Senior Engineering Manager

Mars•Franklin, TN

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Champion Petfoods is expanding and seeking a Senior Engineering Manager to join their rapidly growing company. Champion Petfoods is an award-winning pet food maker with over 35 years of trust, known for its ORIJEN® and ACANA® brands, and is a significant player in the global premium pet food industry. This role is for individuals passionate about personal and professional growth who want to contribute to the company's continued success.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related field required)
7–12+ years of engineering experience, including capital project management
Proven experience managing capital budgets in the range of $10MM–$50MM annually
Strong project management and organizational skills
Financial acumen and experience building capital justifications
Leadership and team development capabilities
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on execution
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
Familiarity with engineering design tools, project management systems, and ERP platforms

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or MBA preferred
Experience in industrial, manufacturing, supply chain, or operations environments preferred

Responsibilities

Plan, prioritize, and oversee the execution of approximately $30MM in annual capital projects.
Develop and manage multi-year capital plans aligned with company objectives and operational needs.
Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
Lead project justification, including ROI analysis, cost estimation, and risk assessments.
Manage vendor selection, contractor performance, and contract negotiations.
Drive rigorous project governance, including milestone tracking, reporting, and issue resolution.
Provide technical direction and review for project designs, specifications, and execution plans.
Ensure compliance with engineering standards, regulatory requirements, and safety guidelines.
Oversee design reviews, risk assessments, and commissioning activities.
Drive standardization, best practices, and engineering excellence across projects.
Develop and manage capital budgets, forecasts, and expenditure tracking.
Ensure accurate financial reporting and variance analysis.
Identify cost-saving opportunities and improve capital efficiency.
Partner with finance to develop business cases and ensure financial discipline.
Partner with operations, supply chain, finance, and other stakeholders to define project requirements and priorities.
Communicate project status, risks, and outcomes to leadership.
Align capital investments with operational strategies and long-term growth plans.
Identify opportunities to improve project delivery processes, tools, and methodologies.
Implement best practices in project management (e.g., stage-gate processes, lean principles).
Drive lessons learned and knowledge sharing across projects.