Senior Program Manager Manufacturing

About Kennametal

With over 85 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace and defense, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Learn more at kennametal.com. Follow @Kennametal: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Job Title: Sr. Program Manager Manufacturing

Location: Huntsville, AL

Job Summary

This role is responsible for managing, through direct influence, the overall coordination and execution of medium to large-size projects/programs with million-dollar budgets. Project types may include new product development, mid-capital improvement investments, manufacturing process development and implementation efforts at various production plants, and manufacturing footprint initiatives.

The primary role and responsibilities will include the leadership, planning, development, organization, and maintenance of the project timeline and resource plans for defined projects. This role will also act as the liaison between business functions (e.g., Manufacturing, Marketing, Technology, IT, Finance), identifying key stakeholders, and ensuring alignment are being facilitated among process owners.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day responsibilities of various workstream teams by creating complete capital and project execution plans, with defined scope, success criteria, schedule, financial, risk, and plant readiness plans.
• Develop tactical plans to achieve business results and provide feedback and input on the strategy to the Portfolio Manager and Business Unit Lead.
• Monitor processes and provide reports on progress and achievement of business/program objectives using Integrated Master Schedules to identify and manage the critical paths (capacity, capability, etc.) for all project requirements. Track and communicate key program metrics and milestones to all team members and stakeholders.
• Conduct proactive and comprehensive risk management to ensure risks are identified, impacts are known and communicated, and mitigations are planned into the project schedules.
• Travel requirements could be up to 20% at times depending on business needs.

Required Qualifications

Education, Work Experience, Skills, Certificates:

• 8-10 years of relevant work experience required
• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or manufacturing discipline
• Five to ten years of demonstrated experience as a project manager, leading efforts with million-dollar budgets using cross-functional teams from several different groups
• Experience in managing manufacturing process equipment and/or facilities capital projects
• Able to develop and execute programs of medium–high complexity and uncertainty from concept through deployment with minimal supervision and in accordance with company’s phase gate process
• Success in development and adherence to project financial targets & schedule
• Demonstrated experience in leading technical, design, and manufacturing teams, including contract resources
• Strong communication and presentation skills to all stakeholders at all levels of organization
• Ability to lead and collaborate across business functions to solve problems and maintain team alignment of goals
• Strong customer focus (both internal and external) to ensure program objectives meet the customer’s needs
• Ability to create multi year project/program roadmaps to achieve long term business objectives while effectively managing resources

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the aerospace/defense industry and/or government contracts
• PMP certification
• Strong financial acumen
• Experience utilizing disciplined, structured, and repetitive processes to manage project teams.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams, Project Management Software (e.g., Microsoft Project), and demonstrated ability to learn other business software.
• Ability to create, present and communicate successful business cases from feasibility to through execution
• Understanding of manufacturing processes
• Lean or continuous improvement experience

To be considered for this position, you must be legally authorized to work in the US (excluding Optional Practice Testing) and not require sponsorship now or in the future.

Kennametal Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.