Capital Project Manager

Title: Capital Project PM x2

Location: Columbus, Ohio - 100% onsite

Duration: 6 months

Shift: 1st shift 8:00 am – 5:00pm

We are looking for an experienced Project Manager to lead the planning, coordination, and execution of a major capital expansion project involving the installation of multiple new packaging lines. This is a high-visibility role embedded within a pharmaceutical secondary and tertiary packaging operation for final drug product. You will serve as the central hub connecting engineering, operations, quality, vendors, and site leadership — driving the project from initiation through successful turnover to GMP manufacturing operations.

This role demands a seasoned project management professional who leads with strong communication, accountability, and organizational discipline. Technical aptitude matters, but the ability to align people, manage competing priorities, and keep complex workstreams on track is what will define success in this position.

Key Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end project management for the installation of multiple new packaging lines from project initiation and planning through commissioning, turnover, and closeout

• Develop, maintain, and drive detailed project schedules using Microsoft Project and Smartsheet, ensuring all milestones, dependencies, and critical path items are clearly tracked and communicated

• Lead cross-functional project meetings, drive agenda, capture action items, and hold stakeholders accountable to commitments and deadlines

• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, and risk across multiple simultaneous workstreams including construction, equipment procurement, installation, C&Q, and operational readiness

• Serve as the primary point of contact and liaison between equipment vendors, contractors, engineering, operations, quality, and site leadership

• Proactively identify project risks, develop mitigation strategies, and escalate issues with recommended solutions

• Ensure all project activities are executed in compliance with FDA, GMP, and site standards, with quality and compliance embedded into every phase of project delivery

• Coordinate resource planning and scheduling across internal teams and external partners to ensure the right people are engaged at the right time

• Maintain clear, accurate, and timely project documentation including status reports, meeting minutes, risk logs, decision logs, and change controls

• Drive a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous communication across all project stakeholders

• Support site leadership with regular project status updates, executive summaries, and escalation reporting

Preferred Qualifications

• 10–15 years of project management experience, with a strong track record of successfully delivering medium to large capital projects in a pharmaceutical manufacturing environment

• Pharmaceutical industry experience is required; candidates without pharma background will not be considered

• Demonstrated experience managing capital equipment installation projects, packaging line builds, or facility expansion projects in a regulated GMP environment

• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, packaging environments, and manufacturing equipment is a strong plus — candidates who understand what happens on the floor will be better positioned to anticipate challenges, communicate effectively with operations teams, and make informed project decisions

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills — this role is people-intensive and requires the ability to build trust, influence without authority, and navigate complex stakeholder dynamics across all levels of the organization

• Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams without losing visibility into details or the big picture

• Proficiency in Microsoft Project is required for schedule development and maintenance

• Proficiency in Smartsheet is preferred for project tracking, reporting, and cross-functional collaboration

• Proven ability to manage project budgets, track spend, identify variances, and report financial status to leadership

• Experience managing third-party vendors and contractors, including scope, schedule, and performance accountability

• Familiarity with C&Q, commissioning, and equipment qualification processes within pharmaceutical packaging or manufacturing operations is a strong plus

• PMP certification preferred but not required — demonstrated results and experience will be weighted heavily

• Proficiency with MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams)

• Local to or willingness to be on-site in Ohio is strongly preferred; this is an on-site role requiring a consistent physical presence on the manufacturing floor and project site