Senior Project Manager, Engineering

Hawaiian Host Group • Honolulu, HI

6h • $135,000 - $160,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Hawaiian Host Group (HHG) is a leading Hawai‘i-based consumer goods company with a portfolio of brands that includes Hawaiian Host, Mauna Loa, MacFarms, and Kapua Orchards. Sold in over 23 countries, HHG produces a suite of products ranging from flavored macadamia nuts to premium treats. Our dedicated team of Hosts of Hawai‘i is spread across our headquarters in Honolulu and offices in Hilo, Kona, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. HHG has 3 manufacturing plants in Hawai'i, as well as the state's largest single macadamia farm. We are an excited team of people that all have one vision in common: sharing the Spirit of Hawai‘i with the world. Expect camaraderie, product tastings, and other (virtual and in-person) events that make our culture unique. And more importantly, know that your work contributes to our purpose; to make the Islands’ future flourish. We do this through our Takitani foundation that grants scholarships to deserving local students, our solar farm on the Big Island, and other social & environmental initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related Engineering field; advanced degree or PE license preferred but not required.
• 5+ years of project management in manufacturing/operations. Food, CPG, or nut/agribusiness processing experience strongly preferred.
• Project Management certification is preferred but not required.
• Strong knowledge of lean/continuous improvement tools and reliability-centered maintenance practices.
• Familiarity with food safety and quality systems (HACCP, GMPs, FSMA, SQF/BRC or similar) and designing sanitary/hygienic equipment installations.
• Experience managing capital projects from concept through commissioning, including vendor management and contractor oversight.
• Strong leadership, communication, and change management skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and work effectively in a multicultural Hawaii workforce.
• Possession of a valid driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle.
• Must have strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Capacity to work with and relate to employees at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Competency in computer systems and software applications.

Nice To Haves

• advanced degree or PE license preferred but not required.
• Project Management certification is preferred but not required.
• Food, CPG, or nut/agribusiness processing experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Full responsibility to manage the annual capital plan from plan approvals, to oversight of all projects, to leading larger capital engineering projects.
• Ensures project management is run effectively delivering projects on time, at or below cost, and succeeding in project deliverables while meeting overall organizational expectations.
• Works closely with contractors and OEMs on new technologies, improved equipment performance, and drives overall equipment and manufacturing / processing engineering improvements.
• Supports and coaches functions as a technical resource for Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and all Agricultural Operations.
• Implement and optimize processing and packaging lines for husking, drying, cracking, sorting, roasting, seasoning, enrobing, panning, packing, and other associated CPG operations, ensuring OEE and yield targets.
• Support efficient us of plant utilities and infrastructure (steam, compressed air, refrigeration, water/wastewater, power) with focus on energy efficiency and Hawaii-specific cost/availability constraints in collaboration with Plant Manager and EHS.
• Lead capital planning and execution (scoping, justification, vendor selection, installation, commissioning) for new equipment, expansions, and facility upgrades.
• Tracks and manages cash flow on capital projects working with Accounting and Finance along with other key stakeholders.
• Leads with both a Value Engineering mindset and leverages lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles (5S, value stream mapping, SMED, line balancing, waste reduction) to improve line design throughput and reduce cost per pound.
• Ensure engineering projects comply with OSHA, FDA/FSMA, USDA (if applicable), environmental regulations, and local/state of Hawaii codes and permitting.
• Partner with Quality and Food Safety to ensure hygienic equipment, allergen control, sanitation-friendly layouts, and support root cause analysis for customer or regulatory issues.
• Maintain plant layouts, drawings, and documentation; standardize work instructions and change control for process and equipment changes.
• Develop and manage departmental budget (labor, MRO, capital) and report performance via KPIs (downtime, OEE, MTBF, maintenance cost, energy use).
• Prepare monthly reports for the business, including productivity metrics and budget costs, partnering with finance and accounting.
• Fulfill any additional duties or projects assigned, demonstrating flexibility and an initiative-taking approach to meeting organizational needs.
• Adhere to Company policies and procedures in all duties, reflecting Company values in behavioral conduct both on-site and off.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Pay
• Sick Leave
• Floating Holiday
• Company‑paid life & disability
• 401(k) with company match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee product discounts

What This Job Offers

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