About the Opportunity

Our client a leading global company in the automotive industry is seeking an experienced Program Recovery & Supplier Task Force Manager to be permanently based at a critical supplier facility in Barcelona.

This role will act as an extension of the clients organization on-site serving as the primary interface between the company and the supplier while ensuring full project visibility operational control recovery execution financial governance and risk mitigation.

The successful candidate will be responsible for driving project recovery initiatives validating supplier performance monitoring production activities assessing operational and financial risks and ensuring the successful delivery of strategic manufacturing programs impacting business-critical operations.

Key Responsibilities

Supplier Performance & Operational Assessment

• Act as the main interface between the client and the assigned supplier.
• Conduct comprehensive supplier assessments to validate actual project status against reported progress.
• Perform regular on-site audits of manufacturing operations and shop floor activities.
• Review engineering procurement manufacturing assembly testing and commissioning activities.
• Assess supplier organizational structure governance processes and project management maturity.
• Monitor production performance and ensure alignment with project objectives and delivery commitments.
• Identify operational deviations bottlenecks process inefficiencies resource constraints and execution risks.

Project Recovery & Execution Management

• Establish realistic project baselines and develop executable recovery plans when required.
• Challenge supplier schedules assumptions and delivery commitments to ensure achievable execution plans.
• Define recovery actions milestones responsibilities deadlines and success criteria.
• Monitor critical paths dependencies and project risks.
• Implement daily and weekly project review routines.
• Escalate deviations and risks proactively while driving accountability across supplier teams.
• Ensure project milestones deliverables and program objectives are achieved on time.

Root Cause Analysis & Continuous Improvement

• Lead root cause investigations related to delays quality concerns supply issues and operational inefficiencies.
• Develop corrective and preventive action plans.
• Drive implementation and follow-up of improvement initiatives.
• Foster a culture of operational excellence focusing on quality delivery cost efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing Six Sigma Kaizen and continuous improvement methodologies to improve supplier performance.

Procurement & Supply Chain Assessment

• Review supplier procurement activities purchase orders and sourcing strategies.
• Assess material availability shortages long lead-time components and supplier commitments.
• Evaluate supply chain risks including risks associated with sub-suppliers.
• Ensure critical materials and components are secured and aligned with project schedules.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain constraints that may impact project execution.

Resource & Capacity Validation

• Assess supplier engineering manufacturing assembly testing and project management resources.
• Validate production capacity and capability to execute current and future program requirements.
• Evaluate subcontracting strategies and external resource utilization.
• Identify capability gaps and define corrective actions necessary to achieve project objectives.

Financial Governance & Risk Control

• Review progress against project milestones to support payment validation processes.
• Verify completion of agreed deliverables before recommending payment approvals.
• Monitor the effective use of funds allocated to project execution activities.
• Assess project financial exposure and execution risks.
• Support decision-making regarding payment releases recovery investments and risk mitigation actions.

Supplier Financial Assessment

• Evaluate supplier financial health and business continuity risks.
• Analyze liquidity constraints cash-flow risks and funding requirements impacting project delivery.
• Assess working capital requirements and financing arrangements where relevant.
• Monitor financial recovery actions and their impact on project performance.
• Provide recommendations regarding supplier solvency and long-term capability to deliver commitments.

Stakeholder & Executive Reporting

• Track project KPIs operational metrics risks and recovery progress.
• Prepare daily operational updates and weekly recovery status reports.
• Develop executive dashboards and management reports.
• Present project risks financial exposure recovery progress and mitigation plans to senior leadership.
• Provide recommendations regarding escalation actions recovery strategies and Go/No-Go decisions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Engineering Industrial Engineering Operations Management Supply Chain Management Manufacturing Engineering or related field.
• Proven experience as a Program Manager Project Manager Supplier Development Engineer Supplier Program Manager Project Recovery Manager or similar role within the automotive or manufacturing industry.
• Strong experience working directly with suppliers in manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing project recovery and turnaround initiatives.
• Strong understanding of production systems industrial operations supply chain management and program management methodologies.
• Experience identifying operational risks and implementing corrective and preventive actions.
• Excellent analytical problem-solving stakeholder management communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently in fast-paced international environments.
• Willingness to be permanently based on-site at supplier locations when business needs require it.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within Tier 1 Automotive Suppliers or OEM environments.
• Knowledge of APQP PPAP FMEA Control Plans and automotive quality standards.
• Certification or practical experience in Lean Manufacturing Six Sigma Kaizen or equivalent methodologies.
• Experience managing supplier performance through KPIs and operational metrics.
• Experience leading supplier recovery distressed supplier management or critical project intervention programs.
• Familiarity with procurement processes supplier financial assessments and project financial governance.

Languages

• Fluent English (mandatory).
• Spanish (highly desirable).
• Portuguese (considered a strong advantage).

What We Are Looking For

• A proactive resilient and results-oriented professional.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills.
• Exceptional organizational and planning capabilities.
• Ability to challenge and drive accountability across supplier and internal teams.
• Strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• Hands-on approach with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to operate effectively in complex high-pressure recovery situations.
• Strong business acumen combined with operational and financial awareness.