Our Global Team

As part of our global workforce, you will collaborate with talented individuals who are passionate about shaping the future of transportation. General Motors offers a variety of career paths in engineering, design, IT, marketing, and more. With over 155,000 employees worldwide, our network provides expansive opportunities for networking and professional development.

Internship Programs and Employment Benefits

Start your career journey with a General Motors internship, where you can apply your academic knowledge to real-world projects. Our internships provide a robust foundation in the automotive industry, with mentorship from experienced leaders. Full-time employees enjoy a wealth of benefits, including comprehensive health care, retirement plans, and performance bonuses, ensuring that your hard work is rewarded.

Explore Job Opportunities

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, General Motors offers positions that leverage your unique skills. Our hiring process is designed to identify and nurture talent, focusing on aligning your capabilities with the right opportunities for growth within the company.

Stay Connected

Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. At General Motors, we look for innovative, driven, and solution-oriented team players. Explore the possibilities that await you in a career at General Motors.

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Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities available at General Motors. Embark on a journey of growth, innovation, and leadership at General Motors. Shape your future in an environment that fosters diversity, learning, and the pursuit of excellence. Join us and redefine the roads of tomorrow.
Learn more about General Motors
Size
157,000 employees
Market Cap
$46.9 billion
Industry
Manufacturing & Automotive
Net Income
$6.4 billion
Founded
1908
5 Year Trend
-3.2%
Revenue
$122.4 billion
NASDAQ
GM
* Ladders Estimates

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