Program Manager (Corp Lab)

Your Mission

This position, sitting in the Chief Innovation Office’s PMO, is responsible for the programme management of the tripartite Corp Lab between HMGICS (acting as the broader representative of the Hyundai Motor Group), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, project planning, human resource management, financial oversight, facility management, reporting to headquarters, and other general affairs.

The successful candidate will assist the Corp Lab Directors in managing the execution of all projects, ensuring alignment with the Corp Lab’s strategic objectives in advanced automotive manufacturing. He/she will also be responsible for coordinating the timely preparation of all stakeholder meetings, including the Steering Committee, in line with Corp Lab governance. Additionally, the candidate will support the PMO in preparing any required internal reports on the Corp Lab for Hyundai Motor Group management.

This role requires a balance of strategic project management, governance, and technical insight to effectively guide and support engineering and research teams, contributing to the Corporate Lab’s long-term innovation goals.

What To Expect

Overall Programme Management

• With the broad understanding of Robotics and AI technology, support the overall Corp Lab management (scheduling, human resource allocation).
• Create and manage the project development/procurement/operation process under both the Corp Lab guidelines issued by NTU, as well as the HMG internal processes.
• Facilitate project management, coordinating with each project leader from HMG and principal investigators from NTU and ASTAR to ensure that each project teams achieve the objectives and outcomes according to the project milestone.
  • Support engineers and technical teams by resolving obstacles, monitoring progress, and managing a transparent communication with stakeholders (NTU – ASTAR – HMGICS – Hyundai KIA HQ).
  • Prepare with each PM and PI the regular progress report for Governing and Management Boards, as well as project stakeholders, on project status, challenges, and achievements.
  • By tracking project performance and KPIs, support Governing and Management Boards for strategic decision-making, to maintain project efficiency and progress. For example, provide early warning notifications to ensure timely escalation following the Corp Lab governance principles.
• Operate the Corp Lab governance and decision-making process – from collating all discussion topics to ensuring that all projects align with the established guidelines. 
• Coordinate project directions and task priorities, based on the Corp Lab Director’s strategic and technical guidance. Ensure project milestones are achieved by identifying and managing risks and implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Manage and update the project plan annually with each project manager and principal investigator following the work instructions from the Governing & Management Board, and aligning well with HMGICS, NTU and ASTAR project management officers.

Corp Lab Operations, Finance, HR Handling

• Plan and coordinate human resources sourcing and allocation, communicating with each project manager and principal investigator and aligning with each stakeholder’s HR plan from HMGICS, NTU, and ASTAR.
• Work with an account professional to handle the Corp Lab’s own financial process aligning with each stakeholder’s financial process from HMGICS, NTU, and ASTAR.
• Work with technicians to resolve miscellaneous issues such as facility maintenance and other operational issues.

Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting 

• Communicate with all project stakeholders, delivering comprehensive and data-driven reports on project performance, challenges, and solutions. Specifically, consolidate & report project progress regularly & review progress on past feedback or issues, to give the relevant insights for Corp Lab directors.
• Perform the management for legal agreement – Project agreements/MRCA/NDAs
• Coordinate with external and internal teams to ensure that project goals and expectations are transparent and shared beyond the Corp Lab, e.g. HMGICS CIO organization, as well as HMG Manufacturing Solutions Division.

What You'll Bring

• A Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Electrical, Mechanical, Computer Engineering, Robotics, Business, or Project Management is required.
• Education or certification in technical fields related to automotive manufacturing, robotics, or automation is a plus.
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), or an equivalent project management certification is strongly preferred.
• Additional certifications in technical fields, such as Certified Automation Professional (CAP) or robotics certifications, are advantageous.
• 7+ years of experience in R&D project or programme management within a complex industrial, multi-stakeholder environment is mandatory.
• Experience working on large-scale programmes with senior stakeholders (e.g., CxO-level Steering Boards, Programme Boards) and government research agencies is highly preferred.
• Experience in the automotive or advanced manufacturing industries, including robotics, automation, or AI-driven technologies, is a plus.
• Skilled in project scheduling, resource management, risk assessment, and reporting.
• Proficiency in standard project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, and data visualization tools such as Power BI.
• Broad understanding of or ability to rapidly familiarize with robotics technologies, such as mobile & manipulation, computer vision, virtual robot simulation in manufacturing, and AI technologies such as multi-modal AI and large language models (LLMs) is desired.
• Strong ability to generate insights from project management data and to report to C-suite management.
• Strong command of both written and spoken English to effectively communicate across teams and with stakeholders.