Program Manager - K2 Platform

Responsibilities & Key Deliverables

As the Program Manager for the K2 Platform at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing the planning, execution, and monitoring of vehicle program deliverables in alignment with the Mahindra New Product Development (NPD) process. Your responsibilities will include:

• Strategically planning and managing project timelines, milestones, and deliverables to ensure on-time and on-budget completion of vehicle development programs.
• Identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks throughout the program lifecycle by collaborating closely with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to resolve bottlenecks promptly.
• Leading the creation and maintenance of dynamic dashboards and reporting tools that provide real-time visibility into project health, critical paths, and key performance indicators for management review.
• Updating project health status and communicating critical path developments to the management team every fortnight, enabling informed decision-making and proactive issue resolution.
• Driving IT-enabled Project Management Office (PMO) initiatives such as developing engineering release portals, online dashboards, and other digital tools to streamline program tracking and enhance transparency.
• Liaising with the NPD Quality Assurance team to coordinate progress on gateway reviews and secure Start of Production (SOP) clearances, ensuring compliance with quality and regulatory standards.
• Maintaining commercial acumen by evaluating and contributing to business cases for new programs, ensuring that financial objectives align with project goals.
• Preparing and delivering comprehensive management review presentations that synthesize progress reports, risk assessments, and strategic plans to senior leadership.

You will be expected to foster cross-functional collaboration, cultivate a problem-solving mindset within the team, and champion continuous improvement in program management processes, facilitating the successful launch of innovative vehicle products.

Experience

The ideal candidate will bring 5 to 8 years of professional experience in program or project management, ideally within the automotive or related manufacturing sectors. This experience should encompass:

• End-to-end management of complex product development programs, demonstrating hands-on expertise in planning, executing, and closing projects with multiple stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Proven track record of effectively managing risks, issues, and dependencies in fast-paced environments, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and timelines.
• Demonstrated use of project management tools such as MS Project, with capability to design and maintain project dashboards and reporting systems that track progress against critical milestones.
• Experience collaborating with quality assurance teams to navigate product gateway approvals and SOP readiness checkpoints within a structured development process.
• Acumen in commercial evaluation of programs including understanding financial metrics like Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and payback periods to inform program feasibility and prioritization decisions.
• Previous involvement in delivering presentations and status reports to senior management and executive leadership.
• Competitive knowledge of product lifecycle management and an understanding of design and engineering processes, even if not directly involved in design activities.

This extensive experiential background will enable the Program Manager to strategically steer projects to successful completions and effectively contribute to product innovation and business growth.

Industry Preferred

The preferred industries for sourcing talent for this role include:

• Automotive manufacturing companies specialising in vehicle production, engineering, and new product introductions.
• Tractor and farm equipment manufacturers with experience in program management of large-scale engineering projects.
• Allied sectors related to heavy vehicle production, agricultural machinery, and related industrial machinery companies where complex new product developments are executed.

Professionals from these industries are typically well-versed in the demands of rigorous product development cycles and have experience managing large, cross-functional initiatives aligned with commercial and engineering priorities.

Qualifications

This role requires formal qualifications and relevant professional experience to successfully navigate the complexities of program management within product development environments. The ideal qualifications include:

• A Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree or equivalent in a relevant engineering discipline such as Mechanical, Automotive, or Industrial Engineering.
• Demonstrable program management experience specifically aligned with new product development initiatives or vehicle program executions.
• Additional certifications in project or program management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2) would be advantageous but are not mandatory.

These qualifications provide the foundational knowledge and skills to effectively plan, monitor, and report on multifaceted engineering programs while coordinating cross-functional efforts aligned with business objectives.

General Requirements

We seek candidates who embody a strong set of competencies and personal attributes essential for success in this role, including:

• Excellent Communication Skills: Ability to clearly and concisely convey complex information to diverse stakeholders and team members, fostering transparency and collaboration.
• Enabling and Problem-Solving Mindset: Proactive in identifying challenges and enabling solutions through effective collaboration and resourcefulness.
• Strong Attention to Detail: Vigilant in recognizing potential issues early and addressing them before they escalate, ensuring quality and timely delivery.
• Ownership and Accountability: Demonstrates an end-to-end ownership attitude, taking responsibility for project outcomes while motivating teams to meet deliverables.
• Collaborative Approach: Empathetic to team perspectives and skilled at harmonising diverse viewpoints towards common goals.
• Technical Proficiency: Hands-on experience with MS Project for scheduling and tracking; familiarity with product lifecycle management processes; basic understanding of engineering design fundamentals (preferred but not mandatory); knowledge of Teamcenter PLM systems beneficial.
• Commercial Awareness: Understanding of financial evaluation techniques such as Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and payback analysis to contribute to sound business decisions within program management.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, we are deeply committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where every individual is respected and valued. We believe that diversity in our workforce drives innovation, creativity, and the overall success of our business. Our commitment entails:

• Equal Opportunity: Providing fair access to employment opportunities and career development regardless of race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or background.
• Inclusive Culture: Promoting a work environment where differences are embraced and all voices are heard, ensuring a sense of belonging for all employees.
• Accessible Processes: Implementing recruitment, onboarding, and development practices that support the participation of people with varied abilities and experiences.
• Continuous Learning: Encouraging ongoing awareness, training, and education on diversity, equity, and inclusion to build respectful, collaborative teams.

Through these commitments, we strive to attract, retain, and nurture talented professionals who share our values and contribute to pioneering solutions within the Farm Division and beyond.