Senior Program Manager

As the leading transit bus manufacturer in the United States, GILLIG buses play a critical role in the environmental and social initiatives in communities across our nation.  GILLIG is on the forefront in the transition to zero-emission vehicles and has an unmatched reputation in the industry for quality, reliability, durability, service, and support.  From initial design through final assembly, each GILLIG bus is designed and built in Livermore, CA. 

WHY GILLIG

• Leader in environmentally friendly mobility solutions including battery electric, hybrid electric, near-zero CNG and clean diesel transit buses
• Renowned for its inclusive team/family-oriented culture
• Stable, successful, and growing organization – a Bay Area business for over 132 years!
• Flexible schedules (*depending on project needs)
• Excellent compensation including company paid medical premiums, generous retirement plan and other comprehensive benefits

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for a Senior Program Manager who will deliver company-wide programs and strategic initiatives on a cross-functional basis. As an experienced program manager in the automotive/transportation industry, you will be responsible for leading complex, cross‑functional transit bus programs from concept through production launch and sustainment. This role oversees program planning, execution, cost management, risk mitigation, and stakeholder communication, ensuring delivery of high‑quality transit bus products (Diesel, CNG, Hybrid, BEB, and Advanced Propulsion platforms) that meet customer, regulatory, schedule, and financial requirements. The Senior Program Manager serves as the primary interface between internal teams, executive leadership, suppliers, and transit agency customers.

This position reports to the Senior Director of Program Management and will work collaboratively and closely with the company’s leadership team.

IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL

• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver new product development and introduction programs on-time, on-budget, and on specification, creating an environment of product excellence
• Work with each functional area within GILLIG to define the content, tools, processes, deliverables, and core competencies needed to successfully develop and launch new products
• Partner with key stakeholders to ensure impactful program level risk and/or issues are timely communicated, understood, and mitigated to minimize the impact to program delivery
• Drive estimation, planning, organizing, and monitoring of the activities of cross-functional teams including ownership of the overall program schedule — driving/critical path, milestones, key dependencies, status, and summary
• Ensure organizational readiness for successful new product introduction
• Responsible for program performance measurements, reporting, quality, resource needs, and key program financial and budgetary activities
• Proactively apply appropriate risk management (risks, issues, & opportunities) across assigned programs
• Track, analyze, and report on costs, schedule, and performance of programs to ensure team members and key stakeholders are informed of program status
• Provide guidance to team members to ensure the program management processes are followed and programs are on track
• Act as a program management single-point-of-contact for assigned programs and assist with providing timely/accurate information
• Actively cultivate an inclusive program management culture, including a help-needed philosophy, to foster cross-functional buy-in and commitment to program success
• Institutionalize improvement opportunities using a formal Lessons Learned process
• Work independently and handle frequently changing needs of an organization that is dynamically evolving

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, Masters a plus, MBA preferred
• Experienced systems engineering background preferred
• Required 15+ years of experience in automotive, commercial vehicle or aerospace (or related field) product development and delivery, 10+ of which are program managing high dollar value products/product development
• This position requires an experienced professional with a strong technical background and excellent communication skills who is comfortable communicating complex issues at all levels of the organization
• Exhibit strong emotional intelligence, interpersonal and leadership skills to build loyalty trust, and commitments from key internal and external contacts involved with making decisions
• Our ideal candidate exhibits a can-do attitude and approaches his or her work with vigor and determination
• Demonstrates quality in their respective fields, possesses ability to learn quickly within a fast-paced environment
• Experience taking multiple products to market as a program manager or and integrated product team (IPT) leader with direct experience
• Excellent business acumen, demonstrated ability to align teams to strategy to achieve business and program objectives
• Experience leading and facilitating program team meetings, cross-functional communication and decision making, and ensuring ongoing alignment with internal/external stakeholders
• Highly accomplished verbal and written presentation, communication, and persuasion skills
• Deep understanding of a large program lifecycle, how to measure performance and communicating those to Leadership and staff at large
• Proven strategic and critical-thinking skills, high level of independent judgment, initiative, and creativity to identify and clearly communicate strategies to senior management

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Ability to lift 25 lbs.
• Prolonged periods of sitting/standing at a desk and working on a computer
• Regularly required to sit, stand, and walk and occasionally kneel or squat
• The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation.
• Must be able to navigate manufacturing environment, comfortable around heavy machinery, tools, etc.
• Must be able to wear Personal Protective Equipment, (i.e. safety glasses, bump caps, hearing protection, etc.)
• 10% Travel required
• Standard start time: 6:00 am (negotiable)

EXPECTED COMPENSATION

$75,000 - $220,000/annual salary + bonus + premium benefits  

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job classification, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if a candidate receives an offer of employment.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

GILLIG is committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace that values and respects the unique talents, experiences, and perspectives of our employees and the people we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.

GILLIG is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer.