Job DescriptionThis is a hands-on role in an active manufacturing environment, requiring regular presence on the plant floor and close collaboration with Operations, Maintenance, Quality and external partners. If you thrive in fast-paced production settings and enjoy turning complex projects into real-world results, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our facilities and operations.
This is a hybrid role based in DeForest, WI with regular on-site plant presence and occasional travel across Canada and the U.S.Key Responsibilities for this position include (but not limited to):
Capital Project Planning & Delivery:- Lead end-to-end delivery of capital projects across two processing facilities, including equipment installations, automation, utilities, infrastructure upgrades, and facility modifications.
- Plan, execute, monitor, and close projects in accordance with PPMO standards, engineering best practices, and the Stage-Gate governance framework.
- Develop and maintain integrated project plans covering scope, schedule, budget, resources, procurement, risk, commissioning, and start-up.
- Facilitate cross-functional alignment with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, and external partners to define requirements and deliverables.
- Track performance against milestones, budgets, and risk profiles; implement mitigation strategies to protect safety, food safety, production continuity, and capital outcomes.
- Provide clear status reporting, dashboards, and Stage-Gate updates to the Director, PPMO and Plant Leadership.
Vendor, Safety & Compliance Management:- Select, manage, and oversee OEMs, engineering firms, and contractors, ensuring compliance with scope, safety, food safety, quality, and technical requirements.
- Coordinate plant-floor construction and installation activities to minimize production disruption and maintain OH&S/OSHA, CFIA/FDA, environmental, and site-specific standards.
- Review engineering packages, drawings, commissioning documentation, and validate progress claims and invoices.
Quality, Risk & Financial Control:- Lead quality assurance, commissioning, and start-up activities (FAT, SAT, validation, go-live readiness).
- Maintain active risk and issue registers; conduct root-cause analysis and escalate risks as required.
- Manage project financials, including cost tracking, forecasting, change control, and capital closeout, in collaboration with Finance and Procurement.
- Support annual capital planning through business cases, cost estimates, and portfolio inputs.
Governance & Continuous Improvement:- Lead projects through all Stage-Gate phases, preparing and presenting gate reviews with required deliverables and recommendations.
- Ensure complete, accurate project documentation and data within capital and portfolio management systems.
- Participate in post-implementation reviews to capture lessons learned and strengthen capital execution practices.
Desired Qualifications and Experience:- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field; equivalent experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment will be considered.
- 5-10 years of experience managing capital projects within food, beverage, fresh produce, or CPG manufacturing environments.
- PMP (or equivalent project management certification) preferred.
- Demonstrated success managing a capital project portfolio in the $1MM-$10MM+ range.
- Strong technical understanding of manufacturing equipment, utilities, automation, and facility/plant infrastructure systems.
- Proven experience managing contractors, OEMs, and engineering firms within active, high-uptime production environments.
- Strong financial acumen, including capital budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and variance analysis.
- Familiarity with Stage-Gate, FEL, or other phase-gated project delivery methodologies.
- Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations.
- Experience using project management software (e.g., MS Project, Asana, Smartsheet).
Key Competencies:- Capital Project Execution: Proven ability to plan and deliver capital projects from concept through commissioning while managing scope, schedule, budget, and risk.
- Manufacturing & Technical Knowledge: Solid understanding of manufacturing equipment, utilities, automation systems, and facility infrastructure in a production environment.
- Vendor & Contractor Management: Experience managing OEMs, contractors, and engineering partners during equipment installations and facility upgrades.
- Financial & Budget Management: Ability to manage capital budgets, forecasts, cost tracking, and variance analysis while identifying cost-efficiency opportunities.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Strong ability to build relationships and work cross-functionally with operations, maintenance, and leadership teams.
- Communication: Clear and effective communicator capable of facilitating project meetings, providing status updates, and aligning diverse stakeholders.
- Organization & Prioritization: Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive approach to identifying risks, resolving issues, and improving project execution.
Work Environment
Office Setting: This role will primarily be working in an office environment, utilizing a computer and various software and tools to track progress, managing schedules, and communicating with team members.
On-Site Visits: Regular visits to project sites may be required to monitor progress, address issues, and ensure compliance with safety and quality standards.
External Visits: This position may require travel within Canada or the US. Valid driver's license and passport are required.
Travel: Depending on the project's location, travel may be required, including overnight stays.
Work Hours
Standard Hours: Typically, this role will work standard business hours (e.g., 8 AM to 5:00 PM), but flexibility is required.
Extended Hours: During critical phases, extended hours, including evenings and weekends, may be necessary.
QualificationsAdditional Information 
