Sr. Project Manager

Position Overview

The Sr. Project Manager (Sr. PM) is primarily and directly accountable for the development of scope, schedule, cost estimates, and execution of cross-functional product development projects, with a strong emphasis on establishing, improving, and governing project management processes and procedures across Wanzl North America. The Sr. PM will lead, manage, plan, and administer the operational activities for one or more global project teams, driving direction and implementing project management best practices. This role will organize project activities and project team meetings including resources and stakeholders; ensures communication facilitates completion of the program/project on schedule and within budget constraints. This role also serves as the lead subject-matter-expert for project management discipline, ensuring consistent application of project management methodology, tools, standards and best practices, but without direct supervisory responsibility over employees.

WNA may have multiple product development projects ongoing at any given time which are cross-functional, resourced internationally, and involve customers, partners, and other stakeholders related to the development of products for North America. Development projects will cover the entire product development cycle, from ideation through production. Various teams and team members may be located across Europe, China, and/or North America, and therefore close coordination and management of the global team is required. 

The ideal candidate will have a keen understanding of product development for durable goods, including a strong understanding of injection molding and associated tooling, metalworking, welding and assembly methods, and production.

The PM may also manage other projects and programs (revenue generating and/or capital improvement projects) as assigned by the Company.

This position will be located at the Corporate Center in Denver, North Carolina. 

Company and Opportunity Overview

Wanzl North America’s (WNA) vision is to be a leading entrepreneurial player in terms of market share, agility, and game-changing solutions. WNA is a solution provider, creating value along the supply chain of our customers, from the online purchase to the delivery to their customers. 

WNA, which includes the Technibilt and Cari-All brands, headquartered in Denver, North Carolina. With nearly 500 employees and 175 MUSD of sales, WNA focuses on the retail and distribution market segments with marquee customers such as Walmart, Amazon, and the majority of large grocers and retailers.

In addition to being the largest manufacturer of shopping carts in North America, WNA has three (3) additional main product segments as well as a Service business, providing turnkey solutions for customer guidance (Access Systems) and Shelving & Fixtures, as well as Material Handling/Rolling Stock products. Additionally, WNA is active in building a “digital” business line with products for shopping cart containment, smart exit gate technology, and solutions for autonomous and/or semi-autonomous retail stores. 

WNA is part of the Wanzl group, headquartered in Germany, and has 12 plants in 8 countries, providing comprehensive, solutions-driven service and expert knowledge of local markets for customers across the globe through their 360° service.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage all project phases, including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure
• Create project plans, including deliverables, activities, timelines and budgets
• Anticipate problems, roadblocks and major obstructions, and plan accordingly
• Ensure milestones are successfully met through oversight and coordination of project resources 
• Coordinating project management activities throughout the Wanzl global network to ensure accurate tracking of all inter-project dependencies
• Create and deliver presentations to customer, leadership team, as well as the Management Board in Germany, demonstrating ownership of the entire process
• Lead communication with stakeholders and team members through completion of the project
• Provide scheduled and on-demand status reports and updates
• Direct project timelines and budgets
• Assess, manage, resolve and escalate risks and issues if necessary 
• Understanding of creative development and design process
• Make decisions based on information and input in a timely manner
• Coordinates and responds to requests for changes from original specifications.
• Monitors project results against technical specification
• Create and maintain comprehensive project management documentation
• Serve as the lead for project management processes, procedures and standards
• Keep abreast of trends and developments in Project Management trends, methods, and tools, providing evaluations and recommendations to company leadership. 

Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree; Engineering or Engineering technology, or other technical degree
• 6 years of work experience; 3 years of practical project management experience; 2 years of project management experience within Product Development
• PMP certification and or MBA is preferred
• Demonstrated ability to close projects on time and within budget
• Demonstrated experience with plastic injection tooling and production preferred
• Proactive, independent, and strong work ethic
• Ability to adapt and succeed in a changing environment
• Ability to convey information in an organized and easy to understand manner
• Solid time management, planning and organization skills
• Excellent facilitation, communication, interpersonal, planning, and negotiating skills.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and communicate with others at all levels