Operations Project Manager

Company Description SDC Nutrition Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based manufacturer specializing in high-quality, turnkey powders, capsules, and tablets for sports nutrition and health & wellness brands. The company was founded after experiencing quality and reliability issues with external contract manufacturers, leading to a commitment to in-house production for better control over ingredient integrity and specifications. SDC Nutrition focuses on innovation, dependable delivery, and consistent product quality for its brand partners. The team prides itself on being a trusted business partner, offering lab, factory, and collaborative support under one roof. Applicants can expect to join a company that values reliability, accountability, and strong client relationships.

Role Description The Operations Project Manager is a full-time, on-site role based in Pittsburgh, PA, reporting into the Operations leadership team. This role owns the projects that make the plant run better: equipment installs and line upgrades, capacity and throughput improvements, facility and layout changes, new process and SOP rollouts, systems implementations on the production floor, and continuous improvement initiatives. The Operations Project Manager takes each project from scoping through execution, closeout, and measured results, and coordinates Production, Maintenance and Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Warehouse, and outside vendors and contractors to get it done on time and on budget.

Compensation Base salary of $90,000 to $120,000 per year, depending on experience, plus medical, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) with company match, paid time off and company holidays.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Ownership: Scope, plan, and lead operations projects end to end. Build project schedules, budgets, and resource plans;
  track milestones;
  manage risk and change;
  and report status to Operations leadership.
• Equipment and Facility Projects: Manage equipment purchases, installations, commissioning, and validation in a cGMP environment, working with Maintenance and Engineering, Quality, and equipment vendors. Coordinate facility and layout changes with minimal disruption to production.
• Continuous Improvement: Lead LEAN, 5S, and kaizen projects that improve throughput, changeover time, yield, and on-time delivery. Establish baselines, measure results, and hold the gains.
• Process and Systems: Drive new process and SOP rollouts, production scheduling and ERP or MRP improvements, and floor-level system implementations, including training and adoption.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Run project kickoffs, stand-ups, and stage-gate reviews across Production, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, Warehouse, and Finance. Remove obstacles before they cost time.
• Capital and Cost Management: Build business cases and capital requests, manage vendor quotes and contractor scopes, and track spend against budget with Finance.
• Standard Work: Establish the project management tools, templates, and cadence the Operations team uses going forward, and keep a clear portfolio view of active and upcoming projects.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations management, industrial engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience: 3 to 6+ years managing operations, capital, or manufacturing improvement projects in a manufacturing environment (nutraceuticals, food, dietary supplements, pharma, or similar regulated production).
• Ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects and hold cross-functional teams accountable without direct authority.
• Technical Knowledge: Working knowledge of production equipment, plant layout, and cGMP or food safety requirements. Familiarity with powder blending, encapsulation, tableting, or packaging processes is a plus.
• Skills: Strong organization, risk management, and proficiency in project software (MS Project, Smartsheet, Monday.Com, or similar) and ERP or MRP systems. LEAN or Six Sigma training and PMP or CAPM certification preferred.