Project Manager, Manufacturing Engineer, Operations Manager

Position Summary

This Project Manager role leads capital, automation, and integrated systems projects across multiple manufacturing sites with safety as the first priority in every decision, design review, site visit, and project launch. The position is responsible for managing scope, cost, schedule, technical alignment, and stakeholder communication from RFQ review through installation and startup. The ideal candidate combines strong project leadership, commercial judgment, technical understanding, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver reliable turnkey solutions that are safe, competitive, on time, and on budget

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage projects across multiple manufacturing sites, ensuring safe execution, consistent communication, and alignment with business objectives.
• Promote a Safety First culture by incorporating safety, quality, and risk mitigation into project planning, vendor selection, equipment reviews, site evaluations, and launch readiness activities.
• Oversee cost estimating and quoting for automated and integrated systems, ensuring accuracy, competitiveness, and alignment with company strategy.
• Evaluate RFQs, quality requirements, supplier drawings, and technical specifications to identify risks, clarify requirements, and define scope for complete turnkey solutions.
• Partner with clients, sales teams, vendors, and OEM partners to develop proposals that connect technical performance, operational reliability, and commercial goals.
• Conduct on-site evaluations, take field measurements, and lead technical discussions to develop high-performing, reliable automation and packaging solutions.
• Develop and improve vendor evaluation processes, including RFQs, design reviews, cost analysis, and supplier assessments, to identify best-fit OEM equipment and integration partners.
• Negotiate pricing, secure favorable vendor terms, and maintain strong supplier relationships to support smooth integration and on-time project execution.
• Support the development and maintenance of approved vendor lists based on safety, quality, performance, cost, and delivery criteria.
• Translate technical requirements into actionable engineering and project plans, ensuring clear communication across sales, manufacturing, maintenance, and leadership teams.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, deliverables, and change control to keep projects on time and on budget.
• Coordinate internal and external resources, collect feedback, resolve issues, and drive accountability to ensure each project launch is successful.
• Support the development of other engineering team members by assisting with RFQs, planning assumptions, and project timelines.
• Coordinate project launches with plant production and maintenance teams to minimize disruption, ensure readiness, and achieve safe, efficient startup.
• Provide regular project status updates, identify risks early, and escalate critical issues with recommended solutions

Education and Experience: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, Project Management, or a related technical field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing projects in manufacturing, packaging, automation, material handling, or integrated systems environments.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously across cross-functional teams and plant locations.
• Strong understanding of RFQ review, scope development, estimating, quoting, vendor evaluation, and technical proposal development.
• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications, quality requirements, and supplier documentation.
• Experience managing project costs, schedules, risks, and resource coordination.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel to manufacturing sites and customer locations as needed.
• Demonstrated commitment to workplace safety and continuous improvement.

Essential Qualifications:To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently, as well as to collaborate in a team environment
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to analyze problems and determine viable solutions; solid decision making skills
• Proficient at basic math calculations
• PC skills including proficiency with MS Office
• Willingness to work with product that is dirty

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management training.
• Experience with turnkey capital projects, OEM equipment sourcing, and automated packaging systems.
• Background in multi-site manufacturing operations or industrial automation…