NPD Senior Project Manager

About the role

This is a high-level role which is critical in driving the successful design, development, and launch of new products from concept through production. The ideal candidate brings deep engineering knowledge, strong project management experience, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams within a manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Continuously maintains Orenco management's safety, cultural, and professional standards.
• Promotes, encourages, and reinforces a positive safety culture, safe practices, and a safe work environment for all employees.
• Lead and support new product development projects from concept through production launch, ensuring alignment with cost, quality and schedule targets.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain and product management.
• Develop and manage comprehensive project schedules, risk registers, project budgets & capital as well as technical documentation.
• Coordinate prototype builds and support pilot-production runs.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve technical issues throughout the product lifecycle.
• Ensure new products meet industry standards, customer requirements, and internal design/quality processes.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and incorporate lessons learned into future project planning.
• Market Research: Identify and synthesize market research to define customer needs and guide product development strategy.
• Product Development: Facilitate collaboration across cross-functional teams throughout the entire product lifecycle-from ideation through production release.
• Support brainstorming sessions, define features and benefits, and assist in generating product specification documents.
• Work closely with engineering teams on early-stage R&D activities.
• Serve as the Voice of the Customer in all product development discussions.
• Collaborate with IWT & Orenco Engineering and Manufacturing teams to conceptualize new product ideas.
• Facilitate product testing throughout the design phase to identify and address potential issues.
• Assure delivery of detailed product specifications, documentation, and SOPs to manufacturing for production release.
• Analyze existing products to identify improvement opportunities and support documentation updates.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in product development and project management, PMP certification is a plus.
• Experience in industry-specific product development is advantageous.
• Strong working knowledge of manufacturing processes, and quality control methodologies.
• Experience in providing oral and written project reports and formal documentation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Good executive presence.
• Strong creativity, critical thinking, risk management and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience collaborating with engineers, technicians, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Planning & Scheduling Tools and the preparation of technical reports and presentations.
• A strong team player who collaborates effectively with diverse technical and operational groups.
• Techically inclined with strong attention to detail.
• Adaptable, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Strong leadership presence and ability to influence cross-functional decision-making.
• Able to be flexible and change priorities with little notice.
• Able to use sound judgement and follow through in problem solving and decision-making processes.
• Willing and able to travel.

Qualifications

• Must be willing and able to travel.
• Must be able to comply with current travel regulations and guidelines of airlines and destination locations.
• Must be able to meet and maintain Orenco's approved driver criteria; a valid driver's license, satisfactory driving record, current insurance on personal vehicle, and meet company insurability requirements.

Skills

• Strong working knowledge of manufacturing processes, and quality control methodologies.
• Experience in providing oral and written project reports and formal documentation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Good executive presence.
• Strong creativity, critical thinking, risk management and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience collaborating with engineers, technicians, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Planning & Scheduling Tools and the preparation of technical reports and presentations.
• Able to be flexible and change priorities with little notice.
• Able to use sound judgement and follow through in problem solving and decision-making processes.

Benefits

Company offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for career growth and development.

Pay

Competitive salary commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Primarily indoor office environment and may include limited time in production areas. Occasional unassisted lifting and/or carrying of up to 50 lbs. may be required. Operation of a motor vehicle and/or airplane travel may be required. Travel needs are determined by the department supervisory staff based on business need, required skill base, and assigned job tasks and responsibilities.