Industrial Design Program Lead i Göteborg

Design for a Better Future

Everything we do at Volvo Cars starts with the needs of people and planet. As part of Volvo Design, you are also part of designing For Life.

The Industrial Design team at Volvo Cars is recently formed but growing in both people, scope and impact! We are seeking a dynamic and result-orientated person to join us and take ownership of scaling the operations of the team. In this role, you will be pivotal in shaping Industrial Design at Volvo Cars.

As an Industrial Design Program Manager, you will report into the Director of Program Management, and work closely with our Industrial Design team. Industrial Design at Volvo is responsible for designing, developing, and producing cutting-edge products in a sustainable way within Volvo Cars product portfolio and eco-system.

Joining our Industrial Design cross functional team at Volvo Cars Design is an exciting opportunity to go beyond conventional car design. We're the bridge between the broader company, product design, and department-level work. Seeking a Program Manager with an interdisciplinary background to join our dedicated team. Become part of a team shaping new product experiences, finding new connections, and influencing the future of our brand – not just a job but a chance to be integral in a forward-thinking, collaborative, and innovative journey.

What you will do:

• Partner with the Head of Industrial Design to structure the team operations.
• Take ownership of the teams planning, scheduling, and resourcing to maintain workflows, project deadlines and prioritization in-line with Designs overall strategic objectives.
• Drive multiple cross-functional collaborations with UX and Marketing Teams to stimulate idea generation and ensure a harmonious user experience.
• Structure, manage, and schedule engagements with external partners, including Consultancies and Agencies
• Manage the Industrial Design teams budgets and contracts.
• Manage sourcing initiatives and manage procurement processes, including the maintenance of supplier relationships.
• Support the continuous improvement of the Program Management function with insight and methods from non-automotive design Program Management experience.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Professional Program Management experience for industrial design teams
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Demonstrated leadership skills, balancing the priorities of both hardware  and user experience teams.
• Financial acumen and resource allocation
• Familiarity with evaluating product suppliers, material quality and component standard.
• Experience managing external partnerships and suppliers.
• Affinity for improvement, using persuasion and influence for new outcomes in sometimes traditional environments.

We also value:

• Experience in environments that have been transforming (Volvo Cars is on a journey!)
• Familiarity with navigating complexity and competing priorities.
• At Volvo Cars Design, we value difference of perspective, whatever your demographic.
• A proactive mindset and a willingness to challenge traditional ways of working.

Why join Volvo Cars Design and its evolution in the company?

Volvo Cars is a company on a mission to bring traditional car manufacturing into a connected, sustainable, and smart future. Since 1927, we have been a brand known for our commitment to safety, creating innovative cars that make life less complicated for our consumers. In 2010, we decided to transform our business, resulting in a totally new generation of cars and technologies, as well as steady growth and record sales. Today, we’re expanding our global footprint in Europe, China, and the US, and we know that we need a diverse and inclusive design department if we are to create life-centric products for people and planet globally.

We aim to contribute to the development of a life-centric approach to design careers. We are committed to building an inclusive design culture and we are constantly improving our talent journey to reflect the improvements we as an organization and automotive industry need to make.

We are looking for brave, curious, and creative people to join us in the endeavor to create safe, durable, and poetic products. We believe in the power of people, and we will challenge and support you to reach your full potential. Join us and be part of Volvo Cars’ journey into the future.

Join us as we strive to make a true difference with life-centric design.