Project Manager

Job Title: Project Manager
Location: Winchester, VA 22603
Duration: 12 Months+ (Possible Extension)
 
Must Have Competencies:
Large Scale Capital Project Management Experience:

• Proven ability to manage multi million dollar capital engineering projects end to end.
• Experience overseeing full lifecycle phases: detailed engineering → equipment delivery → installation → commissioning → startup.

Manufacturing / Client Industry Background:

• Strong understanding of manufacturing environments, ideally within Client operations.
• Ability to navigate production, operational constraints, and cross functional plant interactions.

Engineering & Technical Coordination Skills:

• Ability to act as the primary interface between client, OEMs, and third party engineering firms.
• Skilled in overseeing detailed engineering, reviewing plans, and coordinating technical execution.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management:

• Experience collaborating with OEMs, engineering partners, and internal leadership (including VP level stakeholders).
• Demonstrated ability to communicate project status, risks, and progress effectively.

Travel Flexibility & On Site Presence:

• Willingness and ability to travel 50–60% during initial phases and up to 100% during installation/commissioning (Virginia & California sites).

Scheduling, Budget, and Risk Management:

• Demonstrated proficiency managing budgets, schedules, cost controls, and risk mitigation for large engineering projects.

Minimum ~10 Years of Relevant Experience:

• Hiring team is seeking a seasoned project manager capable of independently driving a high visibility, high complexity project.

Nice to Have Competencies:
Beverage Industry Experience:

• Direct experience with beverage processing, systems, or manufacturing lines.
• This is not mandatory but is listed as a highly appreciated plus.

Facility / Building Systems Knowledge:

• Exposure to architectural or building system elements such as HVAC, interior wall modifications, and facility utilities.
• Helpful due to facility impacts tied to the project Product.

Multidisciplinary Engineering Background:

• Experience across mechanical, electrical, controls, or structural aspects of capital projects.
• Broad experience assists in oversight of complex installation and commissioning activities.

Experience With Long Duration, Multi Site Projects:

• Ability to manage projects spanning multiple years and multiple plant locations.

Flexibility for Extended or Off Hours Work During Critical Phases:

• Ability to support occasional nights/weekends during commissioning or site readiness periods.

 
Job Purpose:
The Senior Capital Project Manager will lead the detailed engineering, integration, installation, and commissioning of a $30MM capital program involving a new filling and packaging line in Virginia and a new packaging line in California.
Several major equipment packages have already been purchased. This role will focus on completing the detailed engineering, coordinating utilities and facility modifications, managing installation, and ensuring successful startup & commissioning of the production lines.
The position will coordinate external engineering firms, OEM equipment suppliers, contractors, and plant teams to deliver the project safely, on schedule, and within budget.
 
Key Responsibilities:
Project Leadership:

• Lead execution of large-scale capital projects totaling approximately $30MM across multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Manage the project lifecycle including engineering design, procurement, construction, startup, and commissioning.
• Maintain project schedules, budgets, and risk management plans.
• Provide regular project updates to leadership and key stakeholders.

Engineering & Technical Coordination:

• Serve as the primary technical interface with equipment OEM suppliers.
• Finalize equipment integration requirements including utilities, controls, installation, and commissioning plans.
• Ensure alignment between OEM specifications and plant infrastructure.

Vendor & Contractor Management:

• Manage relationships with OEM equipment suppliers, engineering firms, and installation contractors.
• Ensure vendors meet performance, schedule, and safety expectations.

Budget & Financial Management:

• Manage project budgets including capital appropriation tracking, forecasting, and change order management.
• Identify and mitigate cost and schedule risks.

Construction & Installation Management:

• Develop installation and construction execution plans.
• Coordinate contractors for mechanical installation, electrical integration, utilities installation, and facility modifications.
• Oversee equipment delivery, rigging, installation, and alignment.
• Own the downtime / utility tie-in plan.
• Attend daily plant meetings to communicate project activities to plant leadership team.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, and Engineering teams to ensure project success.
• Support operator training, ramp-up, and performance validation of new production lines.

Safety & Compliance:

• Ensure all project activities comply with safety regulations, contractor safety standards, and plant requirements.
• Promote strong safety culture during construction and commissioning phases.

 
Qualifications:
Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline.
• 8–12+ years of experience managing capital projects in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience executing capital projects greater than $10MM.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing equipment, packaging systems, and facility utilities.
• Experience managing external engineering firms, OEMs, and construction contractors.

Preferred:

• Experience in food or consumer packaged goods manufacturing.
• Experience with high-speed filling or packaging lines.
• Familiarity with stage-gate or FEL capital project processes.

 
Work Environment & Travel:

• This role will require regular travel to project sites in Virginia and California, particularly during installation and startup phases.
• A nominal 40 hrs/wk M-F is anticipated through detailed engineering, bidding, and OEM vendor equipment lead time phases.
• Construction/Installation, startup, and commissioning phases (estimated at around 5–6 months) may require additional hours (50+), occasional off-shift work (afternoon), and/or weekend work.
• Midnight shift work is not anticipated, but may be required in limited circumstances such as utilities tie-ins requiring downtime.