Senior Manager, IT Program

Job Summary

The Senior IT Program Manager manages large-scale, complex IT programs supporting manufacturing operations, MES platforms, ERP integration, and vehicle program or project launches. This role operates as a trusted partner to corporate leadership, plant leadership, and OEM customers, ensuring IT strategy, program execution, and operational readiness are tightly aligned with business objectives. This role owns the full project lifecycle, from initiation through deployment and stabilization, applying disciplined project management methodologies to ensure delivery on time, within scope, and within budget, while meeting business and customer expectations.

Essential functions of the job

Program & Project Delivery

Manage delivery of IT solutions for program and vehicle launches, including MES, ERP, infrastructure, network, and shop floor systems.

Define project charters, scope, milestones, schedules, resources, budgets, risks, and success metrics

Serve as the executive escalation point for critical risks, delivery challenges, and customer-impacting issues.

Develop accurate project estimates and integrated execution plans.

Ensure formal project closure, including lessons learned and required documentation.

Manufacturing & MES Transformation

Ensure IT readiness aligns with vehicle/program launch milestones, operational ramp-up, and production stability.

Drive the MES implementation support model during deployment and assist with transition to steady-state support.

Partner with Plant Leadership, Launch Managers, and Vehicle Program teams to align IT milestones with program launch requirements.

Ensure commissioning, testing, and go-live activities occur with no disruption to business continuity.

Stakeholder & Customer Engagement

Act as the primary IT interface with executive leadership, plant leadership, and OEM customer counterparts.

Lead executive-level communications on program health, financials, risks, and decision points.

Drive issue resolution with a customer-first mindset, balancing speed, quality, and long-term system integrity.

Influence stakeholders across business units without direct authority.

Global & Offshore Team Management

Manage cross-functional, and cross-cultural teams, including internal IT, business partners, system integrators, and offshore development teams.

Set clear expectations, operating cadence, and accountability across distributed teams.

Foster a culture of ownership, transparency, and results-driven execution.

Financial, Risk & Compliance Stewardship

Own program financials including budgets, forecasts, funding requests, and variance management.

Establish proactive risk management strategies to prevent launch disruption or business continuity issues.

Ensure compliance with IT security, audit, quality, EHS, and regulatory requirements.

Govern change control, scope management, and decision-making rigor across the program lifecycle.

Required education

Bachelor’s degree in IT, Engineering, or related discipline required

Master’s degree (MBA or MS) is strongly preferred

Project / Program Management certification (PMI, PMP, APMP or equivalent) preferred

Required qualifications

8–12+ years of IT program management experience in large, multi-site organization

5+ years leading large-scale projects and cross functions teams

Proven experience supporting manufacturing, MES, ERP, or industrial automation platforms

Position may involve 25% travel and requires onsite support in manufacturing facilities as needed.