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Associate Program Manager – Custom Automation
Grand Rapids, MIPosted 2 days ago
hybrid
Job Description
Job Id:
593
# of Openings:
1
Are you the person who naturally creates the plan, follows up on the details, and keeps everyone moving toward the same goal?
We are looking for an organized, technically curious, and self-driven Associate Program Manager to help lead custom automation projects from sales handoff through equipment installation and final customer acceptance.
This is not a desk-only project coordinator position. You will work directly with customers, engineering, purchasing, manufacturing, assembly, electrical, controls, and sales. You will own project schedules, identify risks, drive follow-up, and help ensure that equipment is delivered on time, within budget, and according to customer requirements.
The right person does not need to know everything about custom automation on day one. However, you must be comfortable taking ownership, asking good questions, communicating clearly, and following issues through to resolution.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
- Serve as a primary point of contact for customers throughout the project lifecycle.
- Lead project kickoff activities following the handoff from sales.
- Review project scope, timing, specifications, deliverables, and commercial requirements.
- Develop, maintain, and actively drive project schedules.
- Coordinate activities across mechanical design, controls, purchasing, machining, fabrication, assembly, electrical, quality, and installation.
- Provide customers with clear, professional, and proactive project updates.
- Identify schedule risks, missing information, and potential roadblocks before they affect delivery.
- Lead regular internal project meetings and document responsibilities, due dates, and follow-up items.
- Track engineering changes, customer requests, and scope adjustments.
- Identify changes that may affect project cost or timing and communicate them to sales and leadership.
- Coordinate customer-supplied samples, materials, drawings, approvals, and other project inputs.
- Participate in internal equipment runoffs and coordinate readiness for customer acceptance testing.
- Verify that samples, documentation, and equipment performance align with agreed-upon requirements.
- Support installation, launch, and project closeout activities.
- Maintain accurate project documentation in accordance with company processes and ISO 9001 requirements.
- Identify opportunities to improve project execution, communication, and efficiency.
What Success Looks Like
Within this position, success means:
- Project schedules are current, realistic, and actively managed.
- Customers receive updates before they need to ask for them.
- Action items have clear owners and due dates.
- Missing information and schedule risks are identified early.
- Engineering and production teams understand project priorities.
- Scope changes are documented and communicated promptly.
- Problems are followed through until they are resolved.
- Projects progress through design, build, runoff, installation, and closeout with minimal surprises.
Required Qualifications
- Two or more years of experience in project coordination, program management, engineering, manufacturing, operations, or another related environment.
- Strong organizational, planning, and follow-through skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Confidence communicating with customers and internal department leaders.
- Ability to work independently while knowing when to escalate a concern.
- Comfortable working in both an office and active manufacturing environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Outlook, Word, and Teams.
- Ability to understand technical information and ask effective questions.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
Preferred Qualifications
- Three or more years of experience in custom automation, machinery, automotive manufacturing, capital equipment, engineering, or project-based manufacturing.
- Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, business, project management, or a related field.
- Experience using Microsoft Project or similar project-scheduling software.
- Experience reading mechanical drawings, equipment specifications, timelines, or technical documentation.
- Familiarity with project budgets, change orders, ERP systems, or ISO 9001.
- Experience participating in equipment runoffs, customer acceptance testing, or manufacturing launches.
Physical and Work Requirements
- This is an onsite position in an office and manufacturing environment.
- Frequent standing and walking throughout the facility.
- Regular use of hands and arms.
- Ability to occasionally lift, push, or pull up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to safely work around industrial machinery and manufacturing activities.
- Occasional travel to customer or supplier locations may be required.
- Additional hours may occasionally be necessary during critical project milestones, equipment runoffs, installations, or launches.
Why Join Us?
- Meaningful ownership of real-world custom automation projects.
- Direct exposure to engineering, manufacturing, controls, operations, and customer management.
- Structured opportunity to grow into a full Program Manager position.
- Competitive salary, based on experience.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- 401(k) with company match.
- Paid time off and paid holidays.
- Supportive, team-oriented manufacturing environment.
- Opportunity to see projects move from an initial concept to completed operating equipment.
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