Manufacturing Project Leader

Howmet Aerospace•Hampton, VA

About The Position

Howmet Engine Products, a division of Howmet Aerospace, seeks an experienced Manufacturing Project Leader to join our team! In this position you will play an important role in the Howmet Engines organization working within the Industrial Gas Turbine segment managing the expansion project and executing business unit initiatives. This role is critical to the segment expansion plan and will directly support the Vice President and General Manager for the IGT segment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering, Manufacturing, or Business discipline from an accredited institution.
Minimum 10 years of manufacturing experience; with some level of plant operational management.
Minimum of 3 years of Project Management experience in large-scale capex projects.
Proven track record of driving automation, process improvements, and operational excellence.
Lean Manufacturing, and Kaizen experience.
Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
This position entails access to export-controlled items and employment offers are conditioned upon an applicant's ability to lawfully obtain access to such items.

Nice To Haves

Six Sigma Black Belt
5 years Investment Casting experience
Experience leading a team of technical leaders
Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work effectively in a matrix organization
Strong analytical and problem resolution skills in support of business planning, strategy development/deployment, relationship management and conflict resolution
Advanced Microsoft Office proficiency

Responsibilities

Develop operational plans that support the requirements of assigned manufacturing areas, ensuring alignment with customer expectations, business goals, and annual KPIs.
Lead the development and implementation of automation initiatives, departmental consolidation efforts, and productivity and efficiency standards across functional areas.
Oversee daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting to ensure accurate visibility into operational performance.
Drive automation expansion and lead transformational improvements in labor utilization, quality, and throughput
Champion continuous improvement through Lean Manufacturing, ensuring enhancements are incorporated into standard operating procedures.
Manage manufacturing projects across the full project lifecycle—including concept, requirements, design, testing, installation, qualification, and training—ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and at the required quality level.
Meet financial objectives by managing budgets, optimizing overtime and contingent labor, analyzing variances, and implementing corrective actions.
Provide direct supervision to group leaders, ensuring adherence to safety, quality, productivity, and associate development standards.
Coach and mentor team members to build a culture of learning, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Maintain strong working relationships with diverse employee groups and external customers, fostering collaboration and trust.
Ensure program goals, scope, and deliverables are clearly defined and communicated to internal teams and external customers.
Support detailed execution plans by coordinating with engineering, manufacturing, commercial, scheduling, and quality teams to meet program timelines.
Maintain detailed action lists, track progress, and provide updates to stakeholders while ensuring alignment with financial targets.
Identify program gaps or risks and lead mitigation efforts, securing cross-functional commitment to recovery plans.
Ensure customer demand is accurately reflected in production planning and supply plans to meet monthly targets.
Conduct regular program reviews with internal and external stakeholders, addressing status, action items, risks, and resource needs.
Resolve disconnects between functional areas by driving timely conflict resolution and ensuring alignment.
Contribute to improved delivery performance through best‑practice identification, validation, documentation, and communication.