Project Manager - SMT Electronics Manufacturing

Panasonic • Hoffman Estates, IL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Panasonic Connect North America is seeking a skilled and driven Project Manager to join our Process Automation team. In this role, you will be responsible for successfully leading projects from point of sale through delivery — managing scope, schedules, budgets, stakeholder communication, and technical execution. You will play a key role in developing and advancing PMO processes and methodology, overseeing portfolio management, and ensuring adherence to standards that drive operational excellence across our organization.
At Panasonic Connect, we connect the power of people and technology to change work, advance society and help connect to tomorrow. Empathy, results, relentlessness and teamwork are the foundations of the Panasonic Connect Culture. Our mission is to elevate the employee experience by empowering individuals to use their voice and have a positive impact on our business.

Requirements

• PMP certification required.
• 5+ years of experience in project/program management, including leading cross-functional teams in complex manufacturing environments and driving change management initiatives.
• 5+ years of experience in electronic assembly and process (SMT) and/or capital equipment installations or manufacturing environments.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related Business field or equivalent experience required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Project, and Excel.
• Ability to interface professionally across all levels of management and work effectively with diverse personality types to foster cooperation within Panasonic's organizational structure and with external stakeholders.
• Proficiency with project management tools and software platforms.
• Proven ability to solve complex project and engineering challenges with minimal supervision, as well as collaborating with project management and engineering staff to navigate obstacles.
• Ability to maintain focus and promptly address sensitive or critical project issues.
• Experience managing projects involving complex integrations and demanding schedules.
• Experience working in team-oriented, collaborative environments.
• Strong strategic, operational, and technical management skills.
• Ability to rapidly adapt and respond to changes in environment and priorities.
• Self-motivated with the ability to balance multiple projects under tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, detailed technical reports and presentations.
• Ability to serve as a key communications contact internally and externally — including executive management, key customers, sales account managers, suppliers, subcontractors, and project management staff for clients and partners.
• Willingness to travel a minimum of 50% to project execution sites across North America; international travel may also be required. Adherence to corporate travel and entertainment policy is required.
• All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

• Lean process experience preferred.
• Master's degree in Project Management or Business Administration is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on, day-to-day project management across active engagements.
• Analyze, document, and share lessons learned with other project managers.
• Explore and implement best practices and standardized processes to ensure operational efficiency and scalability.
• Manage stakeholders through effective communication, balancing scope, time, and resources.
• Provide consistent program updates to stakeholders regarding strategy, adjustments, and progress against business objectives and project/program KPIs.
• Ensure project execution by following PMO policies.
• Administer and protect all project documentation and archives via MS Teams and Shared Drives.
• Provide accurate budget estimations for labor demand review, measured against actual budget.
• Maintain accountability for PMO processes and metrics.
• Assist in the development and implementation of comprehensive PMO plans and processes covering internal project management, release management, requirements management, communications management, user guide technical writing, and support functions.
• Create and manage ongoing enterprise portfolio and project metrics; maintain portfolio roadmaps.
• Validate project scope of work (SOW) and viability.
• Develop and maintain the PMO risk register.
• Conduct software project technical reviews and approve implementation viability.
• Ensure all team members remain current on new software features, functions, and dependencies to support successful project deployment.
• Maintain solution template packages for use in future proposal activities.
• Maintain the current project implementation plan, including all updates shared via MS Teams Channels.
• Keep SugarCRM updated with all necessary information, including training credits, software licenses, open issue cases, and software versions.
• Provide summary reports to senior management on all active projects.
• Leverage data, intuition, and experience to support sound decision-making.
• Keep project progress and action list records updated in SharePoint for all users.
• Maintain Project Budget KPI (Quoted vs. Actual).
• Administer monthly MOC allocation and monitoring.
• Actively participate in updating AR metrics in accordance with project closure projections.
• Apply Lean principles to identify and address process deficiencies, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of PMO operations.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, prescription plans
• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options
• Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance
• 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting
• Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental and caregiver leave
• Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service
• Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior