Senior PLM Manager

Company / Location Information

We are one of the leading manufacturers of water heating and water treatment technologies in the world. We are a $3.5 billion company with 140+ years history and we employ more than 12,000 individuals globally who pride themselves on providing the world with innovative water technology. We are committed to Continuous Improvement, not just in our factories or processes, but in our people.

A.O. Smith is committed to continuous improvement and maintaining a culture that values and respects our employees.  Recognized by The Tennessean as one of the top Nashville area Workplaces, we have programs in place to help our team members achieve their potential. When you join our team, you will receive rewards and recognition for your contributions, training and professional development opportunities, as well as a variety of benefits to support you and your family's health, well-being, and financial future. If you are inspired to learn, take risks, and succeed as a team, you can build an amazing career at A. O. Smith.

This role is located in our modern Nashville Metro Center office, located just minutes from downtown with easy interstate access and free parking.  This role is eligible to participate in our remote work program, which allows employees to work remotely up to two days per week.  New employees in eligible roles can apply for this program after successfully completing their initial 90 days of employment.

Primary Function

The PLM Solutions team supports, enhances, and optimizes the processes and tools that assist the ideation, design, launch, service, and retirement of our world class Water Heaters, Boiler, and Water Treatment products.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain an in-depth knowledge of our PLM processes and tools
• Develop and maintain knowledge of A.O. Smith’s functional area processes and their integration with PLM
• Oversee the PLM project portfolio and solutions delivery ensuring projects meet scope, time, cost, and quality objectives while resolving the underlying business challenge.
• Coordinate activities across Global Business Solutions functional, development, and infrastructure teams.
• Facilitate Master Data, Change Analyst, Technical Writer, Product Management, and CAD Council meetings 
• Monitor and maintain software licensing  
• Monitor PLM industry trends and best practices, and identify optimization opportunities
• Support PLM portfolio management, budgeting, and roadmap activities

Role Specific Responsibilities

• Lead the team.  Provide coaching and mentoring appropriate for each team member.  Establish team member objectives; hold career conversations and establish development plans; engage regularly with team members to ensure project progress and personal growth; and perform mid-year and end of year reviews.
  • Lead the team through ERP upgrades and implementations
  • Manage, administer, implement, install, configure, and support PLM processes and tools  
  • Lead standardization of best practices across Engineering teams
  • Work closely with Stakeholders to enhance and optimize our PLM solution by
    • developing projects charters, and implementation plans
      mapping processes
    • gathering and validating requirements
    • developing functional and technical specifications
    • engaging and managing consultants
    • configuring solution functionality
    • clarifying and refining requirements with development teams
    • developing test plans, scripts, and data sets
    • leading testing programs  
    • developing functional and technical solution documentation
    • delivering training
    • Oversee Master Data Management (MDM) activities including integration, mapping, conversion, and quality initiatives

Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Information Technology, Business, or relevant discipline; or equivalent related work experience
• 10+ years’ experience supporting a multi-site PLM solution integrated with a major ERP system
•  5+ years’ experience in a personnel leadership role
• Detailed understanding of PLM best practices for document control, product data management, modeling and drawing standards, configuration management, change management, and master data quality management Experience applying Lean/CI techniques to new product development, and process improvement activities
• Naturally curious, a quick learner and strong problem solver
• Experience with 3D parametric solid modeling software

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with SAP PLM, SAP MM, SAP ECTR, SAP DMS, cenitCONNECT APM, Enterworks Enable PIM
• PLM/ERP implementation experience
• SOLIDWORKS certification (CSWA/CSWP/CSWE)
• Project management, software development, or database management experience

Education

Years of Experience

We Offer

Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.  Relocation assistance is available for this role.