Senior Project Manager – Product Development, Safety, & Compliance

Wabtec•Buffalo Grove, IL

7h•Onsite

About The Position

As a member of Wabtec Bus Solutions, the Senior Project Manager leads new product development initiatives from concept through launch and serves 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 safety and regulatory requirements, reduce business risk, and improve organizational capability. The position reports to the Director of Engineering & PMO, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Director of Quality & Performance Systems. The role oversees project planning and execution, including scope, schedules, resources, budgets, risks, customer requirements, project reviews, and issue resolution. It also leads and advises on product compliance and safety matters, including applicable requirements related to FMVSS, ADA, NHTSA, FTA, customer specifications, and other regulations. The position provides guidance and mentorship to teams and stakeholders, helps resolve product safety and compliance issues, and improves project delivery, compliance strategies, processes, and governance. The position is primarily office-based at the Buffalo Grove office, with occasional travel (15%) to customer and manufacturing sites. It involves extended computer use, occasional lifting or moving of up to 25 pounds, and standing, walking, and navigating facilities. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. An offer is conditioned on successfully completing a drug screen and fitness-for-duty test, as applicable.

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.
Demonstrated 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.
Legally authorized to work in the United States.
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 production launch, managing scope, schedules, resource plans, budgets, and risk registers.
Facilitate gate reviews, project reviews, customer reviews, and executive updates.
Coordinate project 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 aligned with regulatory, customer, and industry changes.
Mentor and provide guidance and subject matter expertise to project teams and functional stakeholders.
Perform other duties outside the function or trade as needed, with adequate training provided if necessary.