Program Manager – Tool & Die Manufacturing
Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Work Arrangement: On-Site
Salary: CAD $80,000–$100,000 per year
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Program Manager with a strong background in tool and die manufacturing to manage automotive tooling programs from initial quotation through final delivery and customer approval. The successful candidate will oversee project planning, scheduling, budgeting, customer communication, tooling development, quality, and cross-functional coordination. This role requires a strong understanding of automotive stamping dies and manufacturing processes, combined with proven project management and customer-facing skills.
Key Responsibilities Program & Project Management
- Manage tooling projects from quotation and project kickoff through completion and customer acceptance.
- Develop and maintain project schedules, milestones, budgets, and deliverables.
- Monitor project progress, identify risks, and implement corrective actions to maintain timelines.
- Lead internal project kickoff meetings and coordinate activities across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and production teams.
- Manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Customer & Stakeholder Management
- Act as a primary point of contact for customers throughout the project lifecycle.
- Review customer requirements, tooling specifications, timelines, and deliverables.
- Provide regular project updates and communicate technical issues, changes, and schedule impacts.
- Coordinate with internal teams to address customer concerns and maintain customer satisfaction. Quotation, Cost & Budget Management
- Review project requirements and support the preparation of customer quotations.
- Monitor project costs against approved budgets and targets.
- Participate in monthly project cost reviews.
- Identify potential cost overruns and coordinate corrective actions.
- Manage project changes and their impact on cost and schedule. Tooling & Manufacturing
- Coordinate tooling design reviews and design validation activities.
- Monitor tooling design and manufacturing progress to ensure compliance with customer specifications.
- Work closely with engineering, CNC, toolroom, production, and quality teams to resolve technical and manufacturing issues.
- Coordinate die tryout, testing, customer buy-off, and final approval activities.
- Ensure tooling is completed according to required quality, performance, and delivery standards.
Quality, Documentation & Continuous Improvement
- Maintain accurate project documentation, records, schedules, and change orders.
- Support APQP activities and applicable automotive quality processes.
- Coordinate issue resolution and corrective actions.
- Participate in root-cause analysis, including 5-Why methodology.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives across project and manufacturing processes.
- Provide regular program status reports to management. Required Qualifications & Experience
- 10+ years of experience in tool and die manufacturing, tooling, or related project/program management. • Strong knowledge of automotive stamping dies, large panel tooling, and tooling manufacturing processes.
- Proven experience managing complex manufacturing projects, including schedules, budgets, and customer requirements.
- Experience coordinating cross-functional technical and manufacturing teams.
- Knowledge of automotive quality systems and processes, including APQP and ISO standards.
- Understanding of workplace health and safety requirements, including WHMIS.
- Strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel and general computer applications.
- Familiarity with CAD and tooling design environments. • Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively. Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with automotive OEM or Tier 1 supplier tooling programs.
- Knowledge of CNC machining, die design, tool building, and tooling trout.
- Experience with customer buy-off and final tooling approval.
- Experience with project cost tracking and schedule management.
- Knowledge of root-cause analysis and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Technical diploma, trade certification, or relevant post-secondary education is an asset. Benefits
- Health, dental, and vision coverage
- Company pension and RRSP matching
- Life and disability insurance
- Profit-sharing opportunities
- On-site parking Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is an experienced Tool & Die Program Manager who combines strong automotive tooling knowledge with proven project management and customerfacing capabilities. You should be comfortable working across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and production teams while managing cost, schedule, quality, and customer expectations from project launch through successful delivery.
