Project Manager - Food Manufacturing

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of capital projects across two processing facilities, including equipment installations, automation, utilities, infrastructure upgrades, and facility modifications.
• Plan, execute, monitor, and close projects in accordance with PPMO standards, engineering best practices, and the Stage-Gate governance framework.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans covering scope, schedule, budget, resources, procurement, risk, commissioning, and start-up.
• Facilitate cross-functional alignment with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and external partners to define requirements and deliverables.
• Track performance against milestones, budgets, and risk profiles; implement mitigation strategies to protect safety, food safety, production continuity, and capital outcomes.
• Provide clear status reporting, dashboards, and Stage-Gate updates to the Director, PPMO and Plant Leadership.
• Select, manage, and oversee OEMs, engineering firms, and contractors, ensuring compliance with scope, safety, food safety, quality, and technical requirements.
• Carefully coordinate plant-floor construction and installation activities to minimize production disruption and maintain OH&S/OSHA, CFIA/FDA, environmental, and site-specific standards.
• Review engineering packages, drawings, commissioning documentation, and validate progress claims and invoices.
• Lead quality assurance, commissioning, and start-up activities (FAT, SAT, validation, go-live readiness).
• Maintain active risk and issue registers; conduct root-cause analysis and escalate risks as required.
• Manage project financials, including cost tracking, forecasting, change control, and capital closeout, in collaboration with Finance and Procurement.
• Support annual capital planning through business cases, cost estimates, and portfolio inputs.
• Lead projects through all Stage-Gate phases, preparing and presenting gate reviews with required deliverables and recommendations.
• Ensure complete, accurate project documentation and data within capital and portfolio management systems.
• Participate in post-implementation reviews to capture lessons learned and strengthen capital execution practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field; equivalent experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment will be considered.
• 5–10 years of experience managing capital projects within food, beverage, fresh produce, or CPG manufacturing environments.
• PMP (or equivalent project management certification) preferred.
• Demonstrated success managing a capital project portfolio in the $1MM–$10MM+ range.
• Strong technical understanding of manufacturing equipment, utilities, automation, and facility/plant infrastructure systems.
• Proven experience managing contractors, OEMs, and engineering firms within active, high-up-time production environments.
• Strong financial acumen, including capital budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and variance analysis.
• Familiarity with Stage-Gate, FEL, or other phase-gated project delivery methodologies.
• Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations.
• Experience using project management software (e.g., MS Project, Asana, Smartsheet).

Competencies

• Capital Project Execution: Proven ability to plan and deliver capital projects from concept through commissioning while managing scope, schedule, budget, and risk.
• Manufacturing & Technical Knowledge: Solid understanding of manufacturing equipment, utilities, automation systems, and facility infrastructure in a production environment.
• Vendor & Contractor Management: Experience managing OEMs, contractors, and engineering partners during equipment installations and facility upgrades.
• Financial & Budget Management: Ability to manage capital budgets, forecasts, cost tracking, and variance analysis while identifying cost-efficiency opportunities.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Strong ability to build relationships and work cross-functionally with operations, maintenance, and leadership teams.
• Communication: Clear and effective communicator capable of facilitating project meetings, providing status updates, and aligning diverse stakeholders.
• Organization & Prioritization: Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to identifying risks, resolving issues, and improving project execution.

Work Environment

• Office Setting: This role will primarily be working in an office environment, utilizing a computer and various software and tools to track progress, manage schedules, and communicate with team members.
• On-Site Visits: Regular visits to project sites may be required to monitor progress, address issues, and ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
• External Visits: This position may require travel within Canada or the US. Valid driver’s license and passport are required.
• Travel: Depending on the project’s location, travel may be required, including overnight stays.

Work Hours

• Standard Hours: Typically, this role will work standard business hours (e.g., 8 AM to 5:00 PM), but flexibility is required.
• Extended Hours: During critical phases, extended hours, including evenings and weekends, may be necessary.

Additional Information

• All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.