Senior Specialist in Product Management - Color, Material & Finish (CMF)

About the team

The Scout Products Model Line team acts as “entrepreneur within the company” and has full product project 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, Production, Product Marketing and Executive Leadership. 

As a Senior Specialist in Product Management – Color, Material & Finish (CMF), you will serve as the product owner/ entrepreneur 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 financial 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 balanced recommendations 
• 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