Senior Manager – Advanced Manufacturing

General Motors

Senior Manager leading GM's collaborative automation strategy for advanced manufacturing solutions. Driving implementation of innovative material handling applications across global facilities.

Posted 6/2/2026full-timeWarren • Missouri • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorWebsite

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Hard Skills

material handlingcollaborative roboticsautomationmanufacturing engineeringlift assisthuman-assist devicesManufacturing Readiness Level (MRL)problem framingconcept developmentindustrialization

Soft Skills

people leadershipcoachingsuccession planningperformance managementcross-functional influencestakeholder alignmentcommunicationdecision-makingproblem-solvingteam empowerment

Tools & Technologies

GM Manufacturing ExecutionGMS standardsGlobal Manufacturing EngineeringIT/OT systemsdesign guidelinesbest practicescommunities of practiceportfolio managementtrials managementplant operations

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in EngineeringBachelor's degree in Industrial TechnologyBachelor's degree in RoboticsBachelor's degree in Manufacturingadvanced degree preferred

Industry Keywords

human-robot collaborationsub-assemblynear-line operationson-line operationssafety standardsergonomic standardsbusiness valuehigh-performance cultureglobal standardsgovernance forums

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Assembly

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own the global material handling strategy for human assist and cobot-enabled applications (uMan, lift assist, sub-assembly, near-line, on-line) across GM manufacturing.
Translate GM’s safety, quality, cost, and ergonomic objectives into a clear roadmap for material handling technologies and standards.
Anticipate emerging technologies in collaborative robotics, human assist, and automation; define how and when they should be piloted, industrialized, and scaled within GM.
Lead the identification, design, and deployment of uMan, lift assist, and cobot applications for sub-assembly, near-line, and on-line operations in all GM plants.
Drive end-to-end solution delivery: from problem framing and concept development through trials, industrialization, standard work, and handoff to plant ownership, including defining and managing Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) for material handling applications.
Champion a portfolio mindset for applications—prioritizing based on safety/ergonomic impact, business value, timing, and plant readiness.
Ensure that solutions are highly reliable, maintainable, and compatible with GM Manufacturing Execution, safety, and GMS standards.
Lead, coach, and develop a global team of engineers and leaders, setting clear expectations, aligning work to GM Behaviors, and fostering an inclusive, high‑performance culture.
Build organizational capability in human–robot collaboration, lift assist, and advanced material handling through mentoring, training, and communities of practice.
Provide clear direction and decision-making in ambiguous situations; remove roadblocks and empower teams to experiment, learn, and iterate.
Serve as the primary enterprise contact for material handling applications with Global Manufacturing Engineering, plant leadership, Safety, Ergonomics, GMS, Industrial Engineering, and IT/OT partners.
Engage directly with plant teams to understand their pain points, convert them into well-defined business problems, and co-create deployable solutions.
Align with regional manufacturing leadership to prioritize deployments, secure resources, and ensure consistent adoption of standards.
Represent the Material Handling vertical in governance forums, program reviews, and senior leadership discussions.
Establish and maintain global standards, best practices, and design guidelines for uMan, lift assist, sub-assembly, near-line, and cobot applications.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, Robotics, Manufacturing, or a related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
Demonstrated success as a Senior Manager or equivalent, leading complex engineering or manufacturing organizations.
10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing engineering, material handling, automation, robotics, or related fields, including: Hands-on experience with collaborative robots, lift assists, or human-assist devices in active production environments.
Proven track record deploying automation or material handling solutions at plant or multi-site scale.
Strong people leadership experience, including: Leading other leaders and/or large, multi-disciplinary teams.
Developing talent through coaching, succession planning, and performance management.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in high-ambiguity environments — structuring unclear problem statements into executable portfolios of work.
Proven cross-functional influence and stakeholder alignment skills, including plant leadership, engineering teams, and functional partners.
Strong business acumen with the ability to articulate value in terms of safety, quality, cost, and throughput, and to make sound, data-driven tradeoffs.
Excellent communication skills — able to convey complex technical and operational topics clearly to both shop floor teams and senior executives.

Benefits

Comp & perks

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