Senior Project Manager – Product Development, Safety, & Compliance

Wabtec•Buffalo Grove, IL

1d•$104,800 - $149,300•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Project Manager will lead new product development initiatives from concept through launch while serving as the business’s Product Safety and Compliance subject matter expert. The role works across Engineering, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, customers, suppliers, legal counsel, and regulatory agencies to deliver products, meet applicable safety and regulatory requirements, reduce business risk, and improve organizational capability. It reports to the Director of Engineering & PMO, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Director of Quality & Performance Systems. The position includes leadership of project execution, product safety and compliance activities, stakeholder engagement, investigations, and continuous improvement. It is based primarily in the Buffalo Grove office and involves occasional travel (15%) to customer and manufacturing sites. The role may also include other duties outside its function or trade, with adequate training provided if necessary.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
At least 12 years of progressive experience in project management, product development, compliance, and safety.
Expertise leading cross-functional teams to deliver new products from concept through production launch.
Proficiency managing project scope, schedules, budgets, risks, customer requirements, and business priorities.
Strong understanding of product safety, regulatory compliance, risk assessment, and corrective action processes.
Extensive experience interfacing with customers, regulatory agencies, legal counsel, suppliers, certification bodies, and internal stakeholders.
Experience influencing Engineering, Quality, Operations, Manufacturing, Sales, and Compliance functions without direct authority.
Proven ability to execute projects while serving as a subject matter expert.
Track record of driving project delivery and addressing difficult compliance, product safety, or customer issues.
Ability and interest in improving processes, building organizational capability, and mentoring others.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Offer is conditioned on successful completion of a drug screen and fitness-for-duty test, as applicable.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree(s), or equivalent advanced relevant certifications or degrees.

Responsibilities

Lead new product development projects from concept through launch, managing scope, schedules, resource plans, budgets, and risk registers.
Facilitate gate reviews, project reviews, customer reviews, and executive updates.
Coordinate activities across Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Sales, and external partners.
Resolve project issues, resource conflicts, schedule concerns, and customer requests.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen project and product development execution.
Advise leadership on project execution, product safety, compliance risk, customer escalations, regulatory matters, and improvements.
Serve as the business’s Product Safety and Compliance subject matter expert.
Lead compliance activities related to FMVSS, ADA, NHTSA, FTA, customer specifications, and other applicable regulatory requirements.
Interface with customers, regulatory agencies, legal counsel, industry groups, testing organizations, and suppliers on product safety and compliance matters.
Lead or mentor investigations and resolutions of product safety and compliance issues.
Develop and improve compliance and safety strategies, processes, and governance practices in alignment with regulatory, customer, and industry changes.
Provide mentoring, guidance, and subject matter expertise to project teams and functional stakeholders.
Perform other duties outside the role’s function or trade as requested, with adequate training provided if necessary.