Program Manager

About the Role

Program Manager - Customer Strategy Execution

At Benchmark Electronics, we are seeking an experienced Program Manager to join our team and drive customer strategy execution. This role will be responsible for leading the execution of customer strategies related to one or more customers, including all products/programs from new product introduction through volume production. The successful candidate will have a strong background in electronics manufacturing service (EMS) or contract manufacturer (CM) and excellent leadership skills to drive customer satisfaction, profitable business relationships, and sales growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead the customer focus team (CFT) and prioritize all CFT activities
• Act as the primary day-to-day customer point of contact and function as the primary customer contact in resolution management
• Ensure successful new product introduction by executing to NPI standard process, understanding and monitoring S&OP, and identifying and securing skills needed for effective transitions
• Manage pricing and ECO prioritization during the process, understand and maintain customer product knowledge and roadmap, and gain understanding of customer market and competition
• Establish and monitor KPIs related to E&O, PPV, and inventory turns, manage recurring pricing activities, and use contract, pricing model, and updated costs to present new pricing to customers
• Monitor and investigate technical, scheduling, financial, and quality metrics, which deviate from established requirements, determine cause, and take corrective action
• Schedule Executive Business Reviews (EBRs) and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), ensure appropriate attendees are well prepared for meetings, understand data, and issues
• Set meeting objectives, develop agendas, and tools to accomplish objectives, prepare internal teams for meetings, align topics and presentations with customers prior to meetings, and provide timely notification to GMs and global program managers of critical problems encountered, action taken, and anticipated effect on project objectives
• Accountable for driving objectives related to continuous improvements, ensure the build and delivery schedules by working with customers, internal supply chain, and operations, and work with SCA to ensure resolution of excess and obsolete inventory issues
• Ensure the recovery of costs related to ECO activity, Non-Recurring Expenses (NRE), and other miscellaneous, meet and manage customer demand in accordance with contract, site inventory objectives, equipment, and personnel capacity, and ensure customer demand (PO and forecast) is managed and well understood by CFT members
• Communicate updated data to close the gap between customer request and Benchmark commitment, track, trend, and report On-Time Delivery to customer request and Benchmark commitment, monitor customer revenue plan through demand outlook, and understand contractual obligations of the contract related to flexibility allowances, payment terms, invoicing, potential penalties, cost reduction obligations/targets, excess and obsolete terms, recovery, and escalation path, warranty terms, recall, and epidemic failure qualifiers
• Ensure execution to contract terms and conditions to meet Benchmark's obligations, communicate contract requirements internally, conduct monthly Program Reviews utilizing Benchmark standard process, execute customer quotation requests, assess risk utilizing the Risk/Liability Tool, ensure accuracy of quotations to protect gross margin, validate the establishment of quotes to actual costs comparisons, coordinate with procurement organization to develop supply chain strategy that aligns with customer contract and site goals, identify risk of inventory exposure, coordinate reserve with site controller, manage inventory days of sales, establish standard cost for parts based on customer's influence, material, labor standard changes, or inventory days, ensure Positive Price Variances alignment to site goals at the point of sale, and review Supply Chain data related to component lead-time, MOQ, and impacts to total inventory exposure
• Responsible to determine if customer will be responsible for negative PPV and/or associated procurement costs and if so, collect money from the customer, develop an understanding of DFx philosophy including Design for manufacturing, Design for Test, and Design for BOM or Cost, promote with the customer, and coordinate with the appropriate Benchmark function
• Accountable for and ensures receipt and distribution of customer documentation packages, coordinates collection and distribution of customer quality data, ensures ECO process and impacts are captured and reported to the customer, monitors customer DPPM, DPU, or DPMO with the customer focus team to ensure quality measurements are within contract and customer required limits, monitors customer escapes events and leads the customer focus team to root cause and corrective action driving closer of issues, monitors customer COPQ and works with CFT to reduce, participates in MRB activities to drive rapid resolution of issues, and embraces change and adapts quickly to a new way of working
• Actively uses analytical skills to solve problems by gathering data, analyzing it, and drawing concise solutions, actively uses, applies, and promotes problem-solving tools (root cause, 8D, 5 Why's, 6Ms, etc.) in daily activities to recognize and define problems, analyze data, develop and implement solutions, and evaluate outcome, possesses sound negotiating ability, effectively explores alternatives and positions to reach mutually beneficial sales agreements that gain customers' acceptance and commitment, and demonstrates effective customer interface skills
• Exhibits solid understanding of the concepts and how to positively impact OI and RONA levers, recruits, interviews, and hires team members, continuously assesses individual and team strengths and development needs, coaches and mentors subordinates, creates and manages succession plans, establishes clear measurable goals and objectives by which to assess individual and team results (i.e., metrics, results against project timelines, training documentation, knowledge of roles and responsibilities, personal development goals), drives individuals and teams to continuously improve in key metrics and the achievement of organizational goals, and ensures that the responsibilities, authorities, and accountability of all direct subordinates are defined and understood
• Drives a lean culture, identifies creative ways to reduce cost by streamlining processes and systems (i.e., modification of responsibilities or consolidation of tasks, elimination of non-value-added processes, or complete re-engineering of processes and systems), and demonstrates high-level problem-solving and analytical skills to identify and address complex issues and opportunities for improvement

About You

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Program Manager to join our team. The successful candidate will have a strong background in electronics manufacturing service (EMS) or contract manufacturer (CM) and excellent leadership skills to drive customer satisfaction, profitable business relationships, and sales growth. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams, managing complex projects, and driving business growth.

What We Offer

At Benchmark Electronics, we offer a competitive compensation package, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth and development. In addition, we provide a collaborative and dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and creativity.