Program Manager (Plastics) - 27537

Job Description

Job Description

Our client is seeking an experienced  Program Manager to lead engineering resources and the execution of tooling, product launch, and manufacturing projects within a highly technical production environment. This role combines program management, engineering leadership, injection molding expertise, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and in alignment with customer and financial objectives. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in  plastic injection molding, tooling, and project or program management , along with the leadership skills to develop engineering teams, manage competing priorities, and drive projects from initial planning through successful production launch. This is a  primarily onsite position with approximately 10-25% travel and occasional cross-site support.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, develop, supervise, and allocate workloads across the project engineering team.
• Identify training and development needs and support the ongoing growth of engineering personnel.
• Lead tooling and product launch projects to meet customer requirements, timelines, scope, and financial objectives.
• Maintain consolidated project tracking and portfolio reporting, including launch timing, workload, capacity, resources, risks, and major deliverables.
• Prioritize projects and resources while proactively identifying and escalating risks, delays, or scope changes.
• Ensure appropriate engineering support for scientific molding, assembly-process development, tooling, specifications, bills of material, and production transfers.
• Lead the evaluation and implementation of new processes, technologies, and engineering improvements.
• Ensure appropriate qualifications and validations are completed while supporting root-cause investigations and corrective actions.
• Develop procedures that improve the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of engineering services.
• Manage project economics, including resource trade-offs, NRE, budgets, and the financial impact of delays or scope changes.
• Establish and maintain engineering and launch KPIs, analyze trends, and report portfolio performance to leadership.
• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Review dimensional reports and ensure appropriate action plans are developed for tooling improvements.
• Partner with Quality, Tooling, Operations, Sales, Human Resources, and other teams to ensure successful project execution.
• Support Sales and quoting activities as a technical subject-matter expert in injection molding, tooling, manufacturability, and launch requirements.
• Coordinate cross-site activities involving capacity transfers, tooling strategies, supplier escalations, and resource allocation.
• Complete team administration responsibilities, including timecard and PTO approvals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent relevant industry experience.
• 8-10 years of project or program management experience preferred , including experience within plastic injection molding.
• Strong working knowledge of  plastic injection molding processes and injection mold tooling .
• Experience leading engineering projects, tooling programs, product launches, or manufacturing transfers.
• Strong understanding of project planning, resource allocation, risk management, budgets, and project economics.
• General knowledge of automation systems and manufacturing equipment.
• Ability to interpret product drawings, tooling drawings, specifications, and dimensional reports.
• Proficiency with CAD, Microsoft Office, and MRP/ERP systems.
• Working knowledge of applicable ISO requirements, process and document controls, and GMPs.
• Strong leadership, communication, interpersonal, and team-development skills.
• Ability to work primarily onsite and travel approximately 10-25%as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP certification.
• Experience leading or developing project engineering teams.
• Experience with scientific molding, process development, validation, and tooling qualification.
• Background supporting regulated or highly controlled manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing multiple simultaneous tooling and product launch programs across sites.
• Knowledge of continuous improvement and root-cause problem-solving methodologies.

Titles Encouraged to Apply

• Program Manager
• Engineering Program Manager
• Manufacturing Program Manager
• Engineering Manager
• Technical Program Manager
• Tooling Program Manager
• Injection Molding Program Manager