Project Manager

Project Manager | Rockford, Illinois

Direct Hire | Hybrid (3 days onsite / 2 days remote)

Targeted salary range: $75,000 – 120,000 (based on experience, project management capabilities, and technical background)

Kelly Engineering is seeking a skilled Project Manager to join our client’s team, with experience in manufacturing, automation, custom machinery, capital equipment, or another technical project environment.

This role is responsible for managing turnkey equipment and manufacturing projects from initial planning through completion. Depending on experience level, you may support projects under the direction of a senior team member or independently lead complex projects involving engineering, manufacturing, assembly, installation, budgets, schedules, and customer communication.

The Project Manager serves as a central point of coordination between internal teams and customers to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with contractual and technical requirements.

What You’ll Do:

• Manage or support turnkey projects from kickoff through delivery and installation.
• Review contracts and ensure project milestones, documentation, schedules, payment requirements, and other commitments are met.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, resource plans, and forecasts.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams across engineering, purchasing, manufacturing, assembly, and installation.
• Participate in design reviews and maintain a strong understanding of the equipment and technical requirements for assigned projects.
• Monitor material availability, shortages, production progress, and other issues that could affect cost or delivery.
• Work closely with assembly and manufacturing teams to develop plans, allocate resources, and keep projects moving according to schedule.
• Identify project risks, open issues, quality concerns, and non-conformances, and help drive them through resolution.
• Lead project meetings, including project reviews, design reviews, assembly planning, shipment readiness, installation preparation, and post-project lessons learned.
• Serve as a key point of contact for customers, providing project updates and resolving issues or conflicts.
• Manage project scope and coordinate change requests or contract amendments when needed.
• Track project performance and provide status updates to leadership and other stakeholders.
• Support continuous improvement efforts related to quality, safety, productivity, and project execution.

Required Skills:

• Technical, engineering, manufacturing, or related experience.
• Strong communication, organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment where schedules and project needs may change.
• Experience or the ability to develop proficiency with project scheduling and business software.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work independently, with the level of oversight based on experience.
• Experience managing or supporting project schedules, budgets, resources, risks, and cross-functional teams.
• For senior level candidates: 10 years of PM experience leading complex projects with significant customer and internal stakeholder interaction, with proven ability to manage project scope, schedules, budgets, contractual requirements, and change requests with minimal oversight.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Experience in manufacturing, automation, custom machinery, capital equipment, or another technical project environment.
• PMP certification, particularly for senior-level candidates.
• SAP experience.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma.
• Understanding of manufacturing costs and budgeting.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• PTO
• 401k

Candidates must be able to successfully complete a background check and drug screening as part of the hiring process.

All applicants applying for this job opening must be legally authorized to work in the United States and are required to have US residency at the time of application. Sponsorship is not available for this opportunity. OPT or H1B Visa is not being accepted at this time.