Senior Specialist in Product Management - Color, Material & Finish (CMF) at Scout Motors, Novi, MI
Senior Specialist in Product Management - Color, Material & Finish (CMF) at Scout Motors in Novi, MI. Full-time. $120,000 to $145,000 a year. Apply with swipeandhired.
Here at Scout Motors, we're carrying forward the heritage of one of the most iconic American vehicles in history. A vehicle dating back to 1960. One that forged the path for future generations of rugged SUVs and trucks and will do so once again.
But Scout is more than just a brand, it’s a legacy steeped in a culture of exploration, caretaking, and hard work.
The Scout brand is all about respect. Respect for the past and the future by taking an iconic American brand that hasn’t been around for a while, electrifying it, digitizing it, and loading it with American innovation. Respect for communities by creating a company that stands for its people and its customers. Respect for both work and play, with vehicles that are equally at home at a camp site, a job site, or on a Tuesday commute. And respect for our customers by developing two powertrains that meet their requirements — an all-electric powertrain as well as the Harvester™ range extender powertrain which includes a built-in gas-powered generator with an estimated 500 miles of combined range.
At Scout Motors, we empower our talented, inclusive, and entrepreneurial teams to innovate. What makes a Scout employee? Someone who is a visionary and a leader, who seeks new paths and shares lessons learned. A knowledgeable doer who collaborates across the company to build better. A go-getter with unrivaled passion.
Join us at Scout Motors and be part of shaping the future of transportation. If you're ready to drive change and make history, apply now!
About the team
The Scout Products Model Line team acts as “entre pren eur within th e compan y” and has full pr oduct p roject ownership. This includes target achievement across content, timing, profitability, maturity, customer value, and cross-functional readiness. The team serves as the central integration point between Product Strategy, Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Prod uction, Produc t Marke ting and Executive Leadership.
As a Senior Specialist in Product Management – Color, Material & Finish (CMF), you will serve as the product owner / entreprene ur and cross-functional integrator for CMF activities across Scout vehicle programs.
You will lead the strategic evaluation of complex CMF topics, including business case development, financial analysis, and solution recommendations at the enterprise level. In this role, you will align Design, Engineering, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Sustainability, Quality, and Finance to deliver CMF content that strengthens brand differentiation, maximizes customer appeal, ensures commercial viability, achieves quality targets, and supports overall program milestones and launch timing.
This role offers broad exposure to vehicle development from concept through launch and provides significant visibility with senior leadership through ownership of CMF governance, decision preparation and executive reporting.
What you’ll do
Become part of an iconic brand that is set to revolutionize the electric pick-up truck & rugged SUV marketplace by achieving the following:
CMF Strategy & Program Leadership
- Own product-side coordination and integration of all CMF activities across Scout vehicle programs.
- Develop and maintain the CMF roadmap, milestone plan and decision calendar aligned with vehicle program timing.
- Ensure alignment between product objectives, design intent, customer expectations, technical, and finan cial feasibility.
- Be accountable for achievement of program targets related to CMF content, quality, timing, profitability and complexity.
Cross Functional Integration
- Act as primary interface between Design, Engineering, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Quality, Sustainability and Finance for CMF topics.
- Lead cross-functional reviews to identify risks, opportunities and trade-offs related to materials, colors, finishes and decorative content.
- Coordinate issue resolution and escalation of open topics impacting vehicle readiness.
Governance & Decision Preparation
- Manage a weekly cross- functional CMF committee, including agenda alignment, moderation, and decision making on behalf of the Model Line
- Manage CMF governance routines, workshops and committee activities.
- Prepare decision proposals, executive summaries and recommendation packages for Product Steering Committee (PSC), Main System Teams and other leadership forums.
- Track decisions, actions and commitments to closure.
- Maintain transparency on CMF maturity, open risks and timing status.
Cost, Quality & Timing Management
- Evaluate impacts of CMF changes on cost, investment, timing, quality, sustainability and customer value and derive bal anced recommend ations
- Challenge stakeholders to achieve approved program targets and business case objectives.
- Support sourcing and supplier readiness activities for new materials and finishes.
- Lead risk mitigation plans for critical CMF topics.
Process & Continuous Improvement
- Maintain and improve CMF governance frameworks, methods, decision criteria, RASICs and working processes.
- Develop reporting tools, KPIs and management dashboards.
- Drive continuous improvement of CMF planning, decision-making and cross-functional collaboration.
Location & Travel Expectations:
- This role will be based out of the Scout Motors location in Novi, Michigan.
- This role requires 4 days per week in the office, with regular in-person meetings and events.
- Travel: Domestic and international travel required, approximately 10 % of the time. Valid driver's license required.
What you’ll bring
We expect all Scout employees to have integrity, curiosity, resourcefulness, and strive to exhibit a positive attitude, as well as a growth mindset. You’ll be comfortable with change and flexible in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. You’ll take a collaborative approach to achieve ambitious goals. Here's what else you'll bring:
Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Industrial Design, Product Management, or related field.
Experience:
- 8+ years of automotive product management, vehicle development, CMF, design integration or program management experience.
- Experience working in cross-functional vehicle development organizations.
- Strong understanding of automotive development milestones, governance processes and program execution.
- Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority.
- Excellent communication, presentation and executive-preparation skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
Skills & Competencies:
- Strong cross-functional coordination and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to manage complex topics with multiple owners, dependencies, risks, and deadlines.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical and business inputs into clear recommendations.
- High attention to detail and strong follow-through on open actions, owners, timing, and escalation needs.
- Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving capability.
- Ability to create clear decision papers, dashboards, agendas, and leadership-ready presentations.
- Experience preparing executive decisions for product governance committees.
- Understanding of automotive materials, decorative components, sustainability and manufacturing processes.
What you'll gain
The benefits of joining Scout include the chance to build products and a company from the ground up. This is a chance to create something new and lasting – with an iconic brand at its foundation. In addition, Scout provides competitive compensation and benefits to support your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing. Program specifics are detailed in company policies and employee benefit guides, select highlights:
- Competitive insurance including:
- Medical, dental, vision and income protection plans
- 401(k) program with:
- An employer match and immediate vesting
- Generous Paid Time Off including:
- 20 days planned PTO, as accrued
- 40 hours of unplanned PTO and 14 company or floating holidays, annually
- Up to 16 weeks of paid parental leave for biological and adoptive parents of all genders
- Paid leave for circumstances related to bereavement, jury duty, voting time, or military leave
Pay Transparency
This is a full-time, exempt position eligible to receive a base salary and to participate in an annual performance bonus program. Final salary offered will be determined based on factors including but not limited to the candidate's skills and experience. The annual performance bonus program is preset and not candidate dependent.
Initial base salary range = $120,000.00 - $145,000.00
Internal leveling code: IC8
Notice to applicants:
- To be considered for career opportunities at Scout Motors, applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
- Residing in San Francisco: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Scout Motors will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
- Residing in Los Angeles: Scout Motors will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
- Residing in New York City: This role is not eligible for remote work in New York City.
Equal Opportunity
Scout Motors is committed to employing a diverse workforce and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, or any other characteristics protected by law. Scout Motors is committed to compliance with all ap p licable fair employment p ractice laws. If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, or a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact [email protected].