Launch Manager

Job Description

About the Team: Responsible for planning, directing, managing and coordinating the customer project launch activities by ensuring successful progression of customer milestones within product launch for specified programs to ensure goals and objectives are met for program launches within the prescribed time frame and funding / budget parameters.  Contribute to a "Successful" launch through APQP, product, process, tooling, customer requirements or supplier requirements changes.

What you can look forward to as a Launch Manager:

• Responsible for managing the customer project launch activities by ensuring successful progression of customer milestones within product launch for specified programs.
• Responsible for building project teams and tracking project activities from industrialization phases through the successful launch of programs both within time and budgetary constraints, all while adhering to ZF company standards/policy and customer requirements. 
• Manages launch management activities and pre-series builds to support internal and external customers. 
• Manage new equipment installations to support launch management milestones and project objectives. 
• Serve as primary contact/liaison to customer; identify information/data and resources needed by customer and ensure timely transfer of such information between appropriate ZF department/team and the customer. 
• Work with ZF engineering teams (design, test, controls and resident) and global R&D, in addition to other departments such as purchasing, quality, and sales, in order to support business development, capacity, and continuity; manage and facilitate teams in a crisis mode with current and/or future production issues.
• Ensure implementation of planning phase for equipment installations in the plant related to pre-series and launch management projects in coordination with the plant engineering team. 
• Establish planning and corrective action procedures for ensuring minimal operation downtime and commercial impact for line stoppages or cycle times during pre-series events. 

Your profile as a Launch Manager:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field. 
• 2+ years of related experience and project supervision in one or more the following areas: manufacturing engineering, planning, program/launch management, project management tools, customer interface.  
• 2+ years of experience with Bills of Material (BOM) structures, design change procedures and technical facets of product development. 
• Proficient with Microsoft Office; Familiarity with C-Place or comparable engineering change system; Familiarity with SAP and/or comparable ERP system.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills. 
• Ability to influence and engage at multiple levels within internal and external organizations. 
• Ability/willingness to travel both domestically and internationally (up to 25%).
• Knowledge and understanding of business needs, with the ability to establish and maintain a high level of trust.

Why you should choose ZF in Lapeer, MI:

• Annual Incentive Plan
• Paid Time Off
• 401k Plan
• Health Care Benefits
• Paid Holidays
• A supportive, collaborative team environment
• A strong diversity culture
• Supportive Employee Groups and community outreach activities