Senior Project Management Office (PMO)

About the Opportunity

A specialized recruitment consultancy is conducting an executive search on behalf of a leading global automotive technology company. We are looking for a senior project leader capable of managing complex product-development and launch programs in a highly demanding, multicultural and matrix environment.

This position will serve as the central point of accountability for program execution, connecting engineering, manufacturing, quality, purchasing, finance, sales, suppliers and the customer. The role requires strong command of automotive project governance, disciplined execution and the ability to translate risks and changes into clear decisions regarding timing, cost, quality and product performance.

Position Summary

Reporting hierarchically to BU Portfolio Management and functionally to the company’s Project Management organization, the BU Project Manager will fully leverage the organization’s Project Life Cycle System to ensure that assigned programs achieve their quality, profitability, timing and product-performance objectives.

The successful professional will lead cross-functional teams from project initiation through launch and post-SOP stabilization, ensuring that resources, approvals, sourcing decisions, product milestones, financial targets and customer commitments are managed with rigor and transparency.

Core Program KPIs

Staffed on Time: secure appropriately skilled team members with sufficient capacity for the complexity and deliverables of each program.

Start on Time: build the critical-path plan backward from the first customer-part requirement and ensure timely program initiation.

Spend on Time: obtain business-case approvals and ensure that equipment, tooling and component commitments follow the approved timeline.

Source on Time: select capable internal and external suppliers, confirm commitments and monitor progress throughout all program phases.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Cross-Functional Team Management

Lead the cross-functional team in a professional and results-oriented manner when interfacing with customers, suppliers and internal management.

Align team members on responsibilities, deliverables and timing commitments, acting as the central communication point throughout the program.

Motivate, mentor and coach team members while resolving conflicts across functions, departments, suppliers and customer stakeholders.

Establish the project-meeting cadence, define agendas, ensure appropriate attendance and maintain focus on decisions, actions and deliverables.

Identify root causes, define corrective actions and lead the team through issue resolution and closure.

Scope and Change Management

Communicate the impact of scope changes to the customer and internal team in terms of cost, timing, product, execution quality and project risk.

Create, publish and maintain the Customer Statement of Work / Project Charter and relevant Supplier Statements of Work.

Ensure that all scope changes are formally documented and processed through the established product-change management and approval workflow.

Differentiate scope changes from product changes, mitigate associated risks and keep management informed of their effect on the program.

Protect and enhance the company’s financial performance when changes are driven by customer requirements.

Launch Execution and Risk Management

Lead the program toward zero recordable accidents, zero rejected parts per million, 100% on-time customer delivery and achievement of all financial goals within 90 days after SOP.

Anticipate risks created by late activities or program changes and develop documented mitigation, implementation and containment plans.

Coordinate suppliers and internal functions to ensure that all required people, equipment, tooling, components and support resources are available for launch.

Provide on-site plant support during pre-production builds and follow up with launch management to confirm readiness across all plant functions.

Structure late changes into pre-launch and post-launch implementation windows to minimize operational and quality risk.

Financial Management and Reporting

Conduct a formal monthly financial review throughout the project and ensure that financial commitments remain visible and actionable.

Drive the Financial Roadmap with clear ownership, commitment dates, cost-reduction initiatives and price-improvement actions.

Facilitate cross-functional alignment to ensure that product design meets BOM cost and program-profitability targets.

Escalate financial gaps early and drive recovery plans to meet or exceed the approved business case.

Timing and Project Governance

Create and manage work breakdown structures using customer milestones and deliverables as the planning foundation.

Develop gate timing from the critical path and calculate program start dates backward from the first customer-part MRD.

Build and manage CAD/drawing, prototype-build and testing schedules with input and commitment from all relevant functions.

Use the integrated project timeline in weekly team meetings to communicate deliverables, due dates, dependencies and gaps.

Ensure that gate reviews are held on schedule and maintain concise issue lists with clear owners, deadlines and expected deliverables.

Product, Quality and Customer Satisfaction

Lead the team in meeting craftsmanship, specification, functional-performance and applicable national safety requirements.

Audit customer samples, test results and corrective actions to support launch readiness and customer-shipping approval.

Act as the customer’s key contact for project implementation and maintain the credibility of both the company and the project team.

Secure internal alignment before communicating scope decisions and provide fact-based assessments of cost, quality and timing impacts.

Maintain regular contact with the customer, address difficult issues promptly and preserve key correspondence and project documentation.

Develop a detailed understanding of the customer’s organization, procedures and decision-making structure.

Global and Multicultural Collaboration

Operate effectively across countries, cultures, functions and disciplines in a global matrix organization.

Adapt interpersonal style and communication to different cultural contexts while demonstrating respect and curiosity.

Build strategic relationships and influence outcomes across geographically distributed stakeholders.

Mandatory Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or an equivalent technical discipline.

10+ years of progressive experience in the automotive industry.

Proven experience in project or program management, including automotive product development, industrialization and launch through SOP.

Practical experience in at least three of the following functional areas: development engineering, production engineering, manufacturing engineering, sales, quality, purchasing, project finance, costing, testing or project management.

Advanced or fluent English, with the ability to lead meetings, presentations, negotiations and technical discussions.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365, particularly Excel, PowerPoint and Word.

Proficiency in Microsoft Project, including critical-path planning, dependencies, milestones and schedule control.

Hands-on experience with Project Portfolio Management (PPM) software.

Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams in a matrix organization and influencing stakeholders without relying solely on direct authority.

Experience presenting program status, risks, financial performance and recommendations to senior management and customers.

Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.

Postgraduate qualification or master’s degree in Project Management.

Working knowledge of additional languages.

Behavioral Profile

Executive presence and the ability to build credibility with senior leaders, customers and technical specialists.

Excellent interpersonal communication, negotiation and conflict-management skills.

Strong analytical judgment, structured problem-solving and data-based decision-making.

Ownership, discipline and a consistent focus on execution, profitability and business results.

High integrity, positive attitude and genuine commitment to long-term growth.

Collaborative team orientation combined with the resilience required for a demanding, high-accountability environment.

Ability to mentor others and strengthen leadership capability within cross-functional teams.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this position will be measured by the manager’s ability to launch complex automotive programs safely, on time, within the approved business case and with the required product quality. The professional must create visibility, accountability and confidence across the entire program ecosystem—from internal functions and suppliers to senior management and the customer.