Manufacturing Program Manager

Position Overview
The Manufacturing Program Manager will play a critical role in bridging the gap between product engineering and manufacturing operations within the plant. This position requires a strong background in product and manufacturing engineering to effectively spearhead initiatives that drive technical success from concept to mass production. This position plays a vital role in enhancing production efficiency and quality, working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of product and manufacturing operations.
Key responsibilities include providing technical support for supplier selection, manage JDE Manufacturing Bills of Materials (M-BOM), and coordinate packaging design and implementation. Additionally, the role involves supporting Plant Quality FRACAS resolution and maintaining traceability of manufacturing changes.
Position Responsibilities
- Act as a liaison between product engineering and manufacturing teams, ensuring alignment on technical requirements and process improvements
- Partner with other cross functional teams, including quality, purchasing, finance and engineering to ensure alignment on production and problem resolution
- Investigate and resolve production issues, including containment and long-term solutions.
- Support FRACAS resolution and maintain manufacturing change traceability.
- Lead production running change implementation
- Drive continuous improvement initiative as well as identifying opportunities to reduce cost and enhance product quality, as well as actively promote a lean culture across the technical organization
- Provide technical input for supplier selection and integration.
- Manage and maintain JD Edwards systems, including Item Masters data and MBOMs, ensuring accuracy and traceability
- Coordinate and specify packaging design that meets customers and supplier requirements
- Promoting Design for Manufacturing (DFm) Concept across the technical organization
- Support process tooling requirements and enhancements.

Position Requirements
- Mechanical Engineering or similar degree, but requisite experience will be considered.
- 7+ years of experience in manufacturing or product engineering, preferably in a plant environment.
- 3-4 years experience in similar role.
- Hands on experience in production issue resolution, ERP systems e.g. ERP (JDE) and PDM (Windchill).
- IATF 16949 CSR, APQP, ISO14001, ISO45001 standards knowledge is an asset
- Fluent in English in written and spoken with ability to write concise technical documents
- Tier 1 Automotive (manufacturing) experience is preferred
- Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification is strongly preferred
- Willingness and potential to manage a small team of engineers and technicians in the future

Key competencies
- Resilience in high-pressure production environments maintaining a holistic and results oriented focus.
- Negotiation and influencing skills to achieve alignment on technical solutions, production improvements and process changes.
- Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams in different geographic and cultural contexts.
- Process and efficiency improvement mindset, ability to think out of the box
- Proactive and Problem-Solving attitude.

Why Join Cespira Manufacturing team
- Be part of a cutting-edge team shaping the future of sustainable transportation with a leading technology to decarbonize the heavy duty transportation sector
- Work in a culture that values joy at work, integrity, and collaboration
- Contribute to meaningful projects with a tangible impact in a sustainable organization