Operations Project Manager

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Ohio, +2 more states.

📋 Description

• Oversee and assist with cross-functional operational projects in Manufacturing Operations, Procurement, Supply Chain, Logistics, and Operational Excellence.

• Convert business priorities into organized project plans and oversee execution across various functions.

• Manage risks, dependencies, schedules, costs, scope, benefits, and resources related to projects.

• Create project charters, scope statements, work breakdown structures, schedules, budgets, resource plans, and success criteria.

• Maintain logs for actions, risks, issues, decisions, dependencies, and change control.

• Establish project governance, meeting schedules, stage-gate reviews, and reporting on status.

• Coordinate teams across functions and lead working sessions, readiness reviews, and steering committee updates.

• Foster relationships with plant leadership, functional teams, suppliers, carriers, and external partners.

• Effectively communicate project status, decisions, risks, and trade-offs to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Utilize change-management techniques, prepare communications and training, address resistance, and promote adoption.

• Generate dashboards and analyses to aid decision-making and monitor readiness.

• Define baseline performance, target outcomes, KPI ownership, and track benefit realization.

• Assist with production readiness, capacity expansion, equipment installation, facility changes, product transfers, new product introductions, and manufacturing ramp-ups.

• Evaluate throughput, capacity, takt time, cycle time, yield, changeover, and OEE constraints.

• Coordinate sourcing and procurement workflows, support supplier selection, manage purchase-order milestones, tooling, samples, qualifications, and ensure delivery readiness.

• Monitor supplier commitments, lead times, capacity, quality, costs, and recovery actions.

• Enhance on-time delivery, inventory turnover, freight performance, warehouse throughput, and overall material flow.

• Support Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP), demand and capacity planning, and scenario analysis.

• Assess capabilities in warehouse, transportation, distribution, packaging, material flow, and inbound/outbound logistics.

• Lead or assist in Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, value-stream mapping, 5S, standard work, visual management, and waste-reduction initiatives.

• Facilitate A3, DMAIC, 5 Whys, fishbone diagrams, Pareto analyses, and root-cause/corrective-action investigations.

• Develop current-state and future-state process maps, countermeasures, implementation plans, control plans, and methods for tracking benefits.

• Encourage process standardization and adoption through engagement, training, documentation, and change management.

• Document lessons learned and transition deliverables to process owners with sustainment strategies.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Logistics, Business, or a related discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be taken into account.

• At least one (1) year of experience in project coordination or project management within manufacturing, procurement, supply chain, logistics, operational excellence, engineering, or a related field.

• Experience in developing and maintaining project plans, schedules, action trackers, risk and issue logs, status reports, and executive summaries.

• Familiarity with manufacturing operations or procurement, production planning, inventory management, logistics, warehousing, supplier management, or continuous improvement.

• Proven experience working with cross-functional teams and influencing stakeholders without direct authority.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

• Ability to organize large data sets and convert findings into actionable insights.

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, lookups, charts, and data analysis.

• Skilled in PowerPoint, Word, and Teams.

• Experience with project management tools like Microsoft Project, Planner, Smartsheet, Cora, or similar.

• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems such as Oracle or SAP.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, effective meeting facilitation, and meticulous attention to detail.

• Capability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing demands.

• Willingness to travel to manufacturing sites, suppliers, warehouses, or distribution centers as project requirements dictate.

• Preferred: 2–5 years of relevant project coordination or project management experience.

• Preferred experience with plant expansions, equipment installation, production transfers, new product introductions, supplier transitions, warehouse modifications, or manufacturing ramp-ups.

• Preferred hands-on experience with Lean tools, Kaizen events, value-stream mapping, standard work, or structured root cause analysis.

• Preferred experience with Power BI, Power Query, advanced Excel data models, AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, change management, benefits realization, and process-control plans.

• Preferred experience with global suppliers, international supply chains, or multi-site manufacturing networks.

• Preferred knowledge of financial concepts including capital versus expense, business cases, payback, return on investment, purchase price variance, and cost savings validation.

• Preferred knowledge of ISO 9001, IATF 16949, or environmental, health, and safety requirements.

• Preferred bilingual capability in English/Spanish or another language pertinent to the operating network.

• Preferred CAPM or PMP certification.

• Preferred Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or an equivalent certification.

• Preferred ASCM/APICS CPIM, CSCP, or CLTD certification.

• Preferred Prosci Change Management certification or an equivalent.

🏝️ Benefits

• Flexible and competitive benefits plans.

• Medical insurance options.

• Coverage for dental and vision care.

• 401(k) retirement plan.

• Flexible time-off plans.

• Paid parental leave.

• Vacation leave.

• Holiday leave.

• Employee development opportunities from onboarding to senior leadership roles.

• Access to employee resource groups.

• Remote work arrangements available.