Customer Project Lead

O-I•Perrysburg, OH

4h•$105,000 - $136,990•Remote

About The Position

The Customer Project Lead drives flawless execution of large-scale, cross-functional projects that align with customer priorities for growth and maintenance of existing business. This role translates strategic commercial intent into integrated execution plans, proactively manages risks, and ensures reliable delivery of customer and internal commitments across all O-I functions. It takes ownership of a variety of initiatives spanning new customer onboarding, complex network transitions, and NPD projects involving significant operational impacts. This role communicates effectively at an executive level internally and externally, summarizing complex situations into clearly communicable action plans with confidence and authenticity. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES Commercial project leadership: Own end-to-end execution of large, complex commercial initiatives from initiation through stabilization; serve as the single execution owner across multiple workstreams. Translate strategy to execution: Convert commercial strategy and customer commitments into clear project scope, milestones, dependencies, and deliverables; maintain alignment with Commercial leadership on priorities. Program planning & governance: Build and maintain integrated program plans (scope, timelines, critical path, decision points); establish the right cadence, governance forums, and escalation paths. Execution rigor: Drive disciplined follow-through across functions; ensure accountability, action closure, and timely resolution of constraints that could impact delivery. Risk management & readiness: Identify execution, supply, quality, and customer risks; lead mitigation plans, contingency actions, and scenario planning; ensure readiness prior to major transitions, launches, and onboardings. Cross-functional orchestration: Lead teams across Commercial, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, IT, and external partners; influence without authority in a matrixed environment. Customer & commercial interface: Partner with Commercial leaders on strategic customer initiatives, transitions, and onboarding events; support executive-level customer engagements by ensuring internal alignment and execution clarity. Executive Internal & External communication: Deliver concise, executive-ready updates on progress, risks, and decisions needed; frame execution issues in commercial terms to enable informed tradeoffs. SCOPE AND IMPACT Owns complex, cross-functional commercial projects including but not limited to New customer onboarding New product development involving operational changes / investment Complex network transitions impacting multiple customers / sites Leads multi-workstream initiatives with enterprise stakeholders; success depends on strong governance, risk management, and influence in a matrix. Improves execution discipline, visibility, and decision velocity across complex programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; business, engineering, operations, supply chain, or related field preferred.
5+ years of program/project leadership experience in a cross-functional, matrixed environment (commercial, operations, supply chain, engineering, or similar).
Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale initiatives with multiple workstreams, tight timelines, and high business impact.
Experience with structured planning (scope, schedule, dependencies, governance) and proactive risk management.
Strong executive communication skills; able to translate complex issues into clear updates, decisions, and tradeoffs.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree (MBA, MS Engineering, Operations) Preferred but not Mandatory
PMP or equivalent Certification preferred, not required
Manufacturing Experience Preferred

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end execution of large, complex commercial initiatives from initiation through stabilization; serve as the single execution owner across multiple workstreams.
Convert commercial strategy and customer commitments into clear project scope, milestones, dependencies, and deliverables; maintain alignment with Commercial leadership on priorities.
Build and maintain integrated program plans (scope, timelines, critical path, decision points); establish the right cadence, governance forums, and escalation paths.
Drive disciplined follow-through across functions; ensure accountability, action closure, and timely resolution of constraints that could impact delivery.
Identify execution, supply, quality, and customer risks; lead mitigation plans, contingency actions, and scenario planning; ensure readiness prior to major transitions, launches, and onboardings.
Lead teams across Commercial, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, IT, and external partners; influence without authority in a matrixed environment.
Partner with Commercial leaders on strategic customer initiatives, transitions, and onboarding events; support executive-level customer engagements by ensuring internal alignment and execution clarity.
Deliver concise, executive-ready updates on progress, risks, and decisions needed; frame execution issues in commercial terms to enable informed tradeoffs.