Lead Project Manager

Program Manager

Firestone Airide specializes in air spring manufacturing and technology with a history of more than 80 years of research and development on technologically advanced air springs for the global marketplace. Firestone engineers air springs and related products for commercial trucks and trailers, cars, sport utility vehicles, light trucks, mini vans, motor homes, buses, agricultural equipment, rail and industrial applications.

The Program Manager leads and coordinates the successful development and launch of automotive vehicle programs for Firestone Airide products. The project management role plans, organizes, and controls resources, procedures, budgets, and timing across complex, interrelated programs. Serving as the primary liaison between customers, leadership, and internal cross-functional teams, the Program Manager ensures program objectives are achieved on time, within budget, and in compliance with customer, quality, performance, and profitability requirements. The role manages programs from business case development and product development through launch, production, and post-launch support.

Program and Project Leadership

• Lead multiple automotive vehicle programs or complex business processes from concept through production launch and post-launch support (PDP process).
• Organize cross-functional project teams, assign responsibilities, develop integrated schedules and milestones, and determine resource requirements.
• Develop and maintain program plans, budgets, staffing assumptions, deliverables, dependencies, and governance routines.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers and leadership regarding program status, risks, escalations, and key decisions.
• Monitor and report project performance, including cost, timing, quality, profitability, and launch readiness.
• Identify and resolve obstacles that could prevent completion on time, within budget, or in accordance with customer expectations.
• Integrate supplier and vendor activities into the program plan, and track and review vendor deliverables when applicable.

Cross-Functional Leadership and Stakeholder Management

• Coordinate activities across Product Engineering, Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, Quality, Procurement, Supply Chain, Finance, Sales, Account Management, Customer Service, and customer teams.
• Facilitate program reviews, launch readiness reviews, working sessions, and decision-making meetings.
• Align internal and external stakeholders on priorities, deliverables, ownership, timing, and resource needs.
• Build and sustain effective stakeholder relationships through clear communication, influence, negotiation, and timely issue resolution.
• Drive accountability across functions, including teams not under the Program Manager's direct authority.

Product Development and Launch Execution

• Manage product development milestones in accordance with customer requirements and internal processes.
• Lead or support APQP activities and automotive launch processes, including PPAP readiness, FMEA, Control Plans, and related deliverables.
• Coordinate change management throughout the program lifecycle, including scope, design, timing, cost, and customer changes.

Financial and Business Management

• Track program financial performance against approved business cases and profitability targets.
• Monitor tooling, development, and launch expenditures (CAPEX and OPEX).
• Partner with Finance and functional teams on forecasting, budget management, cost optimization, and profitability improvement initiatives.
• Evaluate financial risks and opportunities, support fact-based trade-off decisions, and communicate impacts to leadership.

Risk, Quality, and Compliance

• Lead program risk assessments, mitigation plans, contingency planning, and escalation processes.
• Ensure adherence to internal and external quality standards.
• Drive corrective actions for issues affecting quality, delivery, cost, timing, or customer commitments.
• Capture lessons learned and ensure improvements are incorporated into future programs and standard work.

Continuous Improvement and Executive Reporting

• Identify continuous improvement and automation opportunities, conduct detailed analyses, and recommend actions that improve program execution and business performance.
• Adapt established practices and, when appropriate, improve standard operating procedures to develop effective new solutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management credential.
• MBA, advanced technical degree, or relevant postgraduate education.
• Automotive industry experience.
• Knowledge of APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, and automotive launch processes (not mandatory).
• Experience working directly with OEM customers and Tier 1 suppliers.

Technical Skills

• Microsoft Project
• Microsoft 365 applications
• Power BI
• SAP
• Risk management and financial analysis
• Project scheduling, resource planning, and executive reporting

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or a related field.
• 8 or more years of project or program management experience; or 6 years of experience and a master's degree, or a PhD with 3 years of experience or equivalent work experience.
• Experience leading complex product development, launch, business transformation, or similarly cross-functional programs.
• Strong understanding of product development processes, project controls, and launch requirements.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence outcomes without direct authority.
• Experience managing schedules, budgets, resources, risks, vendors, and executive reporting.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, negotiation, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and make timely decisions in a fast-paced environment.

At Bridgestone, what really matters is to foster co-creation opportunities and empowering you to be creative and curious to make mobility safer, more efficient, and more sustainable for future generations. Whatever role you fill, when you represent Bridgestone, you are a valued teammate, and part of our larger mission to "Serve Society with Superior Quality", for that, we offer you more than just a competitive compensation; we will provide you:

• A supportive and engaging onboarding experience to ensure a smooth transition into our team.
• The opportunity to develop and grow, through training and regular mentorship.
• Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
• A truly global, dynamic and challenging work environment.
• Agility and work/life effectiveness and your long-term well-being.
• An effective and inclusive team.

Bridgestone is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. It is our policy to consider all individuals for employment based on their unique merit and without regard to age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Employment Eligibility

If hired, a Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification must be completed at the start of employment. Temporary work authorization or the need for sponsorship may disqualify you from employment.