Project Manager, Operations Management

The Career:

QA1 Brands is looking for a Project Manager to lead the introduction of new products across our growing portfolio of performance aftermarket and OEM solutions. As a newly created role based in our Lakeville, Minnesota facility, this is a unique opportunity to help define how we execute product launches while becoming a key contributor to the success of our engineering and manufacturing teams.

We're looking for someone who isn't afraid to dive into challenges, build relationships across the organization, and keep projects moving forward when priorities compete for attention. You'll need the confidence and credibility to influence leaders and team members in a non-reporting structure, the organizational skills to manage multiple launches simultaneously, and grit to work through roadblocks and find practical solutions. If you enjoy bringing structure to complexity and taking ownership of outcomes, we'd love to talk with you!

• Develop and maintain project timelines, milestones, and launch schedules.
• Track deliverables and coordinate activities across all functional areas.
• Promote a clear focus on critical path and high-risk items at all times.
• Facilitate regular project meetings.
• Coordinate with all responsible parties to ensure gate review deliverables are met and documented; elevate as needed.
• Identify project risks and implement mitigation plans; elevate as needed.
• Escalate project issues and drive timely resolution.
• Lead NPI activities from design handoff through production launch.
• Track tooling, fixture, equipment, and process development activities.
• Coordinate with Procurement and Planning to ensure all components and materials are available to support launch schedules.
• Coordinate with Operations to ensure adequate manufacturing capacity is available to meet launch schedules.
• Serve as the central point of communication for launch activities.
• Maintain project dashboards and broadcast project data as necessary to inform all interested parties within the organization.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business or other affiliated discipline
• At least 3 years project management experience leading new product launches from engineering design release through manufacturing readiness and production launch within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing new product launches involving a combination of internally manufactured and externally sourced materials, components, and assemblies.
• PMP certification preferred
• Familiarity with Stage-Gate product development process
• Familiarity with manufacturing processes and engineering change management
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, and listening) as well as ability to coach, mentor, and influence others in non-reporting structure
• Proactively addresses challenges with a positive attitude, acknowledging issues while working collaboratively with others to brainstorm and implement solutions
• Detail oriented, organized, and capable of working effectively with minimum supervision
• Must have ability to collaborate, build, and maintain strong relationships with Team Members across all functions
• Willingness to continuously learn and be open to feedback to improve individual performance
• Must have demonstrable ability to act with a sense of urgency and accuracy, with flexibility to respond to changing priorities
• Demonstrable technical proficiency with Microsoft Office products, ERP, and project management software including Gantt charting
• Person people want to work with.
• Ability to work with a diverse team
• Verified personal and professional values aligning with QA1

QA1is a privately held leader in performance shocks, steering and suspension systems, chassis, rod ends and…