Customer Project Manager

Job Description - Customer Project Manager - Industrial Sales

Department: Stabilus US / Americas, Industrial Sales Division

Reports to: Team Lead for Customer Project Management

Location: Gastonia, NC (Hybrid) at Stabilus Americas Headquarters

Travel: Less than 10%

Classification: Full-Time, Salary, Exempt

About Stabilus

Stabilus is a global leader in motion control technology - designing and manufacturing gas springs, dampers, and electromechanical drive systems for industrial, commercial, and automotive applications. With approximately 1.2 billion in annual revenue and operations across 45 locations worldwide, Stabilus serves customers in more than 50 countries. Our Americas Industrial Sales Division partners with direct customers and a broad distributor network to deliver custom-engineered solutions across a wide range of industrial segments.

Summary:

The Customer Project Manager (CPM) serves as the central coordinator for customer and sales project execution - managing new product introductions from opportunity handoff through production launch. Acting as the bridge between the customer-facing sales team and internal execution functions, the CPM drives structured, efficient, and transparent project management across a broad range of industrial customer segments.

The CPM enables the sales organization to focus on commercial growth by owning internal process coordination, project timelines, and cross-functional communication to ensure every customer and distributor partner experiences clarity, responsiveness, and professional execution consistent with Stabilus' standards of excellence.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Project & Program Execution

• Qualify and guide sales opportunities through our project process as standardized, custom, or development projects.
  • Standard -> Qualification, Quotation, Ordering
  • Custom -> New Part Introduction Process
  • Development -> R&D Project Process
• Review each incoming project request to confirm it represents sound business - clear commercial value, a feasible path to execution, and a scope appropriate for the resources required
• Manage project scope, deliverables, costing, and timelines by coordinating with Sales, Application Engineering, Production / Launch, and customer teams
• Track and maintain project status and documentation in CRM and project management tools; provide regular updates to internal stakeholders, customers, and sales partners
• Coordinate tasks and deliverables across all project phases, including:
  • Collect and manage project requirements; coordinate technical clarification with internal and external teams
  • Coordinate cost calculations
  • Prepare and deliver quotations
  • Book and coordinate prototype and lab analysis orders
  • Facilitate contract review of commercial and delivery terms
  • Achieve customer acceptance and initiate the launch process
  • Drive all launch milestones and deliverables through launch to series production release

Customer & Distributor Support

• Act as the primary interface for the sales team and distributor sales partners on Stabilus process related topics, ensuring the issues are directed to the right internal team and solved efficiently
• Provide all project updates, quotations, and deliverables directly to distributors for accounts managed through the distributor channel, supporting them as if they were internal sales counterparts
• Facilitate responses to technical data requests and documentation needs
• Maintain a contact matrix for escalations with quality, warranty, logistics, and customer service teams to resolve issues quickly
• Support escalations to management during the sales or launch phases for any conflicting internal process to ensure properly prioritization

Internal Coordination and Process Improvement

• Serve as a coordination hub within the sales organization, reducing duplicate effort and clarifying tasks ownership
• Standardize templates and workflows for quotations, approvals, and customer requests
• Document lessons learned and create reference material such as best practices to improve Standard Operating Procedures and knowledge transfer
• Support onboarding and training of new team members on the New Part Introduction (NPI) process

Key Performance Indicators of the role:

• Customer satisfaction survey / NPS
• Sales cycle time by project types and phases
• On-Time rate of project deliverables
• Customer Responsiveness
• Launch quality rate

Required Skills & Competencies

• Clear and professional communication and presentation skills for customers and internal stakeholders in English language is required
• Strong organization and coordination skills, including the ability to manage multiple requests and projects simultaneously
• Experience with product development and program management best practices and methodology
• Process-oriented mindset with comfort navigating across key organizational functions
• Familiarity with manufacturing engineering processes, including sales, documentation, testing, and approvals.
• Strong skills with Microsoft 365 suite, CRM / ERP and Project management tools

Education, Training, Certifications:

• Bachelors degree in business, engineering, or related technical field is required
• Recognized certifications such as PMP or CAPM is preferred
• Optional: Certifications in APQP / IATF / ISO processes, Lean, Agile

Experience:

• 3-5 years of relevant experience in project management, sales operations, or technical sales coordination roles
• Background in automotive, manufacturing, or similar industries
• Proven track record of successful project or program management capabilities
• Demonstrated ability to manage critical customer escalations, coordinate functions across the organization.
• Familiarity with product development, quality systems, and lab/test environments is preferred
• Experience collaborating with distributors, channel partners, or external sales reps preferred.

Travel:

• Infrequent travel - for training or uncommon initiatives, projects, or training.