Lead Project Manager- PMO

Creston • Rockleigh, NJ

2d

About The Position

The Lead Project Manager – Manufacturing PMO owns and leads the end‑to‑end transition of new products from Engineering into Production, serving as the primary strategic interface between Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain. This role drives planning, alignment, and execution across multiple complex New Product Introduction (NPI) programs, ensuring manufacturing readiness, supplier capability, and seamless product launches. Partnering closely with Design Engineering Project Managers, the Lead PM defines and drives integrated project plans that embed manufacturing strategy, supplier readiness, cost objectives, and production risk mitigation early in the development lifecycle. The role leads cross‑functional coordination across Supply Chain, Quality, Operations, Contract Manufacturers, and internal manufacturing teams to orchestrate builds, validate operational readiness, and execute production ramps and manufacturing transfers. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, this position proactively drives execution across internal and external teams—anticipating risks, resolving conflicts, and holding teams accountable for delivery. The Lead PM brings strong project leadership, crisp communication, and the ability to translate technical and supply chain complexity into actionable plans, clear recommendations, and concise executive‑level updates. This role demands strong expertise in project management, NPI manufacturing processes, and operational launch requirements. The Lead Project Manager shapes the future of manufacturing program execution, drives continuous improvement within PMO practices, and plays a critical leadership role in strengthening governance and delivery across NPI programs—offering significant opportunity for expanded influence and organizational impact.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Engineering discipline strongly preferred for ability to lead technical discussions and manufacturing strategy.
• 8–12+ years of progressive project or program management experience, with a demonstrated track record of owning and leading complex, cross‑functional manufacturing or supply‑chain‑intensive programs.
• Proven ability to lead NPI programs end‑to‑end, driving alignment across Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, and executive stakeholders.
• Expert‑level proficiency in MS Project and MS Office, with the ability to build, own, and maintain advanced, integrated schedules and dashboards for executive visibility.
• Solid working knowledge of ERP systems (SAP preferred) with the ability to interpret data, influence material strategies, and guide operational decision‑making.
• Strong leadership presence, with exceptional communication, stakeholder management, conflict resolution, and the ability to drive accountability across organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify risks, drive mitigation strategies, and maintain momentum in fast‑paced, ambiguous environments.

Nice To Haves

• Experience mentoring, coaching, or guiding project managers and cross‑functional leads, contributing to capability development across the organization.
• Proven ability to influence without formal authority, shaping decisions, roadmaps, and priorities across Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain.
• Experience driving PMO standards, governance frameworks, or process improvements, with a track record of elevating program execution maturity.
• Exposure to portfolio‑level planning, executive‑level reporting, and decision support for senior leadership and steering committees.
• PMP certification or equivalent, demonstrating depth in formal project management methodologies.
• Demonstrated interest in growing organizational ownership, evolving into broader leadership roles, or shaping strategic program delivery practices.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead the development of integrated project plans with Design Engineering PMs, embedding manufacturing strategy and operational requirements.
• Drive identification, assessment, and mitigation of manufacturing, supply chain, cost, and schedule risks across all NPI phases.
• Lead and govern Engineering build requests, ensuring deliverables, configurations, and readiness milestones are fully aligned with Production needs.
• Drive and facilitate build reviews, test readiness reviews, packaging reviews, and launch readiness gates to ensure cross-functional alignment and accountability.
• Own tracking and governance of NRE spend, COGS targets, and manufacturing cost risks; escalate and influence decisions where required.
• Champion and influence PMO improvements related to NPI governance, process standardization, and manufacturing execution excellence.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level