Staff Program Manager, Incident Management - AV Development

Job DescriptionStaff Program Manager, Incident Management – Autonomous Vehicle DevelopmentAt General Motors, our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process, we create vehicles and experiences that are designed not just to be seen, but to be felt. We’re turning today’s impossible into tomorrow’s standard - from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design, intelligent software, and next-generation safety and entertainment features.Every day, our products move millions of people as we aim to make driving safer, smarter, and more connected, shaping the future of transportation on a global scale.The Safety Assurance for Effective Autonomous Driving Software (SAFE-ADS) department is part of GM’s Global Product Safety, System, and Certification (GPSSC) organization. Our mission is to help GM deliver trusted automated driving products. As the central authority for automated driving system (ADS) safety, SAFE-ADS brings together experts from across the company to develop and maintain a comprehensive safety case including safety performance indicators for GM’s automated driving technologies.GM’s vision is zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion—and autonomous vehicle safety is essential to achieving that vision.The RoleThe Staff Program Manager, Incident Management – AV Development is the strategic leader responsible for the full lifecycle of incident response for GM’s AV test operations. This role leads a team of Incident Response Specialists, sets the bar for safety and quality, and ensures GM’s global AV incident response runs with precision, reliability, and compliance.You’ll shape the strategy, elevate cross‑functional alignment, and build a high‑performing team that delivers fast, accurate, and consistent incident management across a mission‑critical program.What You’ll DoSet the StrategyOwn the incident response vision, roadmap, playbooks, escalation models, and quality standards for AV operations.Align engineering, operations, safety, legal, and executive partners around clear, disciplined incident response processes.Lead & Develop the TeamManage and mentor Incident Response Specialists; drive accountability, growth, and team cohesion.Foster a culture rooted in safety, precision, continuous improvement, and psychological safety.Crisis & Incident CommandOversee the response for major incidents affecting the AV fleet to minimize safety and operational impacts.Provide executive‑level clarity during fast‑moving events while ensuring disciplined, real‑time response operations.Serve as the an escalation point for critical, fleet‑impacting, or reputationally sensitive incidents.Technical & Cross‑Functional LeadershipPartner closely with technical experts to diagnose issues across software, hardware, and systems.Coordinate response efforts with engineering, operations, safety, legal, communications, and executives; ensure accurate documentation and aligned messaging.Process ExcellenceBuild and continually improve tools, workflows, and best practices to increase response speed, clarity, and quality.Provide actionable insights for Legal, Safety, Regulatory, and Communications teams.Communication & ComplianceDeliver timely updates during incidents; support legal inquiries, regulatory reporting, and law‑enforcement requests.Review DMV/NHTSA requirements and influence policy, compliance, and documentation updates.Training & EnablementLead onboarding and ongoing training for incident responders and cross‑functional partners.Develop and run incident exercises to strengthen readiness and reinforce safety culture.Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)Deep knowledge of incident response frameworks in AV, mobility, or other complex, safety‑critical environments7+ years in incident management, including experience as an Incident Commander or lead responder3+ years of people leadership experienceProven ability to stay calm, clear, and precise during high‑pressure escalationsExperience briefing senior leadership in real timeDemonstrated experience training teams and reinforcing safety cultureAbility and willingness to participate in a 24/7 on‑call rotationWhat Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)Degree in Emergency Management, Operations, Business, or related fieldExperience with legal hold/evidentiary requests, law‑enforcement interactions, and regulatory communicationsBackground in highly regulated industries (Automotive, Aviation, Maritime, Rail, etc.)Certifications such as NIMS/ICS, ITIL, or equivalentStrong analytical skills; experience with tools like LookerCompensation: The compensation information is a good faith estimate only. It is based on what a successful applicant might be paid in accordance with applicable state laws. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position, as well as geography of the selected candidate.The salary range for this role is 134,700 to 245,000. The actual base salary a successful candidate will be offered within this range will vary based on factors relevant to the position.Bonus Potential: An incentive pay program offers payouts based on company performance, job level, and individual performance.Benefits: GM offers a variety of health and wellbeing benefit programs. Benefit options include medical, dental, vision, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, life insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, employee assistance program, GM vehicle discounts and more.Company Vehicle: Upon successful completion of a motor vehicle report review, you will be eligible to participate in a company vehicle evaluation program, through which you will be assigned a General Motors vehicle to drive and evaluate. Note: program participants are required to purchase/lease a qualifying GM vehicle every four years unless one of a li