Engineering and Project Manager

Lesaffre Group Openings•Cedar Rapids, IA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves managing a diverse group of strategic and tactical projects, providing technical leadership, monitoring capital expenditure (Capex) portfolios, and contributing to the Project Management Office (PMO). The position requires ensuring engineering designs meet standards, promoting continuous improvement, managing project finances, and facilitating communication with stakeholders and executive management. Strategic thinking and risk management are key components of this role.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (or foreign education equivalent) in Industrial Maintenance, Mechanical Engineering or a related field and six (6) years of experience in the job offered or closely related occupation.
OR Master’s degree (or foreign education equivalent) in Industrial Maintenance, Mechanical Engineering or a related field and four (4) years of experience in the job offered or closely related occupation.
Four (4) years of experience performing engineering troubleshooting and building or implementing new manufacturing assets, including fermentation, separation, filtration, drying, yeast extract process, automated packaging machines, wastewater treatment, robots, automated finish product storage, automated raw material storage, and PLC/automation.
Demonstrated experience with Engineering principles and practices for biological or food and beverage manufacturing.
Engineering experience in large-scale ($5M+) project management.
Project management of multiple project priorities simultaneously from end-to-end in a primary leadership role.
Working with multiple project stakeholders across specialties (Safety, Environment, Purchasing, Finance, Quality, Production, Supply Chain, Sales, and Customers).
Presenting and gaining approval from global executive committees for Capex projects.
Costs theory and structure involving CAPEX expansion projects for biological or food and beverage sales and manufacturing.
Implementing human safety, food safety, and quality control manufacturing standards.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Responsibilities

Directly manage a diverse group of strategic and tactical projects simultaneously.
Indirectly support a diverse group of tactical maintenance Capex projects.
Develop phased project plans, including scope, goals, deliverables, timelines, budget and resource requirements.
Provide technical leadership to teams.
Ensure engineering designs and solutions meet Group and industry standards and best practices.
Collaborate within the Group and local engineering team to address technical challenges and provide guidance.
Promote the use, adoption, and continuous improvement of Group standards.
Promote the continuous improvement of project management processes and engineering practices.
Aid in portfolio coordination by tracking project expenditures, budgets, milestones and deadlines with project managers.
Compile, consolidate, and analyze capex data for portfolio performance.
Ensure accounting documentation is being used at the initiation and closing of projects.
Consolidate and analyze capex booked and paid (to-date and forecasted) data throughout the year.
Enter project information into group reporting tool.
Manage interactions with accounting and accounting management for Capex including monthly and annual reporting.
Continue to develop the Project Management Office tools and methodologies.
Promote the standardization of documents and reporting across the portfolio.
Archive documents and maintain capex knowledge base.
Facilitate Front End Planning and Construction Readiness Assessments.
Assist project managers in developing baseline schedules.
Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies.
Proactively manage issues to keep projects on track.
Work with Group resources to ensure best practices are being used and maintained.
Make decisions that protect and promote safety.
Maintain regular communication with the steering committees, executive management, and key stakeholders.
Ensure alignment of outcomes with executive management expectations.
Maintain clear and open communication channels with contractors and internal stakeholders.
Develop strategies to achieve organizational goals.
Adapt project implementation strategy to changing conditions utilizing an agile mindset.