Senior Program Manager Automotive – EMS Industry
Location: Oradea, Romania
Job Type: Full-Time
About the Role
Connect Group is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Program Manager Automotive to lead customer program management across multiple sites in a high-mix/low-volume EMS (Electronics Manufacturing Services) environment. This critical leadership role ensures the successful delivery of customer programs, drives profitability, and strengthens customer relationships while overseeing the performance of multi-functional teams.
Key Responsibilities
Customer Management & Growth

• Own regional customer program strategy focused on retention, expansion, and lifetime value
• Ensure timely, cost-effective, and quality delivery of solutions aligned with customer objectives
• Lead NPI execution, product transfers, and continuous improvement initiatives with strategic customers
• Strengthen executive-level relationships, proactively resolving escalations and addressing evolving customer needs
• Lead QBRs and contractual reviews; align forecasts, budgets, price renegotiations, and margin protection strategies
• Proactively explore new business opportunities and market trends to support account development

Leadership & Strategic Execution

• Develop and implement site-level program management strategies, tailored to local/regional dynamics
• Act as the senior program management authority across locations, partnering with operations, supply chain, engineering, and quality functions
• Coach, guide, and mentor junior program managers; foster a high-performance culture and knowledge sharing
• Champion cross-functional collaboration and ensure strategic customer voices are translated into actionable outcomes
• Coordinate complex, matrix-managed initiatives across multiple manufacturing sites

Contract Management

• Oversee contract lifecycle, including renewals, compliance, renegotiation (where applicable), and customer communication
• Ensure all agreed business conditions are internally communicated and adhered to
• Monitor contract deviations impacting margin and propose new terms when necessary
• Deliver contract management training for site PM teams

KPI Ownership & Business Performance

• Monitor and analyze core KPIs (Revenue, Book-to-Bill, Margin, COPA, BOM/BOL, OTD, ITO, E&O, AR/DSO, Working Capital)
• Drive customer profitability through cost control, margin improvements, and reduction of excess & obsolete stock
• Lead initiatives to optimize performance, quality, delivery, and financial alignment with contract terms
• Identify risks to business continuity and implement strategies to mitigate customer churn

Why Join Us?
At Connect Group, you’ll join a dynamic, forward-thinking EMS company with a strong focus on customer success, operational excellence, and innovation. This is a high-impact role with visibility at executive level and the opportunity to shape strategic customer programs across multiple countries.