Development Project Manager

Outform Group•Chicago, IL

6h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Development Project Manager is responsible for leading the development of permanent display projects/jobs initiated by our Sales & Commercial teams. It is the DPM’s responsibility to disseminate information from Sales and to direct the projects through engineering to prototyping/first article sign off into estimating in readiness for manufacturing. The DPM leads complex, high-visibility and large-scale display programs and drives strategic decisions related to materials, manufacturing methods and cost efficiencies. They understand manufacturing complexities and are critical in driving overall program profitability and risk mitigation strategies to align project scope and goals for successful program rollouts across the organization.

Requirements

5-10 years of Project Management experience required in a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex, large-scale programs.
Strong time management and budgeting skills.
Ability to thrive in a fast paced, deadline-driven environment, with retail experience preferred.
Experienced leading or mentoring teams preferred.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to read engineering drawings and build prototypes.
Proficient in MS Office; advanced Excel skills a plus.
Experience with MS Dynamics 365 or similar ERP system a plus.
Strong knowledge of different manufacturing and fabrication methods of various materials (acrylic, metal, wood, etc.).
Ability to bend, twist, reach and stand for extended periods of time.
Must be able to work both in the office and in the plant, as needed and as described in accordance with policy.
Ability to lift materials up to 50 lbs.
Strategic and innovative thinker, with strong autonomy.
Clear communicator who can distill powerful messages that resonate with team members.
Proactive, respected for intelligence, work ethic, and follow-through.
Strong problem-solver, with consistent track record of flawless project execution.
Passionate about tackling challenges and delivering results.
Highly Organized, deadline-driven and action-oriented.
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to drive decision-making.
Thoughtful listener who values collaboration and continuous learning.

Nice To Haves

Preferred knowledge working with complex, long lead time suppliers across SE Asia is an advantage

Responsibilities

Partner with Sales and Account Management to define project budgets and manufacturing scope/methodologies
Lead cross-functional teams to maintain alignment.
Prepare project specifications based on Sales input (requirements, materials, expectations, timelines, budget constraints).
Work with engineering to provide material and manufacturing process direction.
Lead team to drive quality, cost control and speed to manufacture.
Serve as the subject matter expert in materials and manufacturing methodologies across the organization & vendor base.
Manage several projects simultaneously, overseeing project planning, budget, execution, timing, functionality, quality, cost, communication, and documentation.
Lead development from prototype through mass production with vendors, collaborating with Engineering, in-house manufacturing, vendors and cross-functional stakeholders.
Make strategic decisions related to materials, manufacturing methods driving cost efficiencies within procurement.
Oversee all aspects of the vendor manufacturing process to ensure project specifications and quality requirements are met.
Negotiate with external vendors to achieve optimal costing, quality and lead times.
Make final decisions on vendor selection, materials, cost drivers and engineering direction.
Represent the Development function in meetings with Sales, Account Management, Engineering, Purchasing, Estimations and Manufacturing.
Participate hands-on in prototype builds, first article inspections, engineering validation and improvement initiatives.
Perform ERP data entry and finalize/upload Bills of Materials (BOM) where necessary.