Senior Program Manager

At Benchmark, we are driven by our purpose: to innovate for a healthier, safer, and better-connected world to create a brighter future. When you join us, you become part of a team passionate about making a meaningful impact across various sectors, including commercial aerospace, defense, advanced computing, next-generation communications, complex industrials, medical, and semiconductor capital equipment. We prioritize career growth, fostering a culture that ensures you reach your full potential. At Benchmark, your work is purpose-driven, enabling you to create a positive impact on the world and make your career truly meaningful. You'll be part of a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive team that values your ideas and contributions. Summary The program manager is responsible for the execution of customer strategies related to one or more customers including all products/programs from new product introduction through volume production. He/she is responsible for achieving high customer satisfaction, driving profitable business relationships and sales growth and providing strong leadership to the customer focus teams to ensure achievement of customer commitments. Responsibilities Leader of the customer focus team (CFT). Prioritize and monitors all CFT activities. Acts as primary day‑to‑day customer point of contact and functions as the primary Customer contact in resolution management and responsible for the overall health of the customer relationship. Ensures successful new product introduction: Executes to NPI standard process Understands and monitors S&OP Identifies and secures skills needed for effective transitions Sets appropriate expectations with customers Manages pricing and ECO prioritization during the process Understands and maintains customer product knowledge and roadmap Gains understanding of customer market and competition Establishes and monitors KPI's related to E&O, PPV and inventory turns Manages recurring pricing activities. Uses contract, pricing model and updated costs to present new pricing to customers. Negotiates to successful completion. Monitors and investigates technical, scheduling, financial and quality metrics that deviate from established requirements; determines cause and takes corrective action. Schedules Executive Business Reviews (EBR) and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBR): Ensures appropriate attendees are well prepared for the meeting, understanding data and issues Sets meeting objectives, develops agendas and tools to accomplish objective Prepares internal teams for meeting Aligns topics and presentations with customer prior to meeting Provides timely notification to GMs and global program managers of critical problems encountered, action taken, and anticipated effect on project objectives. Accountable for driving objectives related to continuous improvements. Accountable to ensure the build and delivery schedules by working with the customer, internal supply chain, and operations. Works with SCA to ensure resolution of excess and obsolete inventory issues. Ensures the recovery for costs related to ECO activity, non‑recurring expenses (NRE) and other miscellaneous. Meets and manages customer demand in accordance with contract, site inventory objectives, equipment and personnel capacity. Ensures customer demand (PO and forecast) is managed and well understood by CFT members. Communicates updated data to close the gap between customer request and Benchmark commitment (manage expectations). Tracks, trends and reports on‑time delivery to customer request and Benchmark commitment. Monitors customer revenue plan through demand outlook. Understands contractual obligations of the contract related to: Flexibility allowances and manages requests for pull‑ins and push‑outs or cancellations Payment terms and invoicing Any potential penalties from customer Cost reduction obligations/targets and communicates to organization Excess and obsolete terms, recovery and escalation path as required Warranty terms, recall and epidemic failure qualifiers Ensures execution of contract terms and conditions to meet Benchmark’s obligations. Communicates contract requirements internally. Conducts monthly program reviews utilizing Benchmark standard process. Executes customer quotation requests. Assesses risk utilizing the Risk/Liability Tool. Ensures accuracy of quotations to protect gross margin. Validates the establishment of quotes to actual costs comparisons. Coordinates with procurement organization to develop supply chain strategy which aligns with customer contract and site goals. Identifies risk of inventory exposure, coordinates reserve with site controller. Manages inventory days of sales. Establishes standard cost for parts based on customer’s influence, material, labor standard changes or inventory days. Ensures positive price variances alignment to site goals at the point of sale. Reviews supply chain data related to component lead‑time, MOQ and impacts to total inventory exposure. Determines if customer will be responsible for negative PPV or associated procurement costs and, if so, collects money from customer. Develops an understanding of DFx philosophy including design for manufacturing, design for test, and design for BOM or cost and promotes with the customer and coordinates with the appropriate Benchmark function. Accountable for and ensures receipt and distribution of customer documentation packages. Coordinates collection and distribution of customer quality data. Ensures ECO process and impacts are captured and reported to customer. Monitors customer DPPM, DPU or DPMO with customer focus team to ensure quality measurements are within contract and customer required limits. Monitors customer escape events and leads customer focus team to root cause and corrective action driving closure of issues. Monitors customer COPQ and works with CFT to reduce. Participates in MRB activities to drive rapid resolution of issues. Embraces change and adapts quickly to a new way of working. Actively uses analytical skills to solve problems by gathering data, analyzing it and drawing concise solutions. Actively uses, applies and promotes problem‑solving tools (root cause, 8D, 5 Why's, 6Ms, etc.) in daily activities to recognize and define problems, analyze data, develop and implement solutions, and evaluate outcome. Possesses sound negotiating ability. Effectively explores alternatives and positions to reach mutually beneficial sales agreements that gain customers' acceptance and commitment. Exhibits solid understanding of the concepts and how to positively impact OI and RONA levers. Where applicable, recruits, interviews and hires team members. Continuously assesses individual and team strengths and development needs. Coaches and mentors subordinates. Creates and manages succession plans. Establishes clear measurable goals and objectives by which to assess individual and team results (metrics, results against project timelines, training documentation, knowledge of roles and responsibilities, personal development goals). Drives individuals and teams to continuously improve in key metrics and the achievement of organizational goals. Ensures that the responsibilities, authorities, and accountability of all direct subordinates are defined and understood. Drives a lean culture. Identifies creative ways to reduce cost by streamlining processes and systems (modification of responsibilities or consolidation of tasks, elimination of non‑value‑added processes, or complete re‑engineering of processes and systems). Other Information Customer Complexity: Manages the most complex customer relationships at Benchmark without supervision, which may include multiple divisions, multiple customer site locations, a large number of SKUs, and/or products that undergo a high frequency of design changes or schedule/forecast changes. Manages difficult customer relationships independently and resolves most customer issues with minimal GM/Executive involvement. Discretion: Erroneous decisions or failure to achieve results will jeopardize the sites or multiple sites' longer term revenue or operating income. Interaction: Regularly interacts with senior management or executive levels on matters concerning several customers. Requires the ability to change the thinking of, or gain acceptance from, others in sensitive situations, without damage to the relationship. Supervision: May have direct reports and is a mentor to other Program Managers. Qualifications Excellent written and verbal communication skills Effective interpersonal skills Effective multitasking skills and the ability to take on additional responsibilities as required Effective organization and prioritization skills Demonstrate high attention to detail Ability to work with diverse groups Demonstrates discretion, confidentiality, independent judgment and professionalism. Ability to work with minimal supervision and guidance, exercising discretion and independent judgment. Understanding of and ability to use continuous improvement tools. Strong customer service and client focus Working knowledge of productivity tools, including Microsoft Office products and Teams conferencing software Demonstrated leadership and people management skills including ability to effectively coach and mentor employees at all levels. Enthusiastic and motivational communicator with multi‑cultural experience. Demonstrates effective customer interface skills. Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact and influence individuals, internally and externally, across all levels, functions and geographies. Use of discretion with the ability to gain trust of business leaders and others to discuss and respond to sensitive and business critical issues. Effective negotiation and problem‑solving skills. Effective analytical, planning and organizational skills. Collaborate and influence cross‑functional peer leaders in order to obtain support for process improvements Solid financial understanding, risk analysis ability, relationship building and project management. Additional Specific Qualifications 4‑year degree in engineering discipline or business Ability to work collaboratively with suppliers, customers and internally Proven ability to take on project leadership/ownership and complete projects in a timely manner Ability to support a global business operation as required Demonstrates discretion, confidentiality, independent judgment and professionalism Excellent written and verbal communication as well as presentation skills Manage, understand and present data for monthly program reviews Understanding of and ability to use continuous improvement tools Ability to drive solutions to complex planning issues with limited supervision Demonstrate teamwork and the ability to operate on diverse project teams with minimal direction Solid financial understanding, risk analysis ability, relationship building and project management Available for travel up to 25% of the time, including day, overnight and internationally, as required 8+ years of program management experience, 5+ years in a leadership role Experience with more complex and larger customer accounts Education 4‑year degree in engineering discipline or business. Geographical Location Rochester, Minnesota Physical Location Rochester, MN Shift Shift 1 Work Schedule M‑F 0800‑1700 Full Time Full Time Compensation Range $114,331.00 to $142,913.00 USD. Many factors are considered in compensation decisions, including but not limited to skills, certifications, licensures, experience, training, incumbent data, and other business needs. Benefits and Other Compensation Benchmark provides a comprehensive benefits package, including a Bonus Plan, 401(k), Paid Time Off, and Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance, all based on scheduled hours. Benchmark complies with applicable state and local employee leave laws. Export Control This job position may include access to controlled information or technology covered under applicable U.S. export control laws. As such, employment for this job position may be contingent on either verification that an applicant falls under the definition of a "U.S. Person" (which includes U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and those granted U.S. asylum or refugee status) or on the company timely obtaining any necessary export license required under federal laws. The company evaluates such export license situations on a case‑by‑case basis and may decline to proceed with a job applicant in its sole discretion since export license applications can take many weeks to be processed. Equal Opportunity Statement Benchmark is an equal opportunity employer. We are bringing together a diverse workforce with unique talents, life experiences, cultures, and perspectives to promote an innovative, collaborative, and creative place to work. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at View email address on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr