Project Director

What You Will Do In This Role:

• Partner closely with the Contract Manager, Project Controller, Project Lead Engineer, and the project core team to translate the Customer's requirements into defined scope and tasks for the project and ensures they are completed on time, on budget, and in good quality.
• Accountable for all Customer communication, documentation, and deliverables (e.g. Functional Design Specification, drawings, Acceptance Test Plan, etc.)
• Review, interpret, and manage the contract and any subsequent changes after sales turnover with the support and counsel of the Contract Manager
• Monitor and manage overall project budget, schedule and any changes or variances that arise during the project lifecycle
• Ensure smooth handover to Customer Service and the external Customer with clearly defined and agreed upon actions for project close-out.
• Cooperate with the Site Manager and the EHS&S Group on the safety of people, systems, and environment as per company or legislative requirements.
• Conduct project assessments, capture LL's, and prepare final close out reports
• Accountable for project Risk and Opportunity management, including any risk mitigation strategies and actions with appropriate risk owners
• Conduct all required project team meetings (kick-offs, periodic or ad-hoc reviews), critical & steering committee meetings, and maintain a list of action items in the established project management system.
• Report project status to program, portfolio, business unit, regional and/or global Management.
• Maintain control over the cost development of the contract against budget and provide accurate forecast of future cost expenditure
• Develop and maintain the Project (Execution) Plan throughout the project lifecycle
• Ensure completion of all necessary specifications for third-party components, resale, etc. are accurate and complete; liaising with ME/CE Leads as needed to ensure completion; support Resale with communication and negotiation with suppliers as required
• Translate the project contractual technical requirements into deliverables and tasks for the engineering teams (including design/layout, emulation, order entry, drawings, and commissioning)
• Identifies and resolves issues that affect engineering, procurement, manufacturing, or installation tasks to avoid negative impact on the project
• Ensures high degree of quality of output for all deliverables and the entire solution via adherence to established standards for processes, engineering quality, and standard work
• Act as main point of contact for project management, installation, procurement, external suppliers, manufacturing, etc. regarding all engineering deliverables
• May be assigned to other critical projects as needed
• Supports continuous improvement initiatives to enhance or refine project execution process, standards, methods, and tools.
• Supports building or maintaining customer relationships and sales opportunities when appropriate

What We're Looking For:

• 10 years of successful experience in related field and successful demonstration of key responsibilities and knowledge as presented above. Advanced degree MAY be substituted for experience, where applicable
• Typically BS/BA in related discipline or advanced degree. Certification may be required in some areas.
• Substantial and extensive experience with planning, management and execution of highly complex material handling systems
• Exceptional customer focus and ability to deliver results
• Demonstrated problem solver with excellent communication skills
• Ability to navigate and operate in a highly matrixed global organization
• Ability to apply influence on project team and functional departments to take actions to mitigate risks in scope, cost and schedule internally and eternally
• Ability to take the initiative and ownership to make things happen for assigned project
• Ability to learn and adapt to work with new processes, methods, and tools
• **Candidate must be in or willing to relocate to Chicago, Atlanta, or Grand Rapids, Michigan