Manager, Global NPD Program Quality Lead1

Req ID: 129990Remote Position: NoRegion: AsiaCountry: ThailandState/Province: ChonburiCity: Laem ChabangSummaryThe Program Lead, NPD Quality, is a critical leadership role responsible for planning, executing, and finalizing complex, cross-functional quality programs specifically within the New Product Development (NPD) and Introduction (NPI) lifecycle. This role ensures the disciplined application of the Quality Management System (QMS) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) across all product phases. The lead acts as the central control point to ensure new products meet aggressive quality, reliability, and launch targets, effectively managing scope, schedule, and resources from initial concept through to mass production.Detailed DescriptionAPQP Program Management: Own the master program schedule and execution for all APQP activities (including Requirements Cascade, Risk Assessments and Avoidance, Product Verification and Validation Status, Issues investigation, MSA, and PPAP/Launch Readiness) across a portfolio of new products.Quality Gate Ownership: Define, manage, and enforce all Quality Gate/Phase Exit criteria within the NPD process. Ensure rigorous compliance and coordinate sign-offs from Design, Operations, and Supplier Quality teams to mitigate downstream risks.Launch Readiness: Lead and manage the comprehensive program to ensure manufacturing sites and supply chain partners are fully qualified and ready to produce the new product at volume and quality targets (Process Validation/Process Capability).Risk Management: Proactively identify, prioritize, and manage program risks and dependencies related to product reliability, process capability, and supplier maturity. Develop and execute mitigation plans to secure a smooth NPI.Collaboration: Collaborate closely with NPI project managers to ensure risks and issues are properly highlighted and resourced for mitigationCross-Functional Alignment and CommunicationProgram Reporting: Serve as the primary communication leader for NPD Quality, providing transparent and objective program status updates, issues, and risks to executive leadership and core program teams.Stakeholder Alignment: Drive cross-functional commitment from Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Product Management to meet agreed-upon quality and reliability specifications within the NPD schedule.Deep Dive Reviews: Organize and lead technical review meetings focused on critical quality deliverables (e.g., FMEA deep dives, test coverage reviews, reliability test results) to ensure robustness before phase advancement.Continuous ImprovementProcess Enhancement: Identify systemic gaps and lead programs to continuously improve the NPD Quality process and APQP framework, reducing time-to-market while increasing first-pass yield and reliability.Data Translation: Manage programs to translate early customer reliability requirements and warranty targets into measurable engineering and manufacturing specifications.Post-Launch Handoff: Structure and manage the formal handoff of the new product's quality data and known risks to the sustaining quality and field reliability teams post-launch.Knowledge/Skills/CompetenciesNPD/NPI Expertise: Expert, practical working knowledge of the New Product Development lifecycle and standard quality frameworks, including APQP, FMEA (Design and Process), PPAP/Process Validation, and CAPA.Leadership and Influence: Exceptional ability to lead, influence, and manage large, diverse, cross-functional teams to a common quality objective without direct reporting authority.Analytical Reporting: High proficiency in using program management tools (e.g., MS Project, Jira, Confluence) and data analytics to track quality metrics and visually communicate program status and risk to senior leadership.Decision Making: Proven track record of making data-driven decisions under pressure to resolve quality roadblocks and keep the NPD schedule on track.Physical DemandsTypical ExperienceExperience: 5+ years of experience in Program Management focused on New Product Introduction (NPI), with a minimum of 3 years dedicated to driving Product Quality or Manufacturing Quality programs.Typical EducationEducation: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (e.g., Industrial, Manufacturing, Electrical), Science, or a related technical field.Certifications (Highly Preferred): PMP (Project Management Professional) or equivalent, and a Quality Certification such as ASQ CQE (Certified Quality Engineer) or Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt.NotesThis job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Job duties and the % of time identified for any function are subject to change at any time.Celestica is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on any protected status (including race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran or disability status or other characteristics protected by law).At Celestica we are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment, where all employees and customers feel valued, respected and supported. Special arrangements can be made for candidates who need it throughout the hiring process. Please indicate your needs and we will work with you to meet them.Company OverviewCelestica (NYSE, TSX: CLS) enables the world’s best brands. Through our recognized customer-centric approach, we partner with leading companies in Aerospace and Defense, Communications, Enterprise, HealthTech, Industrial, Capital Equipment and Energy to deliver solutions for their most complex challenges. As a leader in design, manufacturing, hardware platform and supply chain solutions, Celestica brings global expertise and insight at every stage of product development – from drawing board to full-scale production and after-market services for products from advanced medical devices, to highly engineered aviation systems, to next-generation hardware platform solutions for the Cloud. Headquartered in Toronto, with talented teams spanning 40+ locations in 13 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia, we imagine, develop and deliver a better future with our customers.Celestica would like to thank all applicants, however, only qualified applicants will be contacted.Celestica does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies or fee based recruitment services.