Technical Program Manager

Industry: Sales Support/Operations

Company: Panasonic

Overview

Every moment of every day, people all over the world turn to Panasonic to make their lives simpler, more enjoyable, more productive and more secure. Since our founding almost a century ago, we’ve been committed to improving peoples’ lives and making the world a better place-one customer, one business, one innovative leap at a time. Come join our journey!

Responsibilities

Panasonic Technical Program Manager

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What You’ll Get To Do:

This position will be right at the nerve center of the Panasonic division– called the Electric Vehicle Battery Business Office– which is involved in all stages of the customers development lifecycle and experienced using various methods of communications to connect with customers. We are looking for dynamic team players who eventually can acquire deep knowledge of battery cell technology and become independent at building technical presentations, leading product demonstrations, and educating customers– from working-level engineers to executive leadership– on the best way to support current and next-gen cell development.

Technical aptitude, business insight, and strong organizational or program management ability will be utilized continuously in order to effectively deliver within this role. Strong collaboration is necessary across functions and or business units such as Engineering, Procurement, Factory Operation, and Quality in both Japan & the US.

The Technical Program Manager TPM Sales Engineering will consult with automotive customers to provide solutions for battery electric vehicle programs. The TPM is a seasoned professional with lithium ion battery sales experience, who can communicate effectively with potential automotive customers and with internal teams to ensure that program outcomes meet customer expectations, and that customer validation and project implementation schedules are kept. They will act as the account manager for customers all the way from a potential lead to installation of the solution. He or she will be well versed in manufacturing technologies and processes in order to be a trusted advisor and consultant to customers.

Customer/Factory Visits and Meetings

• Arrange and Travel to potential customer sites to understand customer issues, future products, technical requirements, etc.
• Arrange and Travel visits to Japan Headquarter and other manufacturing locations.
• Lead and manage engineering and quality conversations, and negotiate with customers supported by both the US and Japanese engineering, quality, commercial, and procurement teams.
• Capture and document accurate meeting minutes or after-action reports of communication discussed in project meetings both internally and with the customer, and distribute to project team in a timely manner
• When necessary, provide English Japanese interpretations in customer meetings.
• Follow up on a regular basis with high potential customers to progress them through the buying process; and document all interactions and tasks for internal distribution.

Program Management and Internal Communication

• Working with Japan and US engineers to manage engineering project scopes and schedules, and organizing and facilitating meetings with customers.
• Maintain perfect communications between Panasonic internal and customer engineering and quality teams by holding regular status reviews and correspondences
• Manage programs and projects to provide the greatest benefit to PEC.
• Proactively manage the scope, and schedule for large scale and smaller projects.
• Management of the overall scope of various technical projects such as: mechanical, chemical, engineering, construction, process improvement, etc.
• Ensure that all projects are delivered on-time, and within scope.
• Create and maintain project schedule of the entire scope of project s including all related cross-functional departments. Tracking critical path of project including recovery schedules and areas of schedule improvement.
• Lead and direct project meetings in both English and Japanese utilizing all necessary related project documentation such as the following- schedule, meeting minutes, drawing or design packages, etc.
• Analyze potential risks and performing risk management procedures to minimize project risks.
• Create daily or weekly project reports including major highlights, schedule updates, critical path analysis, current project status, issues or conflicts, lessons learned, and next action plans.
• Development of Project Management systems for greater project management effectiveness.
• Work efficiently and coordinate with all Panasonic cross-functional departments.
  Effective communication and coordination with customers and Panasonic Japan technical members to align with project requirements, expectations, and schedule demands.

Scope

• Exempt
• Individual Contributor
• Reports to Sales Engineering Manager

Qualifications

What You’ll Bring:

Education and Experience

• Basic or Required
• Bachelors degree in Engineering – Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial etc.- Science, Business, Communications or Foreign Languages.
• 2-5 Years of Program Management PMI experience preferred.

Preferred Certifications

• Project Management Institute PMI, Project Management Professional PMP certification or equivalent.

Essential Qualifications

• Must demonstrate a strong work ethics and a strong desire to learn and advance in the battery and electrification space.
• Must have strong project and time management skills.
• Ability to travel to customer and internal corporate locations at the direction of leadership.
• Ability to multi-task and drive multiple projects through the solutions cycle effectively; Proactive and diligent on prospect or customer follow-up .
• Ability to work well with colleagues, influence, motivate and drive the teams to completion.
• Effective time management, with well-developed organizational skills and change management experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• A passion to serve the customer, which has played out in customer-facing roles such as consulting, support, or ideally sales engineering.
• Skill and know-how regarding lithium-ion battery cell engineering through working in battery manufacturing or research industries.
• Ability to cooperate and work with related departments including those overseas in Japan.
• Must be confident providing knowledge to a highly skilled and experienced audience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Word and have the ability to use the computer to complete online learning requirements for specific competencies, access online forms and policies, complete online benefits enrollment.

Communication or Languages

• Must have excellent communication skills in the English language, including reading, writing and speaking English
• Fluency in the Japanese language including speaking, reading, and writing is strongly preferred.
• An ability to quickly communicate complex ideas around technical topic and schedule related topics, for example, on the fly at a whiteboard.

Other Requirements

• The employee may on occasion be called to lift and or move up to 10 pounds and possibly up to 40 pounds.
• Business Travel may be required up to 30 percent
• candidate location preference is Reno NV

Benefits & Perks – What’s In It For You:

Panasonic prioritizes total wellbeing. We offer a wide variety of benefits and programs to support your physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health.

• Competitive compensation package
• Comprehensive benefits
• Pet Insurance
• Paid Parental Care Leave
• Employee Referral Program
• Educational Assistance
• Flexible Work Program
• Volunteer time Off
• Casual Dress Code
• Total Well Being Program

We Take Opportunity Seriously:

At Panasonic, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer.

Panasonic is an Equal Opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy of North America.

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