Manufacturing Project Leader

Job Summary:

The Manufacturing Project Leader manages custom equipment orders, contract modifications, and technical project files from contract initiation through delivery. This position serves as a central liaison between Engineering, Planning, Sourcing, Manufacturing, and Quality Assurance to maintain order integrity, project schedules, cost, quality, and delivery requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Review incoming projects, define the critical path, and establish manufacturing strategies based on capacity, quality, cost, and customer delivery requirements.
• Release manufacturing Bills of Materials (BOMs) and coordinate with Purchasing to secure long-lead raw materials.
• Establish and track target dates for engineering and manufacturing process releases.
• Manage project calendars and track components through engineering, planning, machining, assembly, quality, and testing.
• Identify schedule delays and bottlenecks and proactively recommend corrective actions to management.
• Manage customer change orders by coordinating workflow pauses, documentation updates, cost recalculations, and required approvals before production resumes.
• Track and analyze Work In Process (WIP) data in the ERP system, comparing actual performance against estimates and identifying deviations.
• Maintain accurate project files and documentation throughout the full purchase order lifecycle, from intake through invoicing.
• Build and maintain daily and weekly manufacturing schedules based on customer delivery dates and management priorities.
• Maintain consistent communication with departments and leadership regarding project risks, bottlenecks, and production delays.
• Lead project schedule review meetings focused on status, upcoming opportunities, risks, and assigned action items.
• Conduct product closure meetings to document risks, opportunities, and lessons learned for future process improvements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing project administration, production planning/scheduling, or a similar operations role.
• Experience working in a build-to-order, make-to-order, or engineer-to-order manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects or orders with competing deadlines.
• Strong working knowledge of ERP systems and Windows applications.
• Ability to analyze data and compare actual performance against estimated performance.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes including engineering release, machining, assembly, quality, and testing.
• Strong meeting facilitation, organizational, and time management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to identify and escalate risks and recommend corrective actions.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, accountability, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with customers and coworkers.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Manufacturing, or a related field.
• An associate's degree combined with relevant experience may be considered in place of a bachelor's degree.

Work Environment:

• Primarily an office environment in a controlled-atmosphere building with minimal noise.
• Periodic work in the manufacturing shop area.
• Regularly works with Engineering, Planning, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, and leadership.
• Monday–Friday
• Position requires frequent sitting, manual manipulation, and speaking, with occasional standing, walking, reaching, and grasping.