Project Manager, Greenfield Manufacturing Facility

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead the planning, execution, and delivery of a new state-of-the-art food manufacturing facility in Madison, Wisconsin. This individual will oversee all phases of the project lifecycle, including design coordination, construction management, equipment installation, commissioning, operational readiness, and cross-functional stakeholder management. The ideal candidate has successfully delivered large-scale manufacturing, food processing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or agricultural processing facility projects.

Responsibilities

• Project Leadership
  • Lead the development and execution of facility construction and expansion projects.
  • Create and manage detailed project plans, schedules, budgets, and resource allocations.
  • Drive project governance, reporting, risk management, and stakeholder communication.
  • Manage project milestones from site development through operational startup.
• Construction & Engineering Oversight
  • Coordinate architects, engineering firms, general contractors, and subcontractors.
  • Monitor construction progress and ensure adherence to scope, schedule, safety, and budget requirements.
  • Facilitate design reviews and value engineering initiatives.
  • Manage change orders and project documentation.
• Manufacturing Equipment & Commissioning
  • Coordinate procurement, installation, and startup of manufacturing equipment.
  • Oversee Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT).
  • Manage commissioning, validation, and operational readiness activities.
  • Ensure successful transition from project completion to plant operations.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with Operations, Quality, Food Safety, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and HR teams.
  • Ensure facility design supports production, quality, food safety, and operational efficiency objectives.
  • Facilitate stakeholder meetings and executive project updates.
• Risk & Compliance Management
  • Identify and mitigate project risks.
  • Ensure compliance with OSHA, FDA, USDA, GMP, and food safety regulations.
  • Maintain safety and environmental standards throughout construction and startup activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in:
  • Engineering
  • Construction Management
  • Industrial Technology
  • Manufacturing Engineering
  • Related field
• 7+ years of project management experience.
• 3+ years leading manufacturing facility construction, expansion, or capital projects.
• Experience managing capital investments exceeding $10 million.
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Industrial construction
  • Manufacturing equipment installation
  • Facility startup and commissioning
  • Budget management
  • Contractor management
• Proficiency with project management tools and reporting systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP Certification.
• Experience within:
  • Food Manufacturing
  • Food Processing
  • Agricultural Processing
  • Beverage Manufacturing
  • Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
• Knowledge of:
  • FDA regulations
  • GMP environments
  • HACCP programs
  • Food Safety Standards
• Experience launching new manufacturing facilities (Greenfield Projects).

Skills

• Executive communication
• Vendor management
• Project scheduling
• Budget management
• Capital project execution
• Team leadership
• Risk management
• Process improvement
• Continuous improvement methodologies
• Stakeholder management

Pay

• Base Salary: $140,000 - $190,000
• Bonus: 15% - 25% Annual Bonus
• Total Compensation: $165,000 - $240,000+

Ideal Backgrounds

Candidates may currently be employed as:

• Senior Project Manager
• Capital Projects Manager
• Engineering Project Manager
• Plant Expansion Project Manager
• Construction Project Manager (Manufacturing)
• Facilities Project Manager
• Industrial Project Manager
• Program Manager - Manufacturing Operations