Project Manager

About the role

You will work with Engineering, Supply Chain, Production, Quality, and external stakeholders to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with customer requirements. This role supports continuous improvement, drives standard work, ensures material and resource readiness, and maintains clear visibility of program health across the organization. It also integrates project management discipline with production scheduling, resource planning, and cross-functional coordination to ensure seamless execution of manufacturing and upfit programs.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned manufacturing or upfit programs from initiation through completion, ensuring adherence to scope, schedule, and cost targets.
• Develop project plans, SOWs, Gantt charts, timelines, risk logs, and communication plans.
• Lead kickoff meetings and maintain weekly project cadence, identifying issues, risks, and recovery actions.
• Drive accountability across stakeholders for project deliverables and deadlines.
• Regularly update leadership and stakeholders with clear project status, risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Develop and maintain production schedules for assigned programs, aligning engineering releases, material availability, and shop capacity.
• Coordinate labor, equipment, and resource requirements with Operations and Production Scheduling teams.
• Monitor workload vs. capacity and proactively identify bottlenecks or conflicts.
• Adjust schedules based on change orders, customer updates, material delays, or resource constraints.
• Work closely with Engineering on design releases, BOM accuracy, routings, documentation, and change management.
• Partner with Supply Chain to ensure material readiness, long-lead procurement timing, supplier deliverables, and inventory availability.
• Coordinate with Quality on inspections, testing, compliance requirements, and launch readiness.
• Facilitate communication between Sales, Operations, Engineering, and external stakeholders.
• Monitor material status, supplier commitments, and inventory levels to ensure timely build execution.
• Coordinate pre-production readiness checks including tools, fixtures, engineering documentation, and production sequencing.
• Support implementation of new ERP/MRP workflows related to planning and scheduling.
• Identify risks early, recommend alternative solutions, and support issue containment and resolution.
• Track scope changes, assess schedule/cost impact, and coordinate cross-functional approval and communication.
• Lead structured problem-solving activities using PDCA, 5-Why, A3, or equivalent methodologies.

Requirements

• 5–7 years of experience in project management, production scheduling, planning, or supply chain in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and managing complex, multi-phase technical projects.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (JD Edwards preferred).
• Experience in specialty vehicle manufacturing, truck body upfit, automotive, or engineered-to-order environments preferred.
• Familiarity with ISO9001, APQP, PDCA, stage-gate processes, or continuous improvement tools preferred.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision and Life
• 401(k) Savings Plan with Company Match
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tools Purchase Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 10 Paid Holidays
• Generous Footwear, Eyewear, and Safety Equipment Discount Program
• Paid Training and Development Programs