Head of Program Execution

The Head of Program Execution leads a portfolio of cross-functional execution programs that improve launch readiness, delivery performance, operating discipline, systems enablement, and scalable business execution. This role ensures major initiatives are translated into coordinated action across the business. The role owns portfolio visibility, prioritization, follow-through, and risk escalation across critical business programs while preserving functional ownership within the departments. Success in this role means fewer surprises, stronger launch and pre-production discipline, cross-functional follow-through, and consistent delivery against customer commitments. The portfolio is expected to evolve with business priorities and is not limited to the examples listed in this description.

The incumbent in this position is expected to model the following practices daily:
- Demonstrate alignment with the company's mission and core business values;
- Collaborate with key internal/external resources;
- Participate in ongoing self-development.

Essential Functions

- Hires, develops, evaluates, and influences effective and consistent productivity and teamwork to ensure the delivery of Legendary Customer Service (LCS)
- Models, promotes, reinforces, and rewards the consistent use of HOLT’s Values Based Leadership (VBL) tools, models, and processes to ensure alignment with our Vision, Values, and Mission
- Owns a cross-functional execution portfolio that supports backlog delivery, launch readiness, operational scalability, and business performance improvement
- Provides leadership, structure, prioritization, follow-through, and escalation across programs that may include, but are not limited to, New Product Introduction (NPI) coordination, project execution and delivery, Spray King program coordination, systems development and enhancements, shop floor continuous improvement initiatives, throughput scaling, cost and margin improvement programs, delivery reliability initiatives, data and performance visibility initiatives, and interim leadership of assigned business programs such as Logistics until permanent ownership is established
- Leads launch governance, readiness checkpoints, and Engineering-to-Operations transition discipline for new and evolving products
- Drives cross-functional coordination, milestone visibility, and risk escalation from order release through shipment for active projects and customer programs
- Ensures each assigned program has defined objectives, ownership, milestone visibility, and escalation paths
- Maintains clear visibility to program status, dependencies, changes, threatened commitments, and recovery actions
- Partners with Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Planning, Operations, Quality, Sales Support, Field Service, and Accounting to align internal readiness to customer commitments
- Regularly reassesses portfolio priorities based on business conditions, growth needs, customer commitments, and leadership direction
- Coordinates business-driven ERP improvements, dashboards, and automation initiatives to improve execution visibility and follow-through
- Supports delivery reliability, customer experience, and issue escalation processes through proactive risk identification and coordinated response
- Tracks KPI alignment, program progress, and initiative ROI to support decision-making and leadership visibility
- Works safely always and adheres to all applicable safety policies; complies with all company policies, procedures, and standards
- Performs other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

- Strong understanding of how engineering release, procurement, planning, manufacturing, quality, logistics, and customer commitments interact to affect delivery
- Strong command of milestone management, dependency tracking, risk escalation, readiness reviews, and execution governance
- Ability to distinguish between status reporting and true execution control and follow-through
- Strong business acumen and ability to translate priorities into coordinated action across multiple functions
- Excellent communication and facilitation skills with the ability to create clarity, accountability, and urgency without direct authority over every function involved
- Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to manage a broad, evolving portfolio of priorities
- Solid recordkeeping and document control to ensure compliance with company policy and procedures
- Ability to identify problems, force resolution, and sustain follow-through
- Ability to delegate

Requirements

Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, Project Management, or related field preferred, or comparable experience
- Eight or more years of progressive experience in program management, project delivery, operations coordination, engineering program leadership, or cross-functional manufacturing execution required
- Demonstrated experience leading a portfolio of cross-functional initiatives, not just a single project or isolated program
- Strong experience coordinating execution across Engineering, Supply Chain, Planning, Operations, Quality, and customer-facing stakeholders
- Experience in engineer-to-order, make-to-order, project-based, capital equipment, or similarly complex manufacturing environments strongly preferred
- Experience with ERP-driven environments, launch readiness, design release coordination, or production readiness processes strongly preferred
- Candidates whose background is limited to administrative project tracking without clear ownership of execution, escalation, and delivery outcomes are not likely to be successful in this role
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Responsibilities include, but not limited to interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; coaching and development; appraising performance; rewarding and discipling employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
Travel:
- Up to 10% travel may be expected between local sites, vendors, and customer-facing operations reviews
- Valid driver’s license required
Physical Requirements:
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform job duties and responsibilities
- This position involves extended periods in a stationary position, standing, walking, and operating a forklift; additionally, occasionally kneeling, crouching, and stooping
- This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines
- This role frequently communicates with others, must be able to exchange accurate information in a professional manner
- Occasionally moves materials or equipment weighing up to 25 lbs.
- Routinely reacts to visual, auditory, and other signals, including alarms and instructions, and is required to visually inspect work
Work Environment:
- This job is generally performed in a professional office environment, in environmentally controlled conditions and outdoor conditions on jobsites
- Occasionally works outdoors and may be exposed to weather extremes conditions that include inclement weather, heat, cold, and humidity
- Frequently works at a fast pace with unscheduled interruptions
Disclaimer:
Please note that the above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not to be interpreted as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the incumbents so classified. All incumbents may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities, as needed.

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