Overview: Nikola Motor Company is seeking a highly skilled and motivated individual to lead our Vehicle Engineering Technical Program Management (TPM) team. As the Manager of TPM for Vehicle Engineering, you will play a pivotal role in driving project success and ensuring the seamless execution of our vehicle engineering initiatives. You will oversee a team of TPMs responsible for supporting various areas within Vehicle Engineering, including Cab, Chassis, Simulation, Materials, and Thermal teams.
Responsibilities: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of TPMs, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. Serve as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, providing regular updates on project status, risks, and mitigation plans. Oversee the execution of vehicle engineering projects, ensuring adherence to project timelines, budgetary constraints, and quality standards . Create/follow timelines to ensure th at V ehicle Engineering meets program milestones according to Nikola's vehicle development process . Manage budgets for Vehicle Engineering department including quarterly forecasting Collaborate closely with Vehicle Engineering E ngineers, Program Management, Purchasing /Supply Chain , Manufacturing, Quality, and Finance . Scope and create plans for on-time implementation of released design change s . Support development and implementation of process disciplines . Take personal responsibility for the team's success by holding the team accountable, ensuring proper meeting cadence s , elevating issues effectively when needed . Use risk management approach es to anticipate and prevent problems from occurring, elevate risks to the department head when/if they occur . Follow tooling sources to track progress and alleviate any issues that may affect quality & timing . Provide support to Vehicle Engineering Team for P rogram Gate Reviews . Provide regular program status reports to senior management . Qualifications: Success in this role requires someone with experience with engineering budgeting, cost tracking, Gantt charts, open issue lists , responsibility tracking, and a minimum of 7 years' experience in the automotive/trucking or similar industry with experience in at least one cross-functional area (Quality, Engineering, Operations, or Program Management).? Additionally, the role requires:
7+ years of prior Technical Program Management , or relevant e xperience Management experience Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (MBA or PMP Certification is preferred) Demonstrated leadership experience , with expertise in managing complex, cross-functional projects from inception to completion Excellent planning, collaboration, and facilitation skills to coordinate and leverage capabilities across a highly matrixed organization involving multiple programs, products, channels & functions Experience with vehicle electrification programs Data-driven problem-solving skills, with an understanding of problem-solving tools and key performance indicators/metrics Ability to plan and manage complex projects crossing over many departmental lines Must be a self-starter who thrives on ambiguity and be able to bring structure where needed Effective communication skills, written and oral, to all levels of the organization Strong organizational skills Advanced Excel skills is a plus as well as Smartsheet and Jira High Energy / Flexible / Adaptable / Dynamic / "can-do" attitude High comfort and confidence level while giving presentations to room of peers and/or stakeholders Ability to influence and thrive within a rapidly changing / growing matrix organization Ability to travel regionally and internationally ~ 10% Candidates must have current U.S. work authorization or be TN eligible from Mexico or Canada. This position is not eligible for CPT or OPT.
EEO Statement:Nikola Corporation™ is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, color, age, sex, ancestry, marital status, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, medical condition, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information or any other classification protected by state or federal law.
