Director, Launch

About the Role

The primary function and responsibility of the Regional Asia Launch Director is to coordinate, execute, and monitor launch activities across the Asia region to prepare plants for product launches, mid-cycle enhancements, or other launch projects identified by Program Management, utilizing the Prodash System and PLD deliverables.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and execute as the owner of multiple plant and cross-regional launch activities as required by the APAC Executive Operations Director.
• Ensure 100% compliance on Adient Launch & Change processes following Program Launch System (PLUS), ensuring effective adherence and discipline.
• Collaborate on regional financial and commercial plans at the early program stage (e.g. Profit Plan budgets, Outlook budgets, TBL, Quote, CAR) to ensure alignment across Asia.
• Support new launches from Phase 0 to 5, ensuring flawless program launches.
• Deliver 0-0-100-100-90 performance with quality program deliverables at gate exits reviews and sign offs, managing timely escalation when required.
• Ensure program Launch Managers deliver and complete all launch deliverables within Prodash, including but not limited to the Plant Launch Dashboard (PLD) from Phase 2 to 5, and review/approve PPA1 and PPA2 across the Asia region.
• Right-size Launch SDT resources across the Asia region by risk-assessing against staffing models and develop the regional launch team using company HR tools (e.g. LTR, Performance Management, Skills Assessment, Individual Development Plans, coaching, and mentoring).
• Create succession plans and develop a regional talent pool and successors for N+2, organize training, and leverage team capabilities across Asia.
• Participate and collaborate during Executive Program reviews and drive the cadence of monthly launch readiness reviews across Asia, including onsite reviews and build events, with timely escalation to mitigate roadblocks.
• Lead regional financial planning and budgeting for launch-related activities, including Capital Appropriation Requests (CARs) preparation and approval coordination.
• Standardize launch processes across all plants in Asia.
• Follow all Health & Safety and Environmental requirements defined in work instructions or training and provide support for any safety requirements and activities.

Optional Responsibilities

• Perform additional tasks as assigned by supervisor.

Customer Requirements

• Follow customer requirements.

HSE Expectation

• Ensure all activities comply with environmental legal & requirements.
• Follow Health & Safety and Environmental requirements defined in work instructions or training.
• Participate in HSE involvement in management of change process and attend HSE related team meetings.
• Communicate often about safety: safety talks and feedback, ensure accident and near-miss reporting procedures are understood and complied with, assist with accident investigations & 8D reports.
• Zero tolerance & full compliance with high risk/critical work: Permit System.
• Conduct risk assessments on activities within their department and ensure necessary procedures, rules and regulations are formulated, published and applied.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business or Engineering.
• At least 10 years of experience in operations and project/launch management, including exposure to multi-country or regional responsibilities.
• Automotive manufacturing & logistics knowledge and background.
• Good interpersonal relationship skills and ability to communicate effectively across the organization and across multiple countries in Asia, both horizontally and vertically.
• Good command of English (speaking, writing, reading, listening).
• Problem solving skills and good knowledge of financial and business cases.
• Financial planning skills (Capex, Project Costs, Budgeting).

Reporting Line

• Direct: Executive Director, APAC Operation.
• Functional: N/A.

Primary Location

• Adient (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

About the Company

Adient (NYSE: ADNT) is a global leader in automotive seating. With more than 65,000 employees in 29 countries, Adient operates ~200 manufacturing/assembly plants worldwide. We produce and deliver automotive seating for all major OEMs, from complete seating systems to individual components, spanning research and design to engineering and manufacturing.