TITLE: Project Manager, Engineering

REPORTS TO: Director, Engineering

LOCATION: Chicago, IL

Lactalis Heritage Dairy is currently seeking candidates to join our team in Chicago, IL.

Lactalis Group, the world leader in dairy, is a family-owned business with more than 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals worldwide, committed to providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day. At Lactalis, our core values of AMBITION, ENGAGEMENT, and SIMPLICITY are at the heart of everything we do.

If you’re looking for a unique experience with a company that offers strong brands, professional expertise, and a dynamic work environment that champions entrepreneurial spirit, hands-on responsibility, and real opportunity for career development, we want to hear from you!

Lactalis Heritage Dairy: inviting you to share with us your STORY, your PASSION, and your EXPERTISE.

From your PASSION to ours

The Project Manager, Engineering will provide engineering and project management support during the implementation and optimization of the various production systems that directly and indirectly support the manufacturing processes in Lactalis Heritage Dairy plants.

This position will build and manage relationships between internal and external resources in order to effectively implement project initiatives that drive productivity results, optimize value, and promote growth. This role will also work directly with the manufacturing sites to develop, modify, and implement equipment and support devices for capacity and program initiatives.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Provide project management and technical support for capital projects – overall project management, budget, schedule management, construction management, start-up, conceptual phases, project close-out, scope development, cost estimation, equipment sizing and selection, procurement, installation, etc.
• Define the business requirements: capacity needs over time, capacity available, R&D requirements in terms of raw materials, processes and possibilities for future expansion. Ensure that the business needs are well validated by a cross-section of the business.
• Maintain engineering interface with plant teams and other internal partners. Maintain close relationships with R&D, quality, manufacturing, operations leadership, and financial operations.
• Provide support on major projects, partnering closely with Plant Director, Plant Engineers and Maintenance Team. Provide innovative technical solutions required to meet business objectives with an emphasis on productivity.
• Partner with Director of Engineering on annual capital planning process. Follow the internal capital approval request procedures regarding approval, purchase orders, and review variances actual vs. budget throughout the project, forecast and report cash flow and variance. Manage any changes using documented change orders.
• Plan, organize and conduct all necessary trials and tests to ensure project success with production, suppliers and R&D.
• Prepare the supplier selection bid package, request for quotation, work with corporate purchasing to manage the supplier selection process.
• Ensure good quality planning, risk analysis, budget, resource identification, and layout studies are complete and accurate.
• Ensure that the following milestones are respected throughout the project: provisional acceptance, I/O check-out, equipment site acceptance test, electrical test, water test, commissioning, final acceptance.
• Follow the execution of the project and ensure coordination between projects, suppliers, manufacturing, and the business. Safety and Quality are the key priorities. Scope, Deliverables, Timeline, and Budget are always to be respected.
• Measure project progress at start-up using a punch list to ensure maximum supplier accountability.
• Develop knowledge mastery in new systems to train and coach plant engineers and maintenance staff with thorough transfer of knowledge and documentation.
• Manage communication and relationships with all stakeholders throughout the lifetime of the project.
• Recommend and implement continuous improvement projects and develop the necessary justifications and return on investment to drive improvements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
• 8 years of experience as a project engineer in a fast-paced manufacturing setting.
• 3 years of experience in capital project management utilizing standards and project delivery through initiation, planning and execution.
• Food manufacturing experience required, dairy manufacturing.
• Familiar with the following trades: Mechanical, Electrical, Automation, Utilities, and Construction.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Strong financial and budget management skills.
• Understanding of instrumentation, PLC, and Scada controls.
• Proficient in capital project development and execution, employee and plant safety, food manufacturing processes and regulatory requirements.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written. Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to prioritize and manage projects in a changing, complex, time-sensitive environment.
• Strong organizational skills and proven attention to detail.
• Proficiency with MS Project, AutoCAD, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to travel up to 50%.

Lactalis Heritage Dairy is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities.