Position Summary:The Project Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and driving key cross-functional projects across Porter Family Companies from initiation through successful completion. This role will manage complex initiatives such as new branch openings, warehouse automation, AutoStore projects, technology implementations, system upgrades, facility projects, and other strategic business initiatives.
The Project Manager serves as the central point of coordination for assigned projects, ensuring stakeholders understand project objectives, responsibilities, timelines, dependencies, risks, and deliverables. While this position does not have direct reports, it requires the ability to lead project teams, influence stakeholders, hold contributors accountable, and effectively communicate with team members at all levels of the organization. The Project Manager provides excellent customer service to internal and external customers and demonstrates strict confidentiality with all team members while serving as an ambassador of our culture.
Essential Functions: - Lead assigned projects from initial planning and scoping through implementation, stabilization, and closeout.
- Develop comprehensive project plans that define scope, objectives, deliverables, milestones, timelines, responsibilities, dependencies, and success measures.
- Coordinate cross-functional project teams that may include Operations, IT, Sales, Finance, Human Resources, Purchasing, Marketing, vendors, contractors, and other stakeholders.
- Serve as the primary point of coordination for major initiatives such as AutoStore and warehouse automation projects, new branch openings, technology implementations, system upgrades, and operational improvement projects.
- Establish clear ownership and accountability for project deliverables and proactively follow up with stakeholders to ensure commitments and deadlines are met.
- Facilitate project kickoff meetings, status meetings, implementation planning sessions, and post-project reviews.
- Maintain project schedules, action-item trackers, decision logs, risk registers, and other project documentation.
- Identify project risks, obstacles, resource constraints, and dependencies and work with stakeholders to develop appropriate mitigation plans.
- Monitor project scope and identify potential scope changes, delays, cost impacts, or competing priorities before they jeopardize project outcomes.
- Coordinate internal resources and external vendors or contractors involved in project execution.
- Track project budgets, expenditures, purchase commitments, and forecasts in partnership with appropriate department leaders.
- Provide regular project updates to leadership, including progress against milestones, upcoming decisions, risks, budget considerations, and items requiring escalation.
- Translate complex project information into clear, actionable communication for stakeholders at different levels of the organization.
- Ensure operational readiness prior to project launches, including processes, technology, equipment, facilities, documentation, training, communication, and support plans as applicable.
- Coordinate implementation and go-live activities to minimize disruption to business operations.
- Evaluate completed projects against established objectives and identify lessons learned and opportunities to improve future project execution.
- Develop and continuously improve standardized project-management tools, templates, processes, and reporting practices across Porter.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously while adjusting priorities based on business needs.
- Perform other duties and support strategic initiatives as assigned.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:- Strong knowledge of project-management principles, methodologies, and best practices.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex, cross-functional projects involving multiple departments, vendors, and competing priorities.
- Strong planning, organization, prioritization, and follow-through skills.
- Ability to lead and influence others without direct supervisory authority.
- Ability to establish accountability and drive projects forward while maintaining productive working relationships.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify risks, evaluate alternatives, and recommend solutions.
- Ability to understand project dependencies and anticipate downstream operational impacts.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with frontline team members, department leaders, vendors, and executives.
- Ability to facilitate productive meetings and convert discussions into clear decisions, responsibilities, and next steps.
- Strong attention to detail while maintaining visibility of overall project objectives and business priorities.
- Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong proficiency with Microsoft 365 and project-management/tracking tools.
- Ability to learn new technologies, systems, operational processes, and business functions quickly.
- Sound judgment and the ability to appropriately escalate risks, delays, and decisions requiring leadership involvement.
- Ability to travel (10-20%) to PFC locations as needed.
Required Experience and Education: - Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Operations, Information Technology, Supply Chain, Construction Management, or a related field preferred.
- 5+ years of progressively responsible experience managing projects, implementations, operational initiatives, or other complex cross-functional work.
- Experience managing projects involving technology, operations, facilities, distribution, warehouse automation, or business-system implementations strongly preferred.
- Experience coordinating third-party vendors, contractors, consultants, or implementation partners preferred.
- Experience developing and managing project schedules, budgets, risks, deliverables, and executive-level project reporting required.
- PMP, CAPM, Lean Six Sigma, Agile, or other relevant project-management certification preferred but not required.
- Experience within distribution, manufacturing, logistics, construction, or a similar operational environment is a plus.
Physical Demands: - Must be able to lift, carry, push and/or pull 50 lbs.
- Requires visual, hearing, and speech acuity.
- Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a desk.
- Regularly uses a computer and other standard office equipment
- Exposure to extreme temperatures and elements, noise, and fumes.
