Project Manager, Operations Manager

Job Title

Project Manager

The Project Manager oversees complex industrial automation projects from initiation through commissioning, ensuring that scope, schedule, budget, and quality targets are met. This role leads cross‑functional teams, collaborates closely with customers and internal engineering groups, and manages both the technical and financial aspects of projects in an engineered‑to‑order environment, primarily serving steel and aluminum industry clients.

• Create comprehensive project charters that define scope, objectives, deliverables, and key stakeholders.
• Review system configurations with Application Engineers and Lead Project Engineers to ensure alignment with project scope, and assist in developing and updating system configurations as needed.
• Develop and communicate clear instructions regarding hours and expenses for the entire project team, ensuring consistency and cost control.
• Create time and expense summaries for all project invoicing templates to support accurate and timely billing.
• Plan, schedule, and conduct customer kickoff meetings to establish expectations, timelines, and communication protocols.
• Develop detailed Project Execution Plans with input from the Lead Project Engineer, outlining tasks, milestones, and resource requirements.
• Schedule and lead internal kickoff meetings with key team members to align on scope, responsibilities, and deliverables.
• Conduct monthly project status meetings with the project team to review progress, risks, issues, and upcoming milestones.
• Facilitate the development of Functional Specifications with assistance from the project team.
• Manage all project issues, including technical and financial matters, by identifying problems early and driving effective resolutions.
• Maintain and update the project schedule in coordination with all internal departments to reflect current status and upcoming activities.
• Lead regular project team meetings to ensure all team members understand current status, technical challenges, financial performance, and overall project deliverables.
• Monitor and report on project schedule and budget, including actuals and forecasts, to business management in a clear and timely manner.
• Initiate and coordinate all phases of the project according to the schedule, including hardware design, drafting, purchasing, manufacturing, and testing.
• Conduct, attend, and lead regular customer status meetings throughout the design and commissioning phases to provide updates and gather feedback.
• Coordinate and develop Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) plans with the project team, ensuring comprehensive test documentation and procedures.
• Lead formal customer Factory Acceptance Tests, guiding customers through the test process and addressing any issues that arise.
• Work closely with customers and internal teams on a daily basis to ensure expectations are met and communication remains transparent.
• Ensure project schedules are met by proactively tracking progress and addressing obstacles that could cause delays.
• Track, manage, and control project budgets, making sure the entire team understands budget constraints and financial goals.
• Hold weekly project team meetings to review schedules, budgets, risks, and action items.
• Provide regular project updates to customers, including status reports and review meetings.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, typically overseeing 5–7 automation projects at a time with values ranging from approximately $50,000 to $5,000,000.
• Lead project teams typically consisting of 4–6 people, fostering collaboration and accountability.
• Support travel‑related needs for project activities, including site visits and customer meetings, while managing project progress toward successful completion.
• Oversee projects with durations of up to approximately nine months, maintaining focus on long‑term deliverables and customer satisfaction.

• At least 3 years of project management experience in an industrial automation, plant maintenance, or plant engineering environment.
• Hands‑on experience managing electrical engineered systems and engineered‑to‑order solutions.
• Ability to read, interpret, and work with…