Program Manager, Cost Reduction (Automotive)

Location: Troy, Michigan, United States

Company

hirify.global is developing safe, reliable, affordable, and customizable trucks in the USA.

What you will do

• Lead the cost reduction workstream from opportunity identification through feasibility, supplier confirmation, commercial closure, and governance tracking.
• Maintain supplier commitment registers, component-level accountability, launch-risk flags, and leadership reporting that distinguishes confirmed SOP savings from pipeline items.
• Plan and coordinate batch implementation of cost reduction changes ahead of and during the Job 2 program.
• Align Engineering, Purchasing, Cost Engineering, FP&A, Quality, and Manufacturing on implementation timing and production build events.
• Lead Job 2 planning, execution, validation, re-certification sequencing, and launch toward a fully implemented bill of materials.
• Represent cost reduction status in operations, business, and industrialization governance reviews, escalating conflicts and risks when needed.

Requirements

• At least five years of program or project management experience in automotive, EV, or adjacent manufacturing environments.
• Direct experience with cost reduction, VAVE, engineering change, or vehicle launch programs.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional workstreams across engineering, purchasing, manufacturing, quality, and finance.
• Experience with supplier commercial negotiations, should-cost analysis, and BOM-level cost tracking.
• Knowledge of change management governance, including CR/CN workflows, tooling lead times, and supplier delivery commitments.
• Strong communication, facilitation, accountability, and leadership-facing reporting skills in fast-paced, resource-constrained environments.

Nice to have

• Experience with aPriori, Project X, or similar cost engineering tools.
• PMP or equivalent program management certification.

Culture & Benefits

• Startup environment emphasizing ingenuity, resourcefulness, and ownership.
• Culture focused on safety, customer experience, innovation, excellence, and mutual respect.
• Operating principles include one-team collaboration, relentless improvement, and fast, frugal execution.
• Commitment to equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, and reasonable accommodations.