Job Description

Project Manager I

POSITION OVERVIEW

This is an entry level project management seat for someone who wants to learn how engineered industrial products get built, shipped, and delivered, with senior project managers backing you up while you learn. You will run your own customer projects from purchase order through closeout. These are typically orders up to about $250,000 built at a single manufacturing location. You will keep sales, engineering, operations, and the customer working from the same plan. You do not need an engineering degree. Organization, follow-through, and curiosity matter more.

Salary: Based on experience

Location: Cleveland, OH (on-site)

Schedule: Monday through Friday

Employment Type: Full time, on-site

Travel: Not typically required

CLIENT OVERVIEW

An established Cleveland-based manufacturer of engineered fluid handling and filtration equipment. Its customers are in power generation, marine, municipal water, oil and gas, steel, and other industrial markets. The company runs manufacturing operations in the U.S. and overseas. Its project management team works closely with sales, engineering, and the shop floor to deliver custom equipment on schedule.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Execution:

• Manage assigned customer projects from purchase order acceptance through production, shipment, and closeout, with guidance from senior project managers on complex issues
• Review customer purchase orders, specifications, schedules, and terms and conditions
• Maintain project schedules, milestones, action items, and documentation requirements
• Support multiple active projects at once, with help prioritizing from senior project managers

Coordination:

• Coordinate project activity, typically within a single manufacturing location
• Work with production and operations teams to monitor manufacturing progress and flag schedule issues early
• Coordinate with engineering on drawings, technical submittals, customer approvals, and project-specific questions
• Work with outside vendors and suppliers to keep project schedules on track
• Serve as an internal point of contact across project management, sales, engineering, operations, quality, and purchasing

Customer Communication and Reporting:

• Participate in customer kickoff meetings, project reviews, scheduling discussions, and progress meetings
• Communicate with customers on project status, schedules, and documentation
• Track changes in project scope and help assess the schedule impact of customer-requested changes
• Escalate schedule, technical, or supply chain risks to senior project managers or leadership
• Maintain organized project documentation and provide regular status updates to internal management

REQUIREMENTS

Required:

• 0 to 3 years of experience in project management, program management, manufacturing, or a related environment
• Strong organizational and follow-up skills, with the ability to juggle multiple projects and priorities
• Ability to read and understand purchase orders, specifications, and project schedules
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with customers, vendors, sales, engineers, and manufacturing teams
• Comfort participating in customer meetings alongside senior project managers
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Ability to work on-site in Cleveland, OH

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, manufacturing, construction management, project management, or a related field
• Engineering or technical background (helpful, not required)
• Exposure to purchase orders, customer specifications, or multi-department coordination
• PMP or similar certification, or interest in pursuing one
• Experience in a manufacturing environment

BENEFITS

• Defined growth path from Project Manager I to Project Manager II and III as experience and project complexity grow
• Day to day mentorship from an experienced project management team
• Right-sized projects to build your skills before taking on larger accounts
• Broad exposure to engineering, manufacturing, sales, and purchasing
• Little to no travel