Project Manager (Product Development)

Akkodis is seeking a Project Manager to support a Manufacturing Program Team for an opportunity with our automotive client in Dearborn, MI. The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of OEM experience in Project/Program Management, with expertise in PM, PMO, or PMP methodologies and Product Development. Candidates with a background in Chassis, Powertrain, or Transmission systems within the automotive industry are highly preferred. Rate Range: $44/hr to $48/Hr. (The rate may be negotiable based on experience, education, geographic location, and other factors.) Role: Project Manager Location: Dearborn, MI (Onsite) Position Description: In this position... This pivotal role sits within the Advanced Manufacturing Program Team and as part of this team the resource will interact directly with the direct leadership as a Study Lead to present findings/costing/status on program studies for Final Assembly . The resource will coordinate information from multiple skill teams from different areas to align a strategy and determine the impact/cost for program. Individuals who will be successful in this role are strong leaders, work well within groups, are driven, know how to manage themselves, are organized, well-spoken, and have confidence putting together and presenting findings to management. They must possess strong storytelling skills —the ability to translate complex manufacturing data and costing figures into a clear, compelling business case for executives. They must also be highly proficient in PowerPoint to visually structure their findings and possess Excel minor programming skills (VBA/Macros) to efficiently manipulate and analyze large program datasets. What the resource will do... Engage with Product Development and Manufacturing Architecture teams to understand new model program content and assumptions for Body on Frame vehicle architectures. Define manufacturing strategy and overall process for future programs, coordinating process, equipment, and facility planning to support efficient manufacturing operations and production readiness. Engage, on an as-needed basis, tooling development, facilities, and/or conveyor/controls engineers for program-specific, finite strategy and content definition. Utilize Teamcenter, Power BI, and AutoCAD to collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve manufacturability, quality, cost, and labor efficiency. Utilize Teamcenter and VisMockUp to evaluate product design feasibility for high-volume production environments and identify virtual build interferences. Deliver turnkey costing for all content necessary to deliver the program through the PS (Program Start), PSC (Program Start Checkpoint), and PA (Program Approval) study milestones. Lead the Change Management (Q-Form) process , including the collection of assumptions, GMOD (Global Manufacturing Online Database) population, and communication to functional teams and MSAP (Manufacturing Strategy and Planning). Support MSAP and Mfg Architecture teams with Target Setting prior to PS. Support the identification, resolution, and closure of assembly, machining, tooling, and equipment feasibility issues, tracking action items using JIRA . Manage Program Management level cost reporting of LLF (Long Lead Funding), calendarization and budget to quotes. Manage the program Checkbook from PS to PA , leading the handoff to MPT (Manufacturing Program Team) post-PA. Support tooling design, build, installation, startup, commissioning, and buyoff activities at manufacturing sites and supplier facilities, coordinating timelines using MS Project . Support new model launch execution planning by resolving product, process, equipment, and tooling issues through structured problem-solving methods utilizing FMA (Failure Mode Analysis) Tools 3 Legged Why, PFMEA and SCCAF tools and compile report for executive reviews. Forecast future spending across the launch of new products, driving continuous improvement through lessons learned, preventive actions, maintenance excellence, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) initiatives utilizing OEE and TPM Dashboards . The resource will have... Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Industrial & Systems, or equivalent), Project Management, Finance, or equivalent. Experience: 3+ years of experience managing complex manufacturing projects, vehicle launches, or program feasibility studies in a large team setting. Quality & Subsystem Knowledge: Experience delivering manufacturing quality operating system requirements across vehicle subsystems, including electrical, powertrain, chassis, exterior, and interior systems. Issue & Project Tracking: Proven capability in leading cross-functional teams to resolve assembly and tooling issues using tracking tools like JIRA and scheduling tools like MS Project . Technical Collaboration: Strong experience utilizing PLM software ( Teamcenter ) and CAD resources tools ( AutoCAD ) to collaborate with product development and plant operations. Executive Storytelling Skills: Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to construct a cohesive, logical narrative around technical constraints and financial impacts to guide executive decision-making. PowerPoint Presentation Skills: Advanced capability in PowerPoint, with a strong eye for visual structure, data visualization, and slide design to present highly professional decks directly to high-level leadership. Even better, the resource may have... Excel Minor Programming: 3-5 years of demonstrating the ability to efficiently query, extract, and analyze data using Microsoft Excel VBA, macros , and advanced lookup/logical formulas to automate financial dashboards and checkbooks. Advanced Virtual Feasibility Tools: Hands-on experience utilizing VisMockUp for digital buck reviews and physical clearance analysis. Program Costing & Approval Systems: Strong knowledge of automotive program approval processes and proprietary costing systems. If you are interested in this role, then please click APPLY NOW. For other opportunities available at Akkodis, or any questions, feel free to contact me at View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled Benefit offerings available for our associates include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, additional voluntary benefits, an EAP program, commuter benefits, and a 401K plan. Our benefit offerings provide employees the flexibility to choose the type of coverage that meets their individual needs. In addition, our associates may be eligible for paid leave including Paid Sick Leave or any other paid leave required by Federal, State, or local law, as well as Holiday pay where applicable. Disclaimer: These benefit offerings do not apply to client-recruited jobs and jobs that are direct hires to a client. To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable: The California Fair Chance Act Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers #J-18808-Ljbffr