Project Manager - Manufacturing Operations

Project Manager Manufacturing Operations

The Project Manager is responsible for managing projects across assigned Horsburgh & Scott (H&S) business lines from initiation through completion and final shipment. This position serves as the central point of coordination between Manufacturing, Master Scheduling, Engineering, Purchasing, Quality, Sales, and other supporting departments to ensure projects are executed efficiently, remain on schedule, meet established budgets, and satisfy customer requirements. The role maintains project visibility, identifies and resolves obstacles, coordinates resources, and drives cross-functional accountability in a fast-paced, custom manufacturing environment.

Primary Job Responsibilities

• Manage assigned projects from order acceptance through final shipment; review purchase orders, specifications, scope, and delivery commitments.
• Develop and maintain project plans, milestones, resource requirements, and critical deadlines.
• Lead kickoff meetings, assign follow-up actions, track progress, and maintain accurate project documentation.
• Own project execution and proactively address deviations from plan.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Master Scheduling to align shop activities with customer commitments.
• Monitoring machine centers, assembly operations, work-in-process, and production bottlenecks.
• Identify capacity constraints, resource conflicts, and production interruptions; coordinate recovery plans.
• Escalate critical issues with recommended corrective actions.
• Establish realistic schedules and monitor achievement of key milestones.
• Identify schedule variances and communicate risks to delivery dates.
• Coordinate and communicate recovery plans and changes in production priorities.
• Support on-time delivery and production efficiency objectives.
• Ensure drawings, routings, technical specifications, and process planning deliverables are available when needed.
• Coordinate resolution of technical questions and drawing discrepancies.
• Manage communication of engineering changes and assess cost, schedule, and customer impacts.
• Coordinate material, component, supplier, and outside-processing requirements with Purchasing.
• Track critical deliveries and supplier commitments; flag shortages and delays.
• Develop alternatives with Purchasing and Operations when supply issues threaten milestones.
• Track budgets, estimated versus actual labor hours, manufacturing costs, and project profitability.
• Identify cost overruns, rework, and excess labor; collaborate with Operations and Finance on corrective action.
• Assess scope changes and support post-project cost and estimating reviews.
• Coordinate inspection, documentation, and customer-specific quality requirements.
• Facilitate resolution of nonconformances and quality issues affecting production or shipment.
• Confirm required quality records and documentation are completed before shipment.
• Provide timely and accurate project updates to customers when assigned.
• Communicate potential delays, scope changes, and delivery risks proactively.
• Coordinate customer requests and support project reviews and status meetings.
• Use ERP systems to monitor project status, costs, material availability, and manufacturing progress.
• Maintain project trackers, milestone reports, action logs, and accurate status information.
• Report risks and trends to leadership and support improvements in ERP utilization.
• Lead cross-functional meetings and hold responsible parties accountable for action items.
• Promote collaboration across departments and follow through on commitments.
• Recommend process improvements that reduce lead time, improve profitability, and increase on-time delivery.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, Engineering, Manufacturing or Operations Management preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• 35 years of project management, production coordination, manufacturing operations, or related experience preferred.
• Experience in custom manufacturing, industrial equipment, machining, or engineered-to-order environments is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of production scheduling, manufacturing processes, material flow, ERP systems, and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with competing priorities and customer deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Industrial gear manufacturing, gearbox repair and assembly, heavy machining, CNC machining, gear cutting, or fabrication experience.
• Infor ERP (Baan or Cloud Suite), bills of materials, manufacturing routings, work orders, and outside processing.
• Experience monitoring project budgets, labor hours, and profitability; PMP or Lean training is a plus.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong project ownership; manufacturing and scheduling knowledge; planning and prioritization; problem-solving; written and verbal communication; cross-functional influence without direct authority; financial awareness; urgency; attention to detail; and adaptability in a changing production environment.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On-time delivery and achievement of project milestones.
• Schedule adherence, early risk identification, and effective recovery planning.
• Actual project costs versus budgets, including labor and rework variances.
• Timely, accurate project reporting and cross-functional issue resolution.
• Customer responsiveness, satisfaction, and commitment accuracy.
• Continuous improvement in execution, lead times, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Specific KPI targets will be established by management based on operational objectives and assigned projects.

Work Environment

• Work is performed in office and industrial manufacturing settings, with regular interaction on the production floor around heavy equipment and machinery. Employees must follow all safety requirements and use appropriate personal protective equipment. The role requires managing changing priorities and customer deadlines.

Position Expectations

• The Project Manager must do more than track schedules: actively engage departments, recognize obstacles before they become critical, challenge unrealistic timelines, develop practical solutions, and take ownership of project execution from initiation through shipment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Horsburgh & Scott is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants without regard to any legally protected status.