Serial Life Manager - VW

Serial Life Manager

The Serial Life Manager is a key position within the organization, responsible for safeguarding profitability, stability, and strategic alignment throughout the serial life of awarded programs. Acting as the single‑point business owner after SOP, the Serial Life Manager ensures that margin, cost, customer communication, and cross‑functional execution remain aligned with the original business case and long‑term customer strategy.

Responsibilities

• Owner of program profitability throughout serial life, ensuring P&L protection during MY changes, VO initiatives, and customer‑driven modifications through cost, EDD, and pricing alignment.
• Lead and coordinate cross‑functional alignment across Purchasing, Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, Sales, and Operations to prevent silo‑driven decisions and protect program margins.
• Act as the single point of contact / first escalation point with the customer during serial life, ensuring consistent, controlled, and strategic communication.
• Drive fact‑based program decisions by leading business case analyses that consider piece price, total landed cost, EDD, tooling impact, customer strategy, and long‑term sustainability.
• Lead MY changes, VO initiatives, and execution plans, ensuring industrial feasibility, cost effectiveness, timing adherence, and customer satisfaction.
• Coordinate prototype and pre‑series builds, including spot‑buy POs, material flow, internal coordination, and customer reviews.
• Serve as the primary engine for cost reduction and value creation by leading Technical Value Optimization (TVO) workshops and converting ideas into measurable financial results.
• Own budget governance, including WBS creation, budget alignment with customer contracts, hour tracking, and cost discipline.
• Ensure consistent serial life performance and continuous improvement across quality, cost, delivery, and responsiveness.
• Ensure compliance with customer quality systems, HSE, safety, regulatory standards, and internal program management tools.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or equivalent.
• Experience: Proven experience in Program Management, Engineering, Operations, or Commercial roles within the automotive sector.
• Seniority: Minimum 6 years of relevant experience.
• Technical Skills: Strong understanding of P&L, cost structures, VO methodologies, and engineering change management.
• Behavioral Skills: Excellent communication, cross‑functional leadership, customer‑facing credibility, decision‑making authority, and ability to operate in a matrix organization.

Benefits

• Engaging and dynamic environment contributing to sustainable mobility leading technologies.
• Access to extensive training, more than 22 hours of online and in‑person courses through FORVIA University.
• Exposure to a multicultural environment that values diversity and international collaboration.
• Commitment to sustainability and CO2 Net Zero initiatives, including SBTI Net‑Zero certification.