Program Manager

Program Manager

The Program Manager leads customer programs in a contract manufacturing and electronics manufacturing services environment, serving as the primary technical and business interface for a designated portfolio of customer accounts. This role drives program planning, production scheduling, and cross-functional execution to ensure manufacturing readiness, product quality, and on-time delivery. The Program Manager also manages account profitability, supports strategic growth initiatives, and oversees the full lifecycle of new product introductions and engineering change activities in a technically complex, ITAR-compliant setting.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary technical and business interface for all customer communications, program requirements, and information exchange for an assigned portfolio of customer accounts.
• Lead quarterly customer business and program reviews with cross-functional stakeholders to evaluate performance, operational metrics, and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Develop and coordinate production schedules, program plans, and customer deliverables to ensure product quality, manufacturing readiness, and on-time delivery performance.
• Integrate and execute customer requirements across cross-functional business teams, including Engineering, Manufacturing, Materials, Quality, Logistics, and other disciplines, to ensure successful program implementation and lifecycle management.
• Manage account profitability, operational performance, and margin attainment to meet or exceed company objectives.
• Drive cost reduction and continuous improvement initiatives that maximize gross profit margin for existing customer programs.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate program and operational risks that could impact business continuity, customer satisfaction, or production performance.
• Support the Sales organization in developing strategic growth initiatives and customer programs designed to expand opportunities within existing accounts.
• Collaborate with Sales to develop and implement strategic pricing models, technical proposals, and customer-specific business solutions.
• Manage and coordinate quotation activities, including technical review, dissemination, evaluation, development, and delivery, in collaboration with Sales and relevant operational teams.
• Lead new product introduction (NPI) programs, contract reviews, engineering change orders (ECOs), and cross-functional execution activities for new products, product enhancements, and product redesign initiatives.
• Develop and maintain rolling product demand forecasts to support Manufacturing and Materials Management in planning capacity, backlog, production schedules, and inventory optimization.
• Oversee multiple programs and client portfolios, including accounts ranging from approximately 520 million in revenue and product sets of roughly 1050 parts, ensuring consistent program performance and customer satisfaction.
• Act as a customer advocate while balancing technical, operational, and business objectives between the customer and the organization.
• Establish clear program objectives, prioritize deliverables, manage timelines, and lead cross-functional project teams to successful outcomes.
• Apply strong analytical and problem-solving skills to drive data-driven decision making and continuous improvement across programs.

Essential Skills:

• Minimum of 3 years of Program Management, Project Management, or Account Management experience within a contract manufacturing, electronics manufacturing services (EMS), or technical production environment.
• Proven ability to communicate and present effectively to customers, cross-functional technical teams, and executive stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a customer advocate while balancing technical, operational, and business objectives.
• Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and other key functional disciplines.
• Well-organized team leadership capabilities, including establishing program objectives, prioritizing deliverables, managing timelines, and leading cross-functional project teams.
• Experience in contract review, technical sales support, customer service, commercial negotiations, and value-based pricing strategies (preferred but not required).
• Proficiency in developing, executing, and managing complex program and project plans throughout the product lifecycle.
• Exceptional verbal, written, presentation, and customer-facing communication skills, with strong listening abilities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a disciplined, data-driven approach to decision making.
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office and applicable project management and reporting tools.
• Knowledge of Exact/Macola or similar ERP systems used in manufacturing and production environments (preferred but not required).
• Experience in program management within contract manufacturing, EMS, or technical production environments, including exposure to manufacturing processes, forecasting, electronics, and cross-departmental communication.
• Ability to manage multiple programs and client portfolios in a high-demand environment.

Additional Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, or another technical discipline.
• Program Management certificate.
• Experience managing customer programs in high-reliability, regulated, or technically complex industries such as Aerospace, Defense, Medical Device, Electronics, Semiconductor, or similar manufacturing environments.
• Background in electronics manufacturing, new product introduction (NPI), engineering change management, production planning, supply chain, and cross-functional engineering coordination.
• Experience with forecasting and demand planning to support manufacturing and materials management.
• Familiarity with value-based pricing strategies and strategic pricing model development.
• Ability to thrive in environments with ITAR compliance and other regulatory requirements.

Work Environment:

The role operates in a technically complex, ITAR-compliant manufacturing environment focused on contract manufacturing and electronics manufacturing services. The Program Manager works closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Materials, Quality, Logistics, Supply Chain, and Sales teams, leveraging ERP systems such as Exact/Macola or similar platforms, Microsoft Office, and project management and reporting tools. The work involves managing multiple customer programs and portfolios, including accounts in the 520 million revenue range and product sets of approximately 1050 parts, with a strong emphasis on production planning, NPI, engineering change management, and cross-functional coordination. The environment values data-driven decision making, continuous improvement, and collaborative problem solving, offering exposure to high-reliability and regulated industries such as aerospace, defense, medical device, electronics, and semiconductor manufacturing.

Job Type & Location:

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Richardson, TX.

Pay and Benefits:

The pay range for this position is $40.86 - $52.88/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type:

This is a fully onsite position in Richardson, TX.

Application Deadline:

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 28, 2026.

About Actalent:

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified