Product Engineering Manager - Ford

Product Engineering Manager Strategic Functions:

• Supports and develops input on specific target goals for both global & regional customer accounts; specifically, P&L, variable margins, selling expenses, inventory, purchasing and customer demand forecast.
• Develop and manage critical relationships with onsite customer engineering and manufacturing team members. Will serve as technical spokesperson to customer materials engineering and paint manufacturing groups.
• Product planning activities include working with other product and marketing managers to update product plans for the respective business segments. Key elements of the product plan will include outlining business drivers, product positioning (cost, pricing, and margin) across segments, competitive benchmarking and designing product lifecycle roadmaps.
• Technical support activities include handling customer technical inquiries and complaints as well as working with the R&D organization to develop rapid customer response.
• Manage corrective steps to resolve product performance issues. Lead product quality investigations/complaints with recognized problem-solving.
• Prepare and maintain monthly plant quality reports for customers.
• Serve as a Voice of Customer to the Axalta Sales, Marketing, Technical, and Manufacturing functions.
• Lead and support new product launches and technology transfers.
• Manage customer product approvals.
• Support and manage PDCA meetings and processes.
• Manage customer projects (LWRs, FWRs, EPMs) and prioritize project portfolio.
• Define VMI requirements and seek VMI improvement opportunities to implement.

Leadership Excellence:

• Build, lead, and develop regional team.
• Coach and mentor employees, providing career development planning and succession opportunities.
• Empower employees to take responsibility for their jobs and goals. Delegate responsibility while providing regular feedback.
• Maintain transparent communication. Appropriately communicate organization information through department and one-on-one meetings.

Culture Champion:

• Cultivate a strong team culture by enhancing and building highly effective and collaborative cross-functional relationships throughout the business.
• Through integrity and dependability, build relationships at all levels to help support change initiatives that help teams deliver value.
• Continuously identify ways to improve by engaging with staff and bringing perspective on new ideas.

• Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, Engineering or other applied sciences curriculum required.
• The ideal candidate will have at least eight (8 ) years of automotive, chemical, or related industry experience to include a combination of sales, technical and marketing experience displaying finance and business acumen.
• Experienced at strategic account planning; led negotiation and management of complex accounts.
• Knowledge of paint formulation and application processes.
• Experience working in an R&D environment and bringing new products to market is highly preferred.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work with all levels of the organization and customers.
• Capable of managing multiple projects and tasks simultaneously; leading multi-functional teams.
• Proven problem-solving and analytical skills with data-based decision-making capability.
• Ability to understand customer needs and translate them into product offerings / solutions.
• Strong data processing skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office preferred.
• Ability to collaborate and build teamwork is essential.
• Ability to travel up to 35%.