Launch Director

Job Responsibilities

Provide regional leadership and oversee new product launch activities across Asia, ensuring plant readiness, on-time execution, and successful program delivery.
Lead and coordinate multiple plant-level and cross-regional launch projects, ensuring alignment with regional and global business objectives.
Oversee the entire product launch process from Phase 0 to Phase 5, ensuring compliance with company launch procedures and standards.
Monitor launch performance, project milestones, and key deliverables through Prodash and Plant Launch Dashboard (PLD), ensuring timely completion and escalation of critical issues.
Drive launch readiness reviews, executive program reviews, and cross-functional meetings to monitor progress, identify risks, and implement corrective actions.
Support regional financial and commercial planning, including budgeting, profit planning, quotations, project costs, and capital expenditure (CAPEX) approvals.
Manage and optimize regional Launch Supplier Development Team (SDT) resources based on project requirements and risk assessments.
Develop regional team capabilities through talent management, succession planning, coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
Drive standardization and continuous improvement of launch processes across all plants in Asia.
Collaborate with senior management and cross-functional stakeholders across multiple countries to ensure successful program execution.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field.
Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in operations, project management, or product launch management.
Proven experience in regional or multi-country leadership, preferably within the automotive manufacturing industry.
Strong knowledge of automotive manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, and product launch processes.
Experience in financial planning, budgeting, CAPEX, project cost management, and business-case development.
Strong leadership, stakeholder management, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Excellent communication and coordination skills across different functions and countries.
Fluent in English, with strong verbal and written communication skills.

Key Competencies