In-Service Program Manager (ISPM)

Full Time Reg

Professional

Grand Rapids, MI, US

At Acron, our ambition is to relentlessly reimagine and reshape the value chains by which we deliver results to our customers, suppliers, and internal/external stakeholder communities in pursuit of innovations to create safer skies. Acron employees strive to achieve world-class results through our values of always putting our customers first, displaying ownership of our results, moving fast, and speaking candidly. We currently seek an In-Service Program Manager who thrives in complex, cross-functional environments and is highly skilled in the application of project management disciplines, continuous improvement, and lean manufacturing, and works seamlessly across a variety of functional teams to achieve our vision. This position is part of the Acron Avionics Business Unit and will be in Grand Rapids, MI. The role requires the selected candidate to work on-site during the first shift hours.

The In-Service Program Manager (ISPM) is accountable for the performance of assigned avionics products and customer programs after Production Readiness Review (PRR). The role is accountable for the end-to-end lifecycle performance from Entry-Into-Service (EIS) through Full-Rate Production (FRP), maturity, and sunset/EOL, with full accountability for customer satisfaction, product roadmap execution, operations, and engineering performance KPIs and financial measures, including EBITDA and cash.

The ISPM leads a cross-functional Integrated Product Team (IPT) and serves as the primary customer interface and escalation owner, ensuring safe, reliable, compliant, and profitable in-service execution. The ISPM brings the discipline and rigor of project management into the execution of projects required to deliver upon product strategy and customer requirements. In-service programs include, but are not limited to, obsolescence redesigns, value engineering projects, product yield improvement initiatives, test equipment projects, and a variety of activities related to KPI improvements. Candidates must be agile and adept at creating project charters and business cases, requirements definition, integrated project planning, resource loading, risk and opportunity planning, and performing lessons learned.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Line Business & Financial Ownership

• Responsible for ensuring product line Sales, EBITDA, and Cash performance for assigned in-service products through enabling efficient and effective operational performance

• Translate business plans into actionable work packages and projects plans

• Support annual product profitability reviews (3-5-year outlook, risks, inventory/LTB, investments, roadmap, and strategic recommendations)

In-Service Execution & IPT Leadership

• Organize and lead daily/weekly IPT execution for all projects and monthly In-Service Program Reviews

• Integrate cross-functional priorities to meet delivery, quality, reliability, and cost commitments

• Serve as the single point of accountability for issue resolution and escalation.

Customer Management & Voice of the Customer (VOC)

• Act as the primary customer interface for all in-service matters, including performance reviews and escalations

• Proactively manage VOC, scorecards, returns, and warranty drivers; translate customer feedback into corrective actions and product roadmap inputs

• Coordinate contractual communications in partnership with Contracts and Sales

Lifecycle & Gate Governance

• Assume ownership post-PRRand ensure in-service readiness (shipping/billing, documentation, training, support)

• Lead LRIP execution and prepare FRP Decision Gate content, including APQP readiness, KPI performance, supplier maturity, ECO/ECR impacts, and financial updates

• Maintain discipline in change control, baseline management, and lifecycle documentation

Sustaining Engineering & In-Service Projects

• Own the sustaining project portfolio (e.g., obsolescence, cost reduction, test improvements, reliability and quality fixes)

• Govern tailored project gates (Kickoff, Baseline, Design Review, TRR, PRR, Closeout)

• Ensure scope, schedule, cost, and benefits realization with documented lessons learned

Quality, Reliability & Return-to-Green (RTG) Leadership

• Lead RTG plans when KPIs fall below target (delivery, escapes, warranty, cost, cash)

• Drive corrective actions across internal functions and suppliers (CARs/SCARs)

• Champion continuous improvement (Lean) and value engineering across the in-service lifecycle

Sunset / End-of-Life (EOL) Management

• Lead EOL business case development in partnership with leadership

• Coordinate customer communications, last-time buys (LTB), supplier exits, inventory strategy, and transition to replacement products

• Execute EOL in collaboration with Transition Program Management

Continuous Improvement and Lean Manufacturing

• Lead and support kaizen events to improve upon KPI and process excellence

• Apply value stream thinking to reduce lead time, WIP, and variation

• Drive process and documentation simplification

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field

• Program/project management experience leading cross-functional teams through execution, production, and sustainment phases

• Knowledge of earned value concepts and/or integrated master scheduling principles

• Demonstrated financial and business acumen with experience driving performance to Sales, EBITDA, and Cash objectives

• Experience interfacing with customers and managing contractual/program communications in partnership with Contracts and Subcontracts

• Working knowledge of production readiness, manufacturing/operations processes, supply chain execution, and quality systems

• Ability to manage multiple complex priorities, establish execution cadence, and drive timely decisions through KPIs

• Must have experience leveraging Continuous Improvement methodologies to ensure program performance and improve business effectiveness

Preferred:

• Experience in working with SAP/ERP

• Strong understanding of AS9100 and FAA requirements and regulations.

• Formal Continuous Improvement, Lean or Six Sigma training.

• Demonstrated experience implementing process automation and application of AI tools in the manufacturing environment