Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid . This means the successful candidate is expected to report to Global Technical Center – Warren three times per week, at minimum, or other frequency dictated by the business.
Role Summary
The Suburban Shield Material Program Management Coordinator is a consulting and execution role responsible for aligning SMT commodity sourcing and material strategies with Suburban Shield financial, business, timing, and strategic targets across the GVDP.
As the purchasing / material counterpart to the Vehicle System Engineer (VSE) and Program Team, this role:
- Ensures on‑time sourcing and material readiness for all Suburban Shield milestones and builds.
- Drives cost‑target achievement (piece price, tooling, ED&D, total landed cost).
- Provides a single, integrated view of sourcing status, cost performance, and material risk to leadership.
The coordinator works hand and hand with the Material Program Managers and cross‑functionally with Buyers, PPCO, engineering, finance, quality, operations, and GM Defense stakeholders.
What You’ll Do:
1. Program & Milestone Support (“It’s On Me”)
- Support Suburban Shield strategy reviews, SOR check‑ins, SMT stakeholder meetings, and sourcing reviews as the material/purchasing representative.
- Ensure required commercial and technical data is available to support MPSR/PSR reviews; follow up on open issues and communicate status back to the cross‑functional team.
- Prepare and distribute MPSR/PSR pre‑reads to program teams per timing expectations.
- Lead/coordinate alignment of Mid‑Point PSR / PSR recommendations, resolving disconnects between VSE, Buyers, PPCO, and program targets before leadership review.
- Support PQRR and other GVDP deliverables related to late sourcing, program changes, and material/cost implications.
2. Sourcing & Cost Management (“Innovate Now / Think Customer / One Team”)
- Align SMT sourcing strategies with Suburban Shield program imperatives, footprint strategy, VPPS commodity direction, and GM Defense customer requirements.
- Coordinate supplier cost workshops with engineering, quality, finance, and operations to identify and execute material cost‑down strategies post‑target setting and pre‑sourcing.
- Support review of pre‑RFQ packages for alignment with program imperatives, USMCA and defense‑specific requirements, and bid lists.
- Ensure commercial accuracy of cost data in Imperative and Cost Book (PPCO) reviews.
- Monitor and report cost target achievement (piece price, tooling, total landed cost); identify gaps, document explanations, and summarize final results for the program team.
3. Timing & Operational Metrics (“Look Ahead”)
- Track and drive sourcing package timing to meet SOT, red‑sourcing, and other operational metrics; coordinate recovery plans with DREs and buyers when timing is at risk.
- Maintain forward‑looking visibility to GMD versions of GVDP, sourcing, and Suburban Shield build timing, assessing risk early and kicking off recovery plans before the project is late.
- Support Program Impactive Management (PIM) by ensuring sourcing and cost changes are reflected correctly and communicated to stakeholders.
4. Cross‑Functional Communication & Governance
- Coordinate and participate in weekly MPM alignment meetings, ensuring actions, risks, and decisions are captured, owned, and closed.
- Prepare regular program updates for SMTs and GM Defense leadership, covering:
- Sourcing status and timing
- Cost performance versus targets
- Major material/sourcing risks and opportunities
- Act as voice of Direct Purchasing SMT to the Program Team and voice of the Program Team to Purchasing, balancing both sets of priorities.
- Serve as a first‑line subject matter resource on commodity cost within assigned VPPS/SMT scope, leveraging benchmarking and read‑across for cost‑down opportunities.
5. Continuous Improvement & Tools
- Support refinement of VSCS templates, sourcing trackers, and meeting routines to improve transparency, data quality, and execution efficiency for Suburban Shield.
- Identify opportunities to streamline data collection and reporting between buyers, VSLs, PPMs, and program teams.
- Share knowledge and lessons learned across programs and peers to support strategy optimization and avoid repeat issues.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or related field
- Candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee).
- 2+ years in Direct Purchasing, Program Management, Engineering (e.g., PDT leader), or Material Cost Management within an automotive or defense environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (especially Excel and PowerPoint) and purchasing/program tools (e.g., PIM, VSCS, sourcing trackers, cost books).
- Ability to clearly communicate goals, status, and recommendations, and rally cross‑functional teams around a shared vision and mission.
- Strong ability to manage ambiguity and multiple workstreams in a fast‑paced environment.
- Proven collaboration skills across purchasing, engineering, finance, quality, and program management.
- Focus on inclusion and relationship‑building; able to develop positive relationships with collaborators and bring the broader team along the journey.
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong data and financial acumen; able to interpret cost books, cost breakdowns, and total landed cost.
- Understanding of Program Impactive Management (PIM) and how sourcing/material changes are governed.
- Familiarity with GMD versions of GVDP, program and sourcing process timelines, and key reviews (MPSR, PSR, PQRR).
- Demonstrated program management experience, including timing control, issue/risk management, and cross‑functional coordination.
- Strong understanding of program financial targets and status (piece price, tooling, ED&D, total landed cost).
- Experience supporting VSL, PPM, Program Purchasing, or Material Program roles at GM or a similar OEM.
- Working knowledge of PPCO, VSCS, PIM, GVDP milestones, and USMCA sourcing considerations.
- Prior experience leading or coordinating supplier cost workshops or value engineering events.
- Familiarity with GM Defense or other defense programs, including customer expectations, contractual timing, and reporting needs.
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