Cost Innovation Project Team Lead

The Cost Innovation Project Team Lead at Honda is responsible for leading cost reduction activities for SxS/ATV/PE/L&G products, collaborating with purchasing, production, and new model development teams. The role involves planning, executing, and tracking cost innovation initiatives, managing CR ideas in a database, and optimising manufacturing processes. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with 8 years of applied experience, or an associate degree with 10+ years of related experience, and 3-5 years of development experience. Strong communication, leadership, and organisational skills are essential. The position is primarily office-based, with occasional overtime and travel. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

The Cost Innovation Project Team Lead at Honda is responsible for driving cost reduction initiatives across SxS/ATV/PE/L&G products, collaborating closely with purchasing, production, and new model development teams. This role focuses on implementing cost innovation activities, optimising manufacturing processes, and managing centralized cost reduction ideas within a global database. The position requires strong leadership to support organisational management and maximise business results. Honda offers a competitive base salary, regional bonuses, a manager lease car programme, industry-leading benefits, paid time off, 401K with company match, relocation assistance, and various wellbeing and career development programmes. The role is based in an office environment with occasional travel and overtime as required.

What Makes a Honda, is Who makes a Honda
Honda has a clear vision for the future, and it’s a joyful one. We are looking for individuals with the skills, courage, persistence, and dreams that will help us reach our future-focused goals. At our core is innovation. Honda is constantly innovating and developing solutions to drive our business with record success. We strive to be a company that serves as a source of “power” that supports people around the world who are trying to do things based on their own initiative and that helps people expand their own potential. To this end, Honda strives to realize “the joy and freedom of mobility” by developing new technologies and an innovative approach to achieve a “zero environmental footprint.”

We are looking for qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, continuous improvement values, and a strong work ethic to join our team.

If your goals and values align with Honda’s, we want you to join our team to Bring the Future!

Job Purpose

The Cost Innovation (CI)project lead is responsible for Cost Reduction(CR) activities for SxS/ATV/PE/L&G products. Implement various CR activities in collaboration with purchasing, production, and GO, and work with the new model development team to achieve business cost targets. Furthermore, as a leader, support organizational management and maximize results.

Key Accountabilities

• Leads cost innovation activities described below and support organizational management as a leader. Planning, Execution, Tracking of CI initiatives through implementation.
• New Model Development: Preliminary Cost Planning
• Based on the current model costs, proceed with cost planning that includes increasing the added value costs of the new model and defining the CR target.
• Centralized management of CR ideas in a database
• Utilize Honda's global CR database to manage CR ideas at AH and advance their application to new models.
• Promoting CR in mass production design changes
• By integrating readily applicable CR ideas with DEB and applying them to mass production, costs can be reduced.
• Optimizing manufacturing processes in collaboration with suppliers
• Understand the supplier's manufacturing process and optimize the manufacturing process by modifying drawings to make them easier to produce.
• Improvement of in-house manufacturing processes
• Understand the manufacturing process for in-house parts and optimize the design drawings.
• Development of new suppliers
• Collaborate on purchasing and develop new suppliers.
• Formulation of a parts strategy
  Develop procurement strategies and component strategies that incorporate specification evolution. Roadmaps, CI opportunities and communication to support decision making

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills Minimum Educational Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree with 8 years of applied work experience.
• Associates and 10+ years of related work experience may be substituted.

Minimum Experience:

• Should have 3-5 years development experience.

Other Job-Specific Skills:

• Understanding of development procedure.
• Understanding of SEDB (Sales, Manufacturing, R&D, Purchasing) functions.
• Competent drawing and layout skills/techniques, include understanding of CAE principles.
• Competent in creating a plan and schedule.
• Excellent multi-tasking, prioritizing, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to positively influence & motivate team members.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

Please Note: Sponsorship for employment visa status for these positions is unavailable. Applicants requiring sponsorship for employment visa status now or in the future (e.g., F-1 CPT/OPT, H-1B, TN, etc.) will not be considered.

Working Conditions

• Majority of time is in office environment.

• Physical: primarily deskwork, frequent keyboarding.

• Overtime: 10-15 hours overtime per week possible based on project demands and responsibilities. Occasional weekend work.

• Travel: As required depending on project demand, typically less than 25%

What differentiates Honda and makes us an employer of choice?Total Rewards:

• Competitive Base Salary (pay will be based on several variables that include, but not limited to geographic location, work experience, etc.)
• Regional Bonus (when applicable)
• Manager Lease Car Program (No Cost
• Car, Maintenance, and Insurance included)
• Industry-leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx)
• Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, shutdown
• Company Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401K Plan with company match + additional contribution
• Relocation assistance (if eligible)

Career Growth:

• Advancement Opportunities
• Career Mobility
• Education Reimbursement for Continued learning
• Training and Development Programs

Additional Offerings:

• Lifestyle Account
• Childcare Reimbursement Account
• Elder Care Support
• Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Repayment
• Wellbeing Program
• Community Service and Engagement Programs
• Product Programs

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.

Responsibilities:

• Lead cost innovation activities and support organisational management as a project leader.
• Plan, execute, and track cost innovation initiatives through implementation.
• Take ownership of new model development by conducting preliminary cost planning and defining cost reduction targets.
• Centralise management of cost reduction ideas in a database and advance their application to new models.
• Promote cost reduction in mass production design changes by integrating applicable ideas.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to optimise manufacturing processes with suppliers and in-house teams.
• Optimise in-house manufacturing processes and develop new suppliers.
• Develop procurement and component strategies that incorporate specification evolution.
• Communicate roadmaps and cost innovation opportunities to support decision making.

Skills:

• Demonstrated understanding of development procedures and SEDB functions.
• Competent drawing and layout skills, including knowledge of CAE principles.
• Ability to create and manage plans and schedules effectively.
• Strong multi-tasking, prioritising, and decision-making skills.
• Proven ability to positively influence and motivate team members.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• 3-5 years of development experience is required.

Education:

• A bachelor’s degree with 8 years of applied work experience is required.
• An associate degree with 10+ years of related work experience may be substituted.