Program Manager, Product Development

Company & Position Overview:JB Poindexter & Co (JBPCO) is a privately held, diversified manufacturing company forecasting $2.75B in annual revenue and 9,000 team members in 2026. JBPCO prides itself on providing best-in-class commercial automotive and industrial vehicles. The nine operating subsidiaries, covering approximately 70 locations, are engaged in the production of commercial truck bodies, step-vans, utility trucks, ambulances, funeral coaches, limousines, electric and alternative fuel vehicles, pickup truck bed enclosures, and expandable foam plastic packaging. For more information about our industry leading brands and products, visit JBPoindexter.com or connect on LinkedIn.

We are the Corporate Engineering and Product Development organization within JB Poindexter & Co., supporting nine business units across the company's portfolio of commercial vehicle and upfit solutions spanning Class 1-7 vehicles. This team leads the development and launch of innovative products and technologies across a diverse set of applications and end markets.

We operate in a highly dynamic, project-based environment, managing programs ranging from rapid development cycles (weeks) to complex, multi-year product launches, while partnering closely with business units, customers, and suppliers to bring fresh solutions to market.

We are seeking a hands-on Program Manager with 3-5 years of experience in product development and launch environments. This role leads cross-functional programs from concept through production launch with full ownership of schedule, budget, resource planning, and customer execution.

The ideal candidate has experience in automotive or commercial vehicle environments and is comfortable managing technical programs in a fast-paced, evolving environment. This is not an administrative PM role-it requires execution discipline, strong communication skills, and technical awareness.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Lead end-to-end product development programs from concept through production launch and business unit handoffOwn program schedule, budget, risks, deliverables, and cross-functional alignment across multiple concurrent projectsDevelop and maintain integrated project plans, milestones, and launch readiness trackingEnsure alignment between engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and supplier executionDrive design maturity, validation activities, and launch readiness in coordination with Business Unit engineering, manufacturing, and quality teamsServe as primary customer interface for program status, commitments, issue resolution, and escalation managementLead customer reviews and cross-functional program gate reviewsCoordinate with purchasing, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to ensure readiness of tooling, parts, and production requirementsManage engineering changes (ECR/ECN), assess impacts, and maintain program alignment with cost, timing, and customer expectationsProactively identify and mitigate risks related to schedule, technical execution, quality, and supply chain readinessDrive disciplined documentation of program decisions, actions, and change management

Qualifications and Skills:

Bachelor's degree, preferred in Engineering, Sciences, Manufacturing, Business, or related field3-5 years of experience in Program or Project Management in product development or manufacturing environmentsExperience managing full product development lifecycles through launchExperience working in cross-functional engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teamsStrong organizational, communication, and leadership skills in customer-facing environmentsAbility to manage multiple concurrent programs in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications:

Automotive Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier experienceExposure to APQP and PPAP processesExperience in commercial trucks, heavy-duty vehicle, or vocational vehicle programsBackground in high mix / low volume manufacturing environmentsProficiency with Microsoft product suite - MS Project, Power BI, Power Apps

What We Are Looking For:

A hands-on program leader who understands engineering, manufacturing, and execution - not just schedulingSomeone comfortable operating in ambiguity with evolving requirements and custom engineering solutionsA strong communicator who can translate technical details into clear customer commitmentsA self-starter capable of managing multiple programs simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.A collaborative leader who drives accountability while enabling engineering problem-solving

J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.