Manager of Project Management

About the role

The Manager of Project Management is responsible for leading and developing the Project Management team to ensure consistent performance, accountability, and successful project execution. This role drives departmental improvement, strengthens cross-functional collaboration, and aligns project management practices with organizational objectives and customer expectations.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop Project Managers, fostering accountability, collaboration, urgency, and customer focus.
• Establish departmental goals, performance expectations, and employee development plans; conduct performance reviews and provide ongoing feedback.
• Monitor and assign team workloads, oversee capacity and staffing needs, and support succession planning.
• Facilitate team meetings and promote employee engagement, effective communication, and consistent project management practices.
• Maintain involvement in daily project activities, providing guidance and support to ensure effective execution and alignment with priorities.

Departmental Oversight & Performance

• Provide leadership oversight of the project portfolio, ensuring alignment with customer commitments and organizational objectives.
• Establish and review departmental performance measures, trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Ensure projects are planned, executed, and closed using established project management methodologies.
• Guide Project Managers through complex escalations, competing priorities, and cross-functional obstacles.
• Develop, document, and continuously improve project management processes, tools, and standards; own required ISO 9001 and departmental documentation.

Strategic & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with functional leaders to align priorities, capacity, and expectations across Engineering, Manufacturing, Sourcing, Quality, and Sales.
• Identify systemic barriers to project success and sponsor sustainable process improvements.
• Support leadership in defining departmental objectives, resource strategies, and longer-term improvements.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for executive leadership regarding project performance, strategic initiatives, emerging risks, and departmental priorities.

Stakeholder & Customer Relations

• Build effective relationships with internal stakeholders and key customer partners.
• Provide leadership support for customer escalations while empowering Project Managers to manage routine customer communication.
• Reinforce consistent, proactive, customer-focused communication throughout the team.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, develop, and hold teams accountable.
• Strong knowledge of project management principles, governance, risk management, and performance measurement.
• Business acumen and ability to connect departmental priorities with organizational goals.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and cross-functional influencing skills.
• Sound judgment, analytical thinking, conflict resolution, and organizational problem-solving skills.
• Ability to evaluate team performance, manage competing priorities, and lead change.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ERP or project management systems.

Preferred qualifications

• Knowledge of engineered-to-order, made-to-order, or high-mix manufacturing environments.
• Understanding of engineering, production, sourcing, and manufacturing workflows.
• Experience with portfolio metrics, process improvement, and resource planning.
• Familiarity with ISO 9001 quality management systems and controlled documentation.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Project Management, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Seven or more years of progressive project management experience.
• Three or more years of people leadership or supervisory experience.
• Experience leading teams and coordinating across complex, cross-functional project environments.

Travel

Rare

Physical Demands and Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; talk and hear. The employee regularly is required to walk and reach with hands. The employee is frequently required to sit and rarely required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Employee uses computer keyboards often. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Employee views computer monitor often.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is rarely exposed to airborne particles or chemical agents. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.