Project Manager- Facilities & Continuous Improvement

Job Details:

Job Location:

Cleveland Gear Co - Cleveland, OH 44104, CLEVELAND GEAR COMPANY/HELLAN STRAINER COMPANY

Cleveland Gear/Hellan Strainer, leading manufacturers of high-quality worm gearing, industrial speed reducers, custom gear drives, strainers, pressure vessels and hose reels, is currently seeking candidates for a role as a Project Manager – Facilities & Continuous Improvement. We are in search of sophisticated, talented, highly-motivated individuals with initiative who are seeking a challenging and exciting opportunity to join a set of well-established, profitable, and growing companies.

The Project Manager – Facilities & Continuous Improvement, reporting directly to the Plant Manager, is responsible for leading facility-related projects, maintenance improvement initiatives, capital projects, and continuous improvement efforts across Cleveland Gear’s manufacturing operations.

This position serves as a key operational partner to the Plant Manager and works cross-functionally with Maintenance, Production, Engineering, Quality, EHS/HR, Purchasing, and outside contractors. The role combines the facility and equipment reliability focus of a Facilities Maintenance Manager with the process improvement and waste-reduction focus of a Lean/Continuous Improvement Manager.

The Project Manager will have a strong presence on the shop floor and will be expected to identify operational challenges firsthand, develop practical solutions, and drive projects from initial concept through implementation and sustainment.

Key areas of ownership include facility reliability, preventive maintenance improvement, capital and infrastructure projects, equipment installations and relocations, plant layout and material flow, 5S, Lean manufacturing, waste reduction, productivity improvement, safety improvements, and operational cost reduction.

Working closely with the Plant Manager, this individual will help establish priorities for facility and operational improvements based on safety, production requirements, equipment reliability, business impact, and return on investment.

The successful candidate will be a hands‑on project leader and problem solver who is equally comfortable walking the manufacturing floor identifying opportunities, working with skilled trades and production employees, coordinating contractors, analyzing operational data, and presenting project recommendations and results to leadership.

• Support the overall condition, reliability, and functionality of the manufacturing facility and its supporting infrastructure.
• Coordinate facility maintenance activities involving electrical, mechanical, HVAC, plumbing, compressed air, lighting, building systems, and other plant infrastructure.
• Identify facility and equipment reliability concerns and develop corrective or preventive solutions.
• Assist in developing and improving preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Partner with Operations and Maintenance to reduce equipment downtime and improve equipment availability.
• Manage facility improvement, repair, renovation, and infrastructure projects.
• Coordinate and oversee outside contractors, vendors, and service providers.
• Obtain and evaluate vendor proposals, quotes, project scopes, and timelines.
• Ensure contractors and vendors comply with company safety, security, and operational requirements.
• Maintain documentation related to facility projects, inspections, repairs, equipment, and maintenance activities.
• Assist with long‑term capital planning for facility and infrastructure needs.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and operational…