Vacancies Project Manager

AkzoNobel•Waukegan, IL

About The Position

The Project Manager leads and delivers capital projects from concept development through commissioning and handover. The role ensures projects are completed safely, on time, within budget, and in compliance with engineering standards, regulatory requirements, and business objectives. The Project Manager coordinates cross-functional teams, engineering resources, contractors, and stakeholders to deliver reliable, cost-effective solutions that improve site performance, capacity, efficiency, and sustainability while minimizing operational risks and production disruption. The position supports delivery of the site’s capital investment plan and helps develop business cases and evaluate process modifications, equipment upgrades, and operational improvements. It manages the site Management of Change process and facilitates Process Hazard Analyses, ensuring risks and actions are assessed, documented, and addressed. The role also oversees project and contractor management, HSE and regulatory compliance, stakeholder collaboration, operational readiness, risk management, and continuous improvement in project delivery and engineering practices. The role is based in a heavy manufacturing environment. It requires navigating industrial facilities and climbing stairs while wearing required PPE, working indoors and outdoors in varying temperatures and weather conditions, and following safety procedures to manage potential incidental chemical exposure.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
5–7 years of relevant project or process engineering experience in manufacturing.
Proven ability to manage multiple capital projects from definition and business case through execution, commissioning, and handover.
Experience managing contractors, suppliers, budgets, schedules, scope, and quality.
Strong planning, problem-solving, risk management, and prioritization skills.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across all organizational levels.
Experience specifying and selecting equipment for hazardous classified areas, particularly Class I, Division 1.
Working knowledge of MOC, PTW, PSM, applicable HSE requirements, engineering standards, and regulatory codes.
Ability to navigate industrial facilities and climb stairs while wearing required PPE, including steel-toed footwear.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying temperatures and weather conditions.
Ability to work safely in a heavy manufacturing environment with potential incidental chemical exposure while following established safety procedures and PPE requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the chemical, coatings, or paint industry.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage capital engineering projects from concept development and business case through design, execution, commissioning, and handover, delivering against approved scope, schedule, budget, quality standards, and stakeholder expectations.
Deliver assigned projects within the site capital investment plan, align them with business priorities, allocate resources effectively, and escalate deviations and risks in a timely manner.
Support business case development and evaluate process modifications, equipment upgrades, and operational improvements for safe, reliable, and cost-effective solutions.
Manage the site Management of Change (MOC) process and facilitate Process Hazard Analyses (PHAs), ensuring risks and actions are assessed, documented, and addressed.
Ensure projects comply with AkzoNobel HSE requirements, engineering standards, and applicable local, state, and federal regulations, including OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) and NFPA standards.
Manage projects, construction, and contractors using applicable best practices to support safe execution, effective risk control, and required technical and quality standards.
Collaborate with site management, operations, maintenance, engineering, HSE, and other stakeholders to align requirements, manage expectations, and support decision-making.
Involve operators and end users in project design and implementation; support operational buy-in, training, documentation, and safe transition to routine operations.
Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks, resolve execution issues, and promptly escalate significant deviations or risks to site management.
Apply applicable AkzoNobel policies, procedures, guidelines, methodologies, and systems, and drive continuous improvement in project delivery and engineering practices.