Jobs › Plexus

Director of Program Management

Plexus · Buffalo Grove, IL · $164,300–$246,500 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Plexus

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about the program management organization you've led. How many programs, how many people and what kinds of customers?

What they are checking: Whether their scale and customer mix match leading program management at a manufacturing site.

Tell me about a program that was losing money. How did you turn it around?

What they are checking: Whether they understand program financials and can drive pricing, cost and scope changes.

How do you develop program managers who are strong with customers but weaker on financials or operations?

What they are checking: Whether they coach targeted skills and build a well-rounded team.

What would you do

A major customer escalates to your CEO about missed commitments. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they take ownership, get facts fast and lead a credible recovery plan across functions.

How do you manage new product introductions alongside mature programs competing for the same resources?

What they are checking: Whether they can prioritize across programs and negotiate resources with operations fairly.

How do you handle a customer request that is good for the customer but bad for the site?

What they are checking: Whether they find a balanced solution and are willing to have hard commercial conversations.

How do you build trust between program management and operations when they blame each other?

What they are checking: Whether they can create shared goals and accountability instead of taking one side.

About the work

How do you make sure program managers own the full customer result, not just schedules?

What they are checking: Whether they expect program managers to drive delivery, quality, margin and customer satisfaction together.

How do you review program health across a portfolio so problems surface early?

What they are checking: Whether they use consistent reviews and metrics that expose risk before it reaches the customer.

How do regulated customers in healthcare or aerospace change how programs are run?

What they are checking: Whether they understand change control, documentation and customer approval needs in regulated programs.

What contract terms have mattered most to you in protecting a program?

What they are checking: Whether they understand liability for materials, pricing adjustments and change orders in manufacturing contracts.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Plexus from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Plexus.

About us: At Plexus, our vision is to help create the products that build a better world. Driven by a passion for excellence, we partner with leading Aerospace/Defense, Healthcare/Life Sciences and Industrial companies to design, manufacture and service some of the world’s most transformative products, including advanced surgical systems, diagnostic instruments, healthcare imaging equipment, mission critical aerospace systems, and electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions. Visit Plexus.com to learn more about our unwavering commitment to our vision. When we invest in our people, we invest in building a better world. With a vision rooted in the wellbeing and inclusive engagement of our team members, our customers, their end users and our communities, people are the heart of what we do and who we are. It is our values that unite us and guide us in everything that we do, including how we operate, behave and interact to foster a workplace where every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute their best. Our values include: Growing our People, Building Belonging, Innovating Responsibly, Delivering Excellence and Creating Customer Success. As a team member, you will engage in impactful work through global collaboration and the use of emerging technologies, join an inclusive culture where every team member is valued and working toward a greater purpose, and be empowered to reach your full potential through various development programs designed to accelerate your growth. Plexus offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support team members' wellbeing, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, retirement savings, and opportunities for professional development. We also prioritize work-life balance and offer a variety of perks to enhance the team member experience. For more information, visit our US benefits website at usbenefits.plexus.com . Our commitment to pay range transparency fosters an equitable workplace, where everyone can feel valued. The annual compensation range for this position is stated below. The salary offered within this range will be based upon the geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level. Salary Range: $164,300.00 - $246,500.00 Purpose Statement: Leads the Program Management function at the Buffalo Grove, IL site. Hires, deploys and develops a team of Program Managers / supporting teams, ensuring effective collaboration with Operations and other site functions in driving customer satisfaction and the delivery of customer contracts. Establishes standard work and implements Plexus' best practices within the site/s and regions. Key Job Accountabilities: • Responsible to exemplify and hold their team accountable to demonstrating the Plexus Core Values. Leader will focus on evaluating potential, driving succession planning, and ensuring their employees receive the development and coaching required to realize their full potential. • Ensures that customer contracts and parameters are understood by PMs and CFTs and that PMs have the knowledge and skills to ensure adherence and delivery to contractual commitments. Partners and influences key stakeholders to recommended contract changes and improvements. • Maintains close working relationships with the Plexus Market Sectors and customers in order to ensure customer service excellence. Establishes standard work for the PM team in respect to CFT Leadership, customer engagement, and delivery planning and execution. • Leads and sponsors site customer satisfaction activities and metrics. Supports PMs and CM/CDs with best practice adoption and leads site level cross-functional customer satisfaction improvement initiatives. • In collaboration with Operations and Program Leadership, ensures effective planning and management of transfers and transitions – new customers (in), disengagements (out), NPI’s and transfers from/ to other Plexus sites. Education/Experience Qualifications: • Bachelor’s Degree with 10 or more years of related experience is preferred. An equivalent combination of education and/or experience will be considered. This document does not represent a contract of employment and is not intended to capture every possible assignment the incumbent could be asked to perform. We are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities or special requirements. If you need an application accommodation, please contact us by email at GHQ.TA@plexus.com . Please include your contact information and clearly describe how we can help you. This email is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Some offers of employment are contingent upon successfully passing a drug screen and/or background check.

Apply at Plexus