Program Manager - Purchasing

Hitachi - Michigan City, IN

Full-time - Manager

Onsite - Michigan City, IN

Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing

About the position

The Program Manager - Purchasing at Hitachi Global Air Power is responsible for coordinating all global sourcing activities, particularly in emerging markets such as India, China, and Mexico. This role involves acting as a liaison between various internal teams and external suppliers, ensuring effective communication and collaboration to meet program objectives. The position requires strong leadership and organizational skills to manage cross-functional teams and drive the successful execution of sourcing initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop the overall program schedule with sub-workstreams by function and ensure committed owners and delivery dates to all actions and work product deliverables.
• Lead, communicate and drive program objectives cross functionally through all applicable stakeholders.
• Structure the systems and data repositories used to document all program related work product.
• Schedule, run and document all program related cross-functional meetings.
• Maintain overall program timing, specifications, and cost status by regularly updating the respective tracking tools.
• Identify deviations from program targets (cost, timing, specification) and coordinate functions to develop counter measures / options.
• Escalate time sensitive issues to the appropriate decision makers outside of the established review cadence.
• Employ analytical skills to evaluate data and resolve issues to meet program requirements.
• Prepare and present the appropriate materials for the monthly NPD program review.
• Prepare executive gate review documentation and sign-off meetings.
• Guide stakeholders in the timely and comprehensive delivery of their work packages.
• Present all aspects that cannot be decided on the working level to the appropriate leadership team members, secure approval, document and drive the decision back into the program team.
• Prepare and present the Post Completion Audit (PCA) 6-12 month after launch to verify that program targets (quality, cost, delivery) have been sustainably met.
• Develop reference materials for all cross-functional organizational stakeholders that contribute to product lifecycle management (process flow, roles & responsibilities, templates, etc.).
• Execute, maintain, and propose refinements to the New Product Development (NPD) Process.
• Maintain and continuously improve program status report formats (meetings, templates, key metrics).

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business or Engineering or a related field such as supply chain or manufacturing.
• 3-5 years of experience in program management.
• Good understanding of Global Sourcing process and supply chain/purchasing activities.
• Excellent verbal, communication, and organization skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Project or Project Portfolio Management (PPM) Software Programs.
• Experience in New Product Development Phase Gate Design Process.
• Excellent people skills and ability to lead cross-teams.