VAA Strategy and Planning Lead

General Motors

VAA Strategy and Planning Lead developing strategy and planning for third-party suppliers supporting GM. Driving collaboration with teams and suppliers to optimize automotive program launches.

Posted 7/8/2026full-timeWarren • Missouri • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Assembly

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Develop strategy and planning for third-party Value Added Assembler (VAA) suppliers supporting new program launches.
Help foster strong collaboration across GM teams and supplier partners.
Support onboarding of third-party VAA personnel into GM systems as needed.
Build effective working relationships with plant teams, coworkers, and suppliers.
Support Manufacturing Integration Managers (MIMs) with eSOR kickoffs and issue resolution.
Author eSORs for programs within assigned plants.
Provide VAA subject matter expertise and support technical reviews.
Develop cost target estimates for VAA modules being sourced.
Create and maintain VAA processes and documentation as needed.
Develop and improve VAA standardized work, including TISs, RASICs, forms, and timelines.
Support development and review of business cases as needed.
Represent Vehicle Systems Manufacturing Engineering in interactions with VAAs.
Provide VAA cost input to MPS studies, including target estimates, tooling and M&E costs, and trial part costs.
Partner with CMEs to ensure VAA content and assembly requirements are included in design and PDT/CIT team activities.
Support VAA Execution MEs in obtaining and delivering control drawings to VAAs.
Support VAA Execution MEs in obtaining and delivering first-release MPDs to VAAs.
Ensure startup funding for VAA pre-production activities, including training and system validation parts, is identified and provided to the IM and MIM for inclusion in MPS planning.
Onboard appropriate VAA personnel into required GM systems and serve as sponsor as needed.
Complete VAA RV checklist requirements for DSI and CSO gates.

Requirements

What you’ll need

5+ years of experience in an associated sub-system, assembly plant and/or product environment, program management, assembly operations, or launch-related work
Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience in process and tooling
Strong analytical skills
Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and team-building skills
Strong presentation and communication skills
Understanding of short lead time environments
Ability to travel domestically up to 5% to GM plants and VAA supplier locations
Preferred Qualifications: 5+ years of experience in processing, tooling, M&E development, or launch management
In-depth knowledge of VAA commodities
Assembly plant experience
Industrial engineering experience
Understanding of GVDP (Global Vehicle Development Process)
Engineering degree

Benefits

Comp & perks

From day one, we're looking out for your well-being–at work and at home–so you can focus on realizing your ambitions.

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Hard Skills & Tools

Cost Target EstimationProcess DevelopmentTechnical ReviewDocumentation CreationManufacturing IntegrationAssembly RequirementsControl Drawings DeliveryFirst-Release MPDs DeliveryGVDP UnderstandingIndustrial Engineering

Soft Skills

CollaborationTeam-BuildingPresentation SkillsCommunication Skills

Certifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Related FieldEngineering Degree