Project Manager, Operations Manager, Program ​/ Project Manager

Overview

Van’s Aircraft is seeking a highly organized, proactive Project Manager to help drive critical cross-functional initiatives that support our teams, and our long-term business objectives. This role is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing projects across manufacturing, supply chain, and engineering teams. The ideal candidate brings structure to complexity, communicates clearly at all levels, and keeps projects moving forward in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.

• Lead end-to-end project planning and execution for cross-departmental initiatives, from kickoff through completion
• Define project scope, timelines, milestones, dependencies, and success criteria
• Coordinate closely with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment, accountability, and timely decision-making
• Identify risks, constraints, and resource needs; proactively develop mitigation plans
• Track project progress, manage changes, and communicate status updates to leadership and project teams
• Facilitate meetings, document action items, and ensure follow-through
• Support process improvement initiatives by documenting workflows, identifying inefficiencies, and recommending solutions
• Ensure projects align with company priorities, operational capacity, and customer commitments

• Proven experience managing cross-functional projects in a manufacturing, engineering, or operational environment
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence working across all levels of the organization
• Ability to translate complex information into clear plans and actionable next steps
• Strong problem-solving skills and a calm, solutions-oriented approach
• Experience using project management tools, timelines, and tracking methods (formal or informal)
• A collaborative mindset with the ability to influence without authority

This role is based at Van’s Aircraft in Aurora, Oregon, with regular interaction across office, manufacturing, and warehouse environments. The Project Manager will work closely with leadership and frontline teams in a highly collaborative, hands-on setting. Some projects may require time spent on the shop floor or coordinating across departments to ensure real-world execution aligns with project plans.