As a technology leader that is rapidly on the move, HARMAN is filled with people who are focused on making life better. Innovation, inclusivity and teamwork are a part of our DNA. When you add that to the challenges we take on and solve together, you’ll discover that at HARMAN you can grow, make a difference and be proud of the work you do every day.
About the Role
As Program Excellence Lead, you are responsible for strengthening the effectiveness of program execution across the Global Customer Group (GCG) by defining execution standards, ensuring consistent adoption, and intervening when delivery performance is at risk.
You establish the standards that define what good program execution looks like, ensure those standards are applied across program portfolios, and engage directly in complex or high-risk delivery situations to restore stability and prevent escalation.
Your impact is measured not only by the frameworks you define but by improved delivery outcomes across the program portfolio, including stronger program health, earlier risk identification, and reduction of RED programs.
In partnership with Program Management, Quality, and Customer Group leadership, you act as the global authority for program execution standards, ensuring both preventative governance and hands-on intervention when required.
Your Team
You are part of the Customer Excellence organization and operate as the senior authority on program execution standards across the Global Customer Group.
You lead through influence across Program Management, Quality / PMO, Customer Account Management (CAM), Engineering, Operations, and Finance, and act as a global escalation point for complex delivery execution challenges.
Over time, the capability may expand to include regional program excellence resources embedded within customer groups to support local program teams and ensure consistent adoption of global execution standards.
What You Will Do
- Define and Institutionalize Program Execution Standards
- Define the standards that describe how programs should be executed across HARMAN Automotive, including expectations for governance discipline, program health transparency, escalation timing, and leadership behaviors.
- Ensure standards are consistently adopted across customer groups and program portfolios.
- Ensure execution frameworks translate into measurable delivery improvements.
- Partner with Program Management leaders to embed standards into daily execution, identify systemic delivery gaps, and influence leadership decisions that improve program outcomes.
- Drive Adoption and Impact of Program Excellence Frameworks
- Monitor Program Health and Intervene in High-Risk Programs
- Maintain visibility into program health across the portfolio and engage directly in programs facing elevated risk.
- Diagnose systemic execution issues, coordinate cross-functional recovery plans, and support leadership teams in restoring delivery stability before escalation occurs.
- Align Execution Governance with PLM and Quality Processes
- Partner with Product Launch Quality (PLQ) and PMO teams to ensure alignment between PLM200 / PLM300 governance and execution practices.
- While Quality owns process compliance and audits, Program Excellence ensures execution effectiveness beyond process adherence.
- Drive Continuous Improvement Across Program Delivery
- Capture lessons learned from delivery execution and translate them into improved standards, governance practices, and leadership expectations across the program portfolio.
- Ensure insights from program execution are systematically incorporated into pursuit, commercial, and program management practices.
What You Need
Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field
10+ years of experience in automotive program management, product development, or delivery leadership roles
Strong understanding of program lifecycle management, cross-functional program execution, and delivery risk management
Proven ability to influence leaders across a global matrix organization and resolve complex delivery challenges
What is Nice to Have
Master’s Degree in Engineering or Business
PMP certification
Experience in complex automotive hardware and software product development programs
Experience working across global customer portfolios and program organizations
What Makes You Eligible
Willingness to travel 30% of the time
Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background investigation and applicable screenings.
Willing to work in an office in Novi, MI (Hybrid)
What We Offer
Access to employee discounts on world-class Harman and Samsung products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, etc.)
Extensive training opportunities through our own HARMAN University
Competitive wellness benefits
Tuition Reimbursement
Access to HARMAN Campus Fitness Center and Cafeteria
An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development
Salary Ranges:
HARMAN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
What We Do
Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and services supporting the Internet of Things. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. More than 50 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems. Our software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In March 2017, HARMAN became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. HARMAN is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. HARMAN offers a great work environment, challenging career opportunities, professional training and competitive compensation. Looking for a challenge where your experience is valued? Come see what you can achieve as a leader with HARMAN!
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