Engineering Project Manager

About the role

The Engineering Project Manager at JonnyPops is responsible for planning, executing, and controlling capital projects and engineering initiatives at the Elk River facility. This role connects leadership's vision with the actual construction and implementation, requiring strong project management skills, budget control, and cross-functional coordination.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed project scopes, schedules, and cost estimates for capital construction and engineering projects.
• Manage the full bid and procurement process, including developing RFPs, evaluating contractor submissions, and making award recommendations.
• Coordinate and lead pre-construction planning, including site walks, constructability reviews, permit requirements, and phasing plans.
• Manage contractor and vendor relationships, set clear expectations, and resolve field issues promptly.
• Track and reconcile time-and-materials billing across all active contractors, identifying billing errors and unapproved work.
• Provide active field presence during construction and installation activities, monitor work quality, safety compliance, and adherence to scope and schedule.
• Coordinate project activities with production scheduling to minimize disruption to manufacturing operations.
• Lead project close-out activities, including punch lists, as-built documentation, equipment commissioning sign-offs, warranty management, and lessons learned capture.
• Maintain a master project portfolio tracker with status, budget, schedule, and risk visibility across all active capital and engineering initiatives.
• Support the development of the annual capital plan and multi-year facility roadmap in partnership with leadership.

Requirements

• 7+ years of project management experience in commercial construction, industrial construction, or heavy manufacturing.
• Deep expertise in time-and-materials management, cost estimating, and budget control.
• Extensive experience managing general contractors, subcontractors, and trade partners across multiple simultaneous projects.
• Strong working knowledge of commercial and industrial construction processes, including MEP systems, structural work, permitting, and inspections.
• Proficiency with project scheduling tools and financial tracking tools.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, P&IDs, and engineering documents.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, high-growth company where priorities shift and ambiguity is part of the job.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP, CCM, or equivalent project management certification.
• Experience in food & beverage, CPG, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with capital appropriation processes, owner’s representative responsibilities, and design-build delivery models.
• Experience managing equipment procurement and installation projects.
• Working knowledge of OSHA construction safety standards and general industry safety.
• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Primarily on-site at the Elk River manufacturing facility.
• Regularly required to walk construction sites, climb ladders, and access elevated areas.
• Works in variable temperature environments.
• Exposure to industrial noise, machinery, and construction activity.
• Occasional travel to vendor facilities, equipment suppliers, or the Plymouth office.
• PPE required in all production and active construction areas.

Food Safety Responsibilities

• Ensure all contractors and vendors working in or adjacent to production areas comply with JonnyPops GMP requirements.
• Incorporate food-safety and sanitary design principles into project scopes for equipment installations, facility modifications, and infrastructure work.
• Coordinate with Quality and Operations leadership to schedule construction activity in a way that protects active production.
• Ensure all construction close-out activities include a food-safety walkthrough and sign-off by the Quality team before production resumes in any affected area.
• Support facility food safety audits and ensure all capital installations are documented, permitted, and compliant with applicable regulatory and certification standards.
• Report any food safety concerns observed during construction or contractor activity to the Quality team immediately.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• HSA, FSA, and DCFSA
• Life & AD&D Insurance | Short & Long Term Disability
• Flexible Time Off (FTO) / PTO + Paid Holidays + Sick & Safe Leave
• 401(k) | EAP Programs | Employee Referral Program

Expected Pay

$135,000-165,000

Schedule

Full-time position based in Elk River, MN.