Program Head Full Time NEW

Dimension of Job : Program Management at Tenneco Powertrain (PT) shall embody the part of the organization that drives Customer Programs towards successful production implementation. The Program Manager (PM) is responsible as a “mini–General Manager” for each program, responsible for the overall success, financial health and strategic relevance of the program within the plant and business portfolio. The PM assumes ownership for the project and leads through influence. PMs shall act and communicate transparently about all project matters and facilitate Teamwork across disciplines and functions. This Job Description shall apply for Program Managers in Tenneco Powertrain on a global basis in all regions to help harmonize the global project management approach.

Major Role of the Position :

Project Management

• Project Leadership within the guidelines of the Customer Application Program PT (CAP-PT)’s phased gate review
• process as well as customer and industry standards (IATF 16949, VDA RGA, APQP, ANPQP, etc.).
• Ensure Customer (Specific) Requirements are fully understood, business relevant implications vs. Tenneco

specifications and capabilities are considered, and exceptions/deviations are documented and communicated / escalated as needed.

• Align team and stakeholders at the start of the project via the Kick-off meeting.
• Drive timely cross-functional data gathering to support the quote process.
• Drive completion of project feasibility assessments throughout the project, including stakeholder alignment.
• Monitor and drive Project financial health throughout the project life cycle, to ensure project profitability.
• Clear, consistent, and timely communication with all members of the team, and stakeholders on project status and progress.
• Lead weekly project meetings including oversight of open issues and all action plans.
• Timely and / or proactive escalation to Plant Management and/or Sr. Leadership in case of project critical status.
• Conduct gate reviews, and close out project at Gate 5 after successful Safe Launch period.
• Accountable for the completeness of project related documents.
• Creation and monitoring of project timing plans (incl. who, what and when, as well as customer milestones), and timely communication of progress to customer and internal stakeholders.
• Conduct proactive Project risk assessment and management, and implementation of risk mitigation measures.
• Clearly evaluate and document lessons learned throughout the project lifecycle.
• Work closely with all functional team members to drive accountability for related project work packages.
• Ensure reception of materials, tools etc. for sample and pre-production builds in accordance with specifications and agreed timing.
• Trigger and follow-up on project related tool ordering, tool making, sample and PPAP production (including raw
• material and equipment) through submission to the customer.
• Coordinate manufacturing and supply requirements between plant functions and customer receiving facilities with respect to specific program needs.
• Manage project prioritization within the scope of given tasks and communicate to the relevant stakeholders.
• Leadership of change management in the scope of the projects. Activate the change management process and
• consider the effect of changes on cost, quality and timing with approval of the project team and appropriate stakeholders.
• Ensure the completion of project objectives such as profitability, costs, technical targets, adherence to technical specifications from the statement of requirements, timing and milestones (Prototypes, off tool parts, PPAP-parts, SOP).
• Support of the organization for audits (IATF 16949, customer specific audits, etc.).

Business Support Process

• Be the go-to person in the plant for any project management related matters.
• Support the project team members in the application of project management tools and software.
• Provide first line of support for users of the project management system in the plant.
• Coordinate programs across other Tenneco manufacturing sites, in the case that the project is a lead project of a wider program (other products, sub-assemblies or dual validation programs) within the organization.

Skills Profile :

• Qualification & Experience:
• A successfully completed academic education degree in Engineering or similar.
• 15 years of experience, ideally within the automotive industry.
• Knowledge and experience in Project Management methodologies, tools and techniques.

Specialized Skills /Knowledge:

• Leadership through influence – ability to inspire and motivate team to contribute, creating vision to achieve goals.
• Good business understanding (Profit and Loss, Investment, financial performance indicators, etc.)
• Attention to detail.
• Goal oriented and result based thinking.
• Excellent command of English and the local language in oral and written.
• Exceptional knowledge of product development processes (such as IATF 16949, APQP, VDA).
• Awareness of Engineering and Quality tools such as FMEA, validation plans (DVP&R), 8D, Fishbone, FTA etc.
• Excellent communication skills, written and oral, to all levels of the organization (internal as well as with customers and suppliers).
• Ability to train others in business processes and systems.
• Thorough knowledge of Project Management systems and tools and good understanding of Product Lifecycle
• Management (PLM).

Additional Requirements:

• Mobility / Willingness to travel regularly and on short notice.
• High personal identification with the company, the product and the customer landscape.
• Exceptional capability to lead conversations, hold presentations and facilitate discussions.
• Support the company’s core values.