Sr. Project Manager
About The Position
FORTNA is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to lead the execution of large-scale warehouse automation and material handling system implementations for some of the world's most sophisticated distribution and fulfillment operations. This role serves as the executive delivery leader for highly complex, multi-disciplinary automation projects involving mechanical systems, controls, software, robotics, and operational integration. The Senior Project Manager is accountable for overall project performance, including scope, schedule, budget, quality, safety, risk management, and customer satisfaction from project kickoff through final acceptance. The ideal candidate brings extensive experience leading greenfield distribution center implementations and large-scale automation deployments, with a proven ability to manage executive-level customer relationships, complex stakeholder environments, and project portfolios valued between $25M and $50M+. This position requires strong customer-facing leadership, executive communication skills, and significant on-site presence during installation, startup, commissioning, and go-live activities.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, Supply Chain, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
- 8+ years of project management experience delivering warehouse automation, material handling, industrial automation, systems integration, manufacturing, or industrial construction projects.
- Demonstrated experience leading large, complex automation implementations valued between $25M and $50M+.
- Proven success managing multi-disciplinary project teams across engineering, controls, software, installation, commissioning, and operational workstreams.
- Experience leading projects through installation, startup, commissioning, go-live, and customer acceptance phases.
- Strong executive-level customer engagement and stakeholder management experience.
- Demonstrated success managing project budgets, schedules, subcontractors, commercial issues, and customer relationships.
- Experience developing and maintaining detailed project schedules using Microsoft Project or similar scheduling tools.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, negotiation, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment with competing priorities.
- Willingness to travel extensively and maintain an on-site presence during implementation activities.
Nice To Haves
- Experience leading greenfield distribution center, fulfillment center, or warehouse automation implementations.
- Experience managing projects exceeding $40M-$100M in total project value.
- Knowledge of automated material handling technologies including conveyors, sortation systems, ASRS, robotics, AMRs, shuttle systems, pallet handling systems, and related automation solutions.
- Experience with Warehouse Control Systems (WCS), Warehouse Execution Systems (WES), Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), and automation software platforms.
- Experience within a systems integration, warehouse automation, material handling, or industrial automation organization.
- PMP certification strongly preferred.
- Experience mentoring project managers and contributing to PMO or project governance initiatives.
Responsibilities
- Lead the execution of FORTNA's most complex and strategic warehouse automation and material handling projects valued up to $50M+.
- Serve as the primary customer-facing project leader and executive escalation point throughout project execution.
- Direct all phases of project delivery, including engineering, procurement, controls integration, software deployment, installation, commissioning, startup, and customer acceptance.
- Drive project performance across scope, schedule, budget, quality, safety, and customer satisfaction objectives.
- Establish project governance frameworks and lead executive steering committee meetings with customers and internal stakeholders.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams including Engineering, Controls, Software, Procurement, Construction, Commissioning, Operations, and third-party partners.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive project schedules, managing critical path activities, dependencies, and milestone achievement.
- Identify, assess, and proactively mitigate project risks while driving resolution of complex technical, operational, and commercial issues.
- Lead project execution during installation, startup, and go-live activities, ensuring successful integration of mechanical, controls, and software systems.
- Manage subcontractors, suppliers, and integration partners to ensure quality, safety, and schedule commitments are achieved.
- Monitor project financial performance, including forecasting, cost control, change management, revenue recognition support, and budget adherence.
- Facilitate communication among customers, contractors, executive leadership, and project stakeholders.
- Provide mentorship and coaching to Project Managers and junior project team members while promoting project management best practices.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives, lessons learned reviews, and process enhancements across the project delivery organization.
- Make timely business and operational decisions to maintain project momentum and achieve customer and company objectives.
- Travel to customer sites as required, with approximately 50% travel expected during active project phases.
Benefits
- The base salary range for this role is $115,900 to $173,800.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
