R&D Project Manager

Crest Industries • Alexandria, LA

2d

About The Position

DIS-TRAN Steel is seeking an experienced R&D Project Manager to lead projects involving facility expansions, continuous improvement, system integrations, process improvements, and general operations. The role owns assigned projects from planning through completion, bringing structure to complex work and coordinating the people, resources, schedules, documents, and decisions required for successful delivery.

The Project Manager serves as the primary point of contact for assigned projects and works with engineering, operations, purchasing, expediting, finance, vendors, consultants, subcontractors, construction managers, customers, and leadership. The position is responsible for delivering work safely, accurately, on schedule, and within budget, while addressing project risks and issues, communicating status, managing customer requests, and completing project closeout and lessons learned. Overnight travel may be required for approximately 15% of the work schedule, averaging one to three nights per month; day travel may also be required based on project needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Engineering, Technology, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• At least three years of project management experience.
• An associate degree or Project Management Professional certification may be considered with at least five years of successful project management experience.
• Strong knowledge of project management practices, methods, and techniques.
• Ability to develop and manage project schedules, budgets, documentation, risks, and action plans.
• Experience coordinating vendors, consultants, subcontractors, customers, and cross-functional internal teams.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Strong customer service and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Adobe Acrobat.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining consistent communication and coordination with leadership and project stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing technical, operational, construction, engineering, or continuous-improvement projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects involving facility expansions, continuous improvement, system integrations, process improvements, and general operations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for technical, financial, scheduling, and customer-related matters for assigned projects.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate project schedules, milestones, priorities, risks, and action items.
• Monitor project progress and initiate corrective actions when schedules, budgets, or deliverables are at risk.
• Coordinate with engineering, operations, purchasing, expediting, finance, vendors, and other teams to keep projects moving.
• Ensure drawings, submittals, and project documents are accurate, complete, and delivered according to schedule.
• Manage consultants, subcontractors, construction managers, vendors, and project teams to ensure contract plans and specifications are followed.
• Motivate internal and external teams to meet project schedule, quality, and budget expectations.
• Coordinate material requirements and delivery schedules with purchasing and expediting teams.
• Manage customer requests involving change orders, project accelerations, delays, structural concerns, shipping issues, and material challenges.
• Assist with project invoicing and secure customer change orders when appropriate.
• Track project financial performance and communicate concerns, changes, or risks to the Director of Process Engineering and Innovation.
• Provide regular project updates and status reports to leadership.
• Escalate significant changes in project scope, contract value, schedule, resources, or technical requirements.
• Identify errors, omissions, resource constraints, and other issues that may affect project success.
• Analyze project challenges, develop corrective action plans, and follow through on implementation.
• Complete project closeout activities and organize lessons learned for future projects.
• Recommend methods to improve productivity, quality, processes, and the overall customer experience.

Benefits

• Medical and prescription coverage
• Company-paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Cafeteria plan
• Corporate fitness plan

What This Job Offers

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