Associate Project Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Associate Project Manager

Job Title:

Associate Project Manager

Department:

Program / Project Management

Reports To:

General Manager

Location:

7865 Northcourt Rd, Suite #100, Houston, Texas 77040

Effective/Revision Date:

9/2026

Role Purpose

The Associate Project Manager is an entry-level role that supports the planning, coordination, execution, and tracking of projects across UPG. Reporting to the Business Unit Director and collaborating with cross-functional teams, this position helps maintain project schedules, documentation, action items, milestones, and status reports. The role is designed for a recent or soon-to-be college graduate who wants to build practical project management experience in a technical and manufacturing environment.

Scope & Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

•  Perform assigned duties in accordance with documented procedures and work instructions.

•  Project Planning & Coordination: Assist with developing and maintaining project plans, scope, objectives, timelines, milestones, resources, and deliverables. Help coordinate project activities to support business goals and stakeholder expectations.

•  Cross-Functional Coordination: Work with engineering, manufacturing, quality, sales, supply chain, and other internal teams to coordinate tasks, follow up on action items, and help keep projects moving forward.

•  Budget & Cost Tracking: Assist with tracking project costs, purchase requirements, and budget information. Identify potential variances or concerns and escalate them to the appropriate project or business leader.

•  Timeline & Milestone Tracking: Maintain project schedules and trackers, monitor due dates and milestones, follow up with responsible team members, and communicate potential delays or roadblocks.

•  Risk & Issue Tracking: Help identify and document project risks, issues, and dependencies. Maintain risk and action logs and escalate concerns for review and resolution.

•  Stakeholder Communication: Support clear and timely communication with internal and external stakeholders. Prepare meeting agendas, notes, action-item lists, and project status updates as assigned.

•  Quality & Compliance Support: Help ensure project activities and deliverables follow applicable quality standards, customer requirements, documented procedures, and internal processes.

• Export Control / ITAR Compliance: Follow UPG export-control procedures and access-control requirements applicable to ITAR-controlled technical data, defense articles, systems, records, and restricted areas. Protect controlled information from unauthorized access or disclosure and promptly report compliance concerns.

•  Change Management Support: Document changes to project scope, timing, resources, or deliverables and help ensure changes are communicated, reviewed, and tracked appropriately.

•  Documentation & Reporting: Maintain accurate project documentation, including schedules, trackers, meeting notes, status reports, budgets, action items, and other project records.

•  Team Collaboration: Participate in cross-functional project meetings, support team communication, and help ensure responsibilities, deadlines, and next steps are clearly understood.

•  Continuous Improvement & Project Closeout: Support post-project reviews, document lessons learned, and identify opportunities to improve project management processes and future project execution.

Work Experience & Skills

Education:  Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related field. Recent graduates and candidates nearing degree completion are encouraged to apply.

Experience: 0–2 years of relevant project, internship, co-op, capstone, or professional experience; prior manufacturing or technical exposure is a plus but not required.
Basic understanding of project management concepts, including scope, schedules, milestones, risks, action items, and deliverables.
Strong organizational and follow-up skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams; familiarity with MS Project, Asana, Smartsheet, or similar project tools is a plus.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
Analytical and problem-solving skills with a willingness to learn, ask questions, and escalate issues appropriately.

Skills / Knowledge : CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) certification is a plus. PMP, Scrum/Agile, Lean Six Sigma, or other recognized project management or process improvement certifications are also valued if held. Interest in manufacturing, engineering, technology, or continuous improvement is preferred. Familiarity with ITAR, export controls, or regulated manufacturing environments is a plus; training will be provided as applicable.

Personal Attributes:  Professionalism, initiative, teamwork, accountability, attention to detail, curiosity, and a willingness to learn.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements 

Work environment (office, manufacturing floor, remote):  Office and manufacturing floor interaction as needed. The worker is subject to indoor environmental conditions: Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.

Physical or operational requirements:  Sedentary Work – Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication of parts at a distance close to the eyes.

Compliance Statements:

Export Control Compliance: This position requires access to information, technology, or items that may be subject to U.S. export-control laws and regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Employment in this role is contingent upon the individual being able to access such controlled information or items in compliance with applicable U.S. export-control requirements and any required government authorization.

Equal Opportunity Employer

•  Equal Opportunity Employer: Disability/Veteran