Location: Waukesha, WI
Employment Type: Full-Time | Exempt
Job SummaryWe are seeking a customer-focused
Project Manager to support complex transformer manufacturing projects within our Waukesha, WI facility. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of people, processes, and problem-solving, and who enjoys managing multiple priorities while maintaining strong customer relationships.
The Project Manager serves as the primary point of contact for customers throughout the project lifecycle and plays a critical role in ensuring clear communication, effective issue resolution, and consistent delivery against commitments. Success in this role depends as much on interpersonal and organizational skills as it does on project management discipline.
What You'll DoCustomer Interface & Relationship Management- Serve as the primary customer liaison, providing clear, timely updates and managing expectations throughout the project lifecycle
- Lead customer meetings with confidence, professionalism, and a solution-oriented mindset
- Build trust and credibility through transparent communication and strong follow-through
- Represent the company positively during customer visits, inspections, testing, and plant tours
Problem Solving & Conflict Resolution- Identify project risks, constraints, and issues early and collaborate cross-functionally to resolve them
- Navigate competing priorities and differing perspectives between customers, engineering, operations, and suppliers
- Address customer concerns and contractual challenges calmly, factually, and constructively
- Proactively manage change orders to mitigate financial and schedule risk
Multitasking & Cross-Functional Coordination- Manage multiple transformer projects simultaneously, each with unique technical and contractual requirements
- Coordinate schedules, deliverables, and milestones across engineering, operations, logistics, suppliers, and service teams
- Balance urgent issues with long-term planning while maintaining attention to detail
Project Execution & Communication- Execute projects in alignment with established project management processes and KPIs
- Lead project kickoff meetings, internal alignment discussions, and closeout activities
- Provide regular project status updates to customers and internal stakeholders
- Analyze and report project performance, schedule status, and financial health using SAP and Qlik tools
Successful Candidates Will Have- Strong customer-facing communication skills, both verbal and written
- Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems in fast-moving, ambiguous environments
- Proven success managing multiple projects and priorities at the same time
- Confidence in resolving conflict while maintaining positive working relationships
- Ability to influence without authority and align diverse stakeholders
Required Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, business, or a related field
- Experience in a project management role within an engineered-product or manufacturing environment
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across functions and levels
- Comfort handling confidential information and navigating changing priorities
Preferred Qualifications- Project management coursework or certification
- Experience with SAP, Power BI, and project tracking tools
- Familiarity with IEEE, ANSI, or NEMA standards
- Background in power systems, transformers, or industrial equipment
