Program Manager - Capital Projects and Customer Programs

Program Manager – Capital Projects & Customer Programs

Department: Operations

Reports To: General Manager

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Position Summary

Our client is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead major capital improvement initiatives and manage new customer program launches.

This position will initially focus on two primary areas: supporting the execution of their approximately $6 million expansion and managing the onboarding and launch of new customer programs.

Over the next 24 months, as the capital expansion progresses toward completion, the role will transition into a primarily customer-facing Program Manager position responsible for new product introduction (NPI), customer onboarding, program execution, and cross-functional coordination.

The ideal candidate has a strong manufacturing background, understands capital project execution, and can effectively manage customer expectations while coordinating internal engineering, quality, production, and commercial resources.

Key Responsibilities

Capital Expansion & Project Management (Initial 24 Months)

• Manage the day-to-day execution of the company's expansion project, coordinating with equipment suppliers, contractors, engineering teams, and internal stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, budgets, milestones, and deliverables.
• Coordinate equipment installation, facility modifications, commissioning, and production ramp-up activities.
• Monitor project costs, identify risks, and proactively address schedule or budget deviations.
• Lead regular project meetings and provide clear progress updates to leadership and ownership.
• Coordinate internal resources to minimize disruption to existing manufacturing operations.
• Ensure project execution aligns with applicable safety, quality, and operational requirements.
• Support equipment acceptance, process validation, and the transition of new equipment into production.
• Maintain project documentation, action registers, and accountability for open items.

Customer Program Management & New Product Introduction

• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned customer programs from initial award through successful production launch.
• Lead customer onboarding activities, ensuring requirements, specifications, schedules, and deliverables are clearly defined and communicated.
• Coordinate engineering, tooling, quality, purchasing, production, and scheduling activities to support customer requirements.
• Develop and maintain program timelines, launch schedules, and milestone tracking.
• Manage new tooling introductions, sample production, first article inspections (FAI), and production readiness activities.
• Identify program risks and work with internal teams to resolve issues before they impact customers.
• Provide customers with timely, accurate updates regarding program status, delivery commitments, and outstanding issues.
• Facilitate internal and customer-facing program reviews.
• Support the successful transition of new programs into repeatable production.
• Partner with Sales and Operations to identify additional opportunities within existing customer programs.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead cross-functional teams without relying on direct reporting authority.
• Establish clear responsibilities, deadlines, and expectations for program deliverables.
• Work closely with Sales, Engineering, Quality, Production, Purchasing, and Finance.
• Identify bottlenecks and escalate issues requiring leadership intervention.
• Develop standardized project management and customer onboarding processes to support continued growth.
• Maintain accurate program documentation and communicate progress through clear, measurable reporting.

Role Transition

This position is intentionally structured to evolve as company completes its current capital expansion.

Phase 1 – Initial 0–12 Months

• Primary focus on front-end expansion planning, execution, equipment procurement, installation preparation, and contractor coordination.
• Concurrent responsibility for assigned customer onboarding and new program launch activities.
• Establish standardized project tracking and customer program management processes.

Phase 2 – Months 12–24

• Continue managing the expansion through installation, commissioning, validation, and operational handoff.
• Gradually increase ownership of new customer programs and customer-facing responsibilities.
• Develop a structured transition of capital project responsibilities as major milestones are completed.

Phase 3 – Beyond 24 Months

• Transition into a primarily customer-facing Program Manager role.
• Own the execution of assigned customer programs from award through production launch.
• Serve as the central coordination point between customers and internal manufacturing organization.
• Drive improvements in launch performance, customer communication, and program profitability.

The timing of the transition will depend on capital project milestones and business needs.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 5 years of experience in program management, project management, manufacturing engineering, or a related manufacturing leadership role.
• Experience managing complex projects involving multiple departments, external vendors, and competing priorities.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production scheduling, and industrial equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, schedules, risks, and project deliverables.
• Experience communicating directly with customers, suppliers, and senior leadership.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Project, or similar project management tools.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or a related discipline; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Experience in metal casting, foundry operations, machining, or other industrial manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing equipment installation, facility expansions, or capital improvement projects.
• Background in aerospace or defense manufacturing.
• Familiarity with AS9100, AS13100, first article inspection requirements, and aerospace customer expectations.
• Experience with new product introduction, tooling development, and production launch processes.
• PMP certification or equivalent project management experience.

Key Performance Indicators

Performance will be measured against the following objectives:

Capital Project Performance

• Achievement of approved project milestones and completion dates.
• Capital spending versus approved budget.
• Timely resolution of project risks and open action items.
• Successful commissioning, validation, and operational handoff.

Customer Program Performance

• On-time completion of customer program launch milestones.
• First article and customer approval performance.
• On-time delivery of initial production commitments.
• Customer communication and program responsiveness.
• Successful transition of new programs into production.

Organizational Performance

• Effectiveness of cross-functional coordination.
• Accuracy and consistency of program reporting.
• Implementation of standardized project management and onboarding processes.
• Timely identification and resolution of program risks.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be comfortable working directly on the manufacturing floor, managing contractors during a major capital expansion, and sitting across the table from aerospace customers discussing program deliverables.

This is a hands-on role requiring someone who can independently drive projects forward, hold teams accountable, and communicate effectively at all levels of the organization.

Our client is looking for a practical, results-oriented individual who understands that successful program management means delivering commitments, solving problems, and ensuring both internal teams and customers have the information they need to succeed.