Job Description

Program Manager
Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Position Summary
The Program Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating all engineering project activity related to tooling development within a plastic injection molding environment. This role oversees projects from order intake through production handoff, ensuring timing, quality, and technical specifications are met. This individual will manage Project Engineers, act as the primary point of coordination for internal and external stakeholders, and support both technical execution and customer communication.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage project plans from order intake through production handoff
• Lead and coordinate engineering project execution and timelines
• Schedule and facilitate project meetings as needed
• Ensure tooling and products meet customer expectations and specifications
• Monitor project progress with engineers, customers, and suppliers
• Communicate project status to internal leadership and external stakeholders
• Support sales and customer-facing technical discussions as needed
• Provide tooling specifications to suppliers to ensure quality and performance standards
• Review customer contracts and technical documents for scope alignment
• Maintain organized project documentation and records
• Support troubleshooting across design, production, quality, and automation issues
• Oversee and manage Project Engineers including hiring, training, and performance management
• Ensure compliance with company policies, safety regulations, and procedures

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or technical field OR equivalent experience
• 10+ years of experience in tooling, plastics, or manufacturing engineering
• Strong background in tool development within injection molding environments
• Experience in mold making or journeyman-level tooling background strongly preferred
• Proven project management experience in manufacturing
• Strong leadership and supervisory experience required
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and ERP systems (or similar tools)
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
• German language skills a plus, but not required

Additional Details

• Customer interaction is approximately 25% of the role
• Day shift with flexible scheduling
• Lean, organized manufacturing environment

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