New Product Development Project Manager

Position Summary

The Fitments NPD Project Manager is responsible for overseeing multiple project engineers for new product development and commercialization projects, including revisions of existing designs - for injection molded plastic parts and assemblies, in collaboration with internal resources and end-users/end customers. 

Job Description

• Drive projects to their successful conclusion by ensuring that their scope is well-defined, and resource estimates and project schedules are specified and appropriate to each project.
• Work with customers, suppliers, multiple business units, commercial/sales, supply chain/operations, procurement, finance, I&D / R&D teams and corporate management and across manufacturing sites to ensure that resources are on task / on schedule and ensure issues get prioritized, highlighted, addressed and resolved in a timely manner.
• Support strategies including capacity expansion, quality improvement, supplier sourcing, logistics, equipment, and processes to meet key business goals.
• Communicate and interface effectively with internal and external personnel both domestically and internationally.
• Oversee the performance of suppliers for projects involving the design and manufacturing of injection molded components and assemblies including new/repaired/transferred molds, and new/upgraded/transferred assembly machines.
• Drive design and process optimization to include validation and production release of assigned products.
• Oversee process improvement opportunities and innovation on commercial products, including selection, evaluation, validation, and deployment of new materials for cost, quality, and sustainability goals.
• Management of multiple projects from feasibility through implementation including project description, charter & scope, definition of the project team, detailed plan (work breakdown), defined schedule, risks mitigation, opportunity analysis, progress reports and cost management.
• Plan, organize, and conduct technical reviews.
• Oversee quoting and invoicing for customer projects to include working with Finance team to identify appropriate hourly rates, review material costing reports for accuracy, and identifying project milestones for progress payments.
• Prepare capital expense requests to include project narratives and business justifications. Track progress of these capital projects including funding approval, project milestones, progress payments to vendors, and provide periodic reports on timing to completion and actual cost vs. budget. 
• Ensure proper documentation is completed to meet quality system requirements including specifications for molds and equipment.
• Oversee and coordinate NPD and Quality lab testing of new and revised products.
• Attend and oversee factory and site acceptance testing of new products, materials, molds and assembly equipment.
• Support and oversee setup of new part numbers in Oracle or SAP, including BOMs and routings/recipes.
• Potentially oversee hourly NPD employees to include updating and approving timecards, meeting with these employees 1 on 1 every 2 weeks, creating goals and updating / tracking progress toward these goals, and completing and delivering performance reviews.
• Other responsibilities and projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Education: Minimum 3 years Project Manager experience or equivalent experience in role with significant project management involvement.  Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a technical discipline is preferred.  Project Management Professional (PMP) and Design for Six Sigma certifications are preferred.

Experience: Strong Project Planning and Execution skills required, including risk management, use of project management tools and methodologies (MS Project, SmartSheet, etc).  Experience overseeing other employees is a plus.  Understanding of Lean methodologies is preferred.

Specific Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, strong organizational and documentation skills including technical writing experience (creation of concise notes, reports, and business presentations).  Sound problem solving and analytic skills (RCA), excellent communication and facilitation skills. Must be able to influence all levels of the organization and getting work done through others, including those internal employees not directly reporting to this position. Familiar with Business Case development including Financials (NPV) and project charters.  Strong leadership skills, with proven ability to provide clear direction to matrixed resources in virtual, multinational environments.  Ability to compile various inputs from the process and deliver status information accurately and completely.  Technical – the ability to comprehend the technical aspects of a product sufficiently to communicate across all levels within the organization. Ability to train and mentor other Project Managers on Project Management methodologies.

Equipment & Machinery: Technical knowledge in manufacturing with general understanding of plastics engineering, injection mold design & construction, assembly automation and injection mold processing is preferred but not required.

Computer Experience & Software: Proven expertise with Microsoft Office Suite and MS Project or SmartSheet. CREO 3D CAD, Oracle, Salesforce, AutoDesk MoldFlow,  Minitab / similar Statistical Analysis software and PLC Windchill software experience preferred but not required.