Sr. Project Manager - Chillers (51165)

Job DetailsLevel: ExperiencedJob Location: Maple Grove Office - Maple Grove, MN 55369Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: 4 Year DegreeSalary Range: $105,000.00 - $140,000.00 Salary/yearJob Shift: FirstJob Category: OtherGradian creates custom-engineered thermal management solutions for markets that thrive on flexibility, creativity, and bold ideas. From humble beginnings to becoming an emergent multi-brand manufacturing leader, we've grown by bringing in great people and empowering them to do great work.
At Gradian, we believe innovation happens when everyone contributes, diversity of thought is celebrated, and people feel supported in their growth. We take pride in working hard together, tackling challenges, solving problems, and having fun along the way. As we expand into both emerging and mission-critical industries, we stay committed to delivering efficient, competitive, and sustainable heating and cooling technologies. And throughout your career here, you'll have the chance to directly shape the foundation for what's next in our industry.
Position Summary

Gradian specializes in delivering Engineer-to-Order (ETO) heat rejection systems including air-cooled and liquid-cooled chiller solutions for mission-critical data center and industrial applications. As part of the developing Enterprise Program Management office, the ETO Project Manager for Chillers is the single-threaded owner responsible for managing all chiller project activities from approved submittal through manufacturing, factory testing, shipment, delivery, site commissioning and project close-out.
This role ensures consistent communication, disciplined document control, and coordinated execution across Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Logistics, and Customer stakeholders—directly supporting the standardized processes and tools defined by the PMO, including the Communication Plan, ETO workflow, responsibility matrix, Request for Information (RFI)/Submittal procedures, Decisions Log, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Key Responsibilities

Customer & Communication Leadership

Serve as the customer's single point of contact (SPOC) beginning at the Job Kickoff (post-PO).
Execute all communication using standard PMO tools: weekly status updates, milestone notices, schedule reports, risk and issue summaries, and decision documentation.
Administer the post-PO RFI and Submittal processes to ensure accuracy, traceability, and timely closure (clear 2-way communications per the communication plan).
Maintain a consistent, predictable communication rhythm between Gradian and all customer representatives.

Project Execution & Control

Own and manage scope, schedule, cost, risk, change control, and quality from PO through completion.
Build and maintain multi-month project schedules (typical duration: 2 to 12 months) and manage several dozen active ETO projects simultaneously.
Coordinate cross-functional teams, including Applications Engineering, Production Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance (QA), and Logistics, with particular attention to compressor, refrigeration circuit, and heat rejection (cooling tower/dry cooler) coordination across mechanical, electrical, and controls disciplines.
Maintain all PMO digital artifacts in Microsoft Teams and SharePoint:

Decisions Log
RFI Register
Submittal Register
Risk and Issue Log
Version-controlled drawings, specifications, and approvals

Support internal and external gate reviews and milestone events as required.

Logistics, Delivery Coordination

Communicate scheduling and shipment details using PMO standard templates, including:

Estimated Ship Date (ESD)
Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) ranges
Shipment notifications, exceptions, and Proof of Delivery (POD) confirmations

Coordinate factory readiness, pre-shipment inspections, and support testing (FAT or FWT) when required, including validation of flow rates, refrigerant charge, compressor run testing, and performance validation against tonnage and efficiency specifications.
Align close-out communication and activities with the developing PMO process.

Financial & Change Control Management

Track budgets and protect project margin through proactive risk mitigation and formal change control.
Document scope changes, schedule impacts, and cost implications; secure required approvals; update baselines.

Continuous Improvement & PMO Development

Capture lessons learned and recommend enhancements to PMO processes, templates, and tools.
Support rollout of new standards as Gradian scales the PMO framework.
Identify and support improvements in department processes to increase efficiency.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Required:

2–5 years of project management experience in ETO manufacturing or engineered-systems environments e.g., HVAC, mechanical/chiller systems, industrial equipment).
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams/SharePoint); ability to work with Gantt-style schedules.
Ability to learn Gradian's engineered products, workflow sequences, and PMO processes quickly.

Preferred:

Experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (e.g., Salesforce, IFS, SAP) a plus, but not required.
Familiarity with manufacturing environments, engineering drawing review, and formal document control.
Familiarity with chiller equipment and terminology, such as air-cooled and water/liquid-cooled chillers, compressors, refrigeration circuits, tonnage sizing, and heat rejection equipment (cooling towers, dry/adiabatic coolers) or surrogate oil and gas fluid systems.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or ability to obtain within 12 months (company-supported).
Experience with RFI/Submittal workflows or disciplined project documentation.

Key Competencies

High-Volume Execution: Demonstrated ability to manage high-volume, multi-month projects concurrently.
Tracking & Tooling:Maintain timelines, budgets, and resource allocation using software like Asana.
Stakeholder Management and Communication: Strong communication, customer-management, and documentation skills.
Risk Management:Identify potential project roadblocks early and implement effective mitigation strategies.
Team Motivation:Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture.
Cross-functional Alignment:Drive execution across diverse teams without direct authority.
Task Delegation:Assign clear ownership of deliverables based on team member strengths.
Benefits

Medical, vision, and dental plans
Short-term and long-term disability insurance
Group term life insurance coverage
HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care plans available
8 paid holidays, 4 floating holidays, and generous PTO policy
401k matching
Company paid events
Annual safety shoe allowance
Education assistance program
EEO Statement

MAS HVAC is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other legally protected status.
Employment decisions at MAS HVAC are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind and actively promote a culture of fairness, equity, and opportunity.
We also provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances, in accordance with applicable laws.

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