Program Manager (Plastics)

Program Manager

Our client is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead engineering resources and the execution of tooling, product launch, and manufacturing projects within a highly technical production environment. This role combines program management, engineering leadership, injection molding expertise, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and in alignment with customer and financial objectives. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in plastic injection molding, tooling, and project or program management, along with the leadership skills to develop engineering teams, manage competing priorities, and drive projects from initial planning through successful production launch. This is a primarily onsite position with approximately 10-25% travel and occasional cross-site support.

Responsibilities include recruiting, developing, supervising, and allocating workloads across the project engineering team. The role also involves identifying training and development needs and supporting the ongoing growth of engineering personnel. Lead tooling and product launch projects to meet customer requirements, timelines, scope, and financial objectives. Maintain consolidated project tracking and portfolio reporting, including launch timing, workload, capacity, resources, risks, and major deliverables. Prioritize projects and resources while proactively identifying and escalating risks, delays, or scope changes. Ensure appropriate engineering support for scientific molding, assembly-process development, tooling, specifications, bills of material, and production transfers. Lead the evaluation and implementation of new processes, technologies, and engineering improvements. Ensure appropriate qualifications and validations are completed while supporting root-cause investigations and corrective actions. Develop procedures that improve the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of engineering services. Manage project economics, including resource trade-offs, NRE, budgets, and the financial impact of delays or scope changes. Establish and maintain engineering and launch KPIs, analyze trends, and report portfolio performance to leadership. Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives. Review dimensional reports and ensure appropriate action plans are developed for tooling improvements. Partner with Quality, Tooling, Operations, Sales, Human Resources, and other teams to ensure successful project execution. Support Sales and quoting activities as a technical subject-matter expert in injection molding, tooling, manufacturability, and launch requirements. Coordinate cross-site activities involving capacity transfers, tooling strategies, supplier escalations, and resource allocation. Complete team administration responsibilities, including timecard and PTO approvals.

Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent relevant industry experience. 8-10 years of project or program management experience preferred, including experience within plastic injection molding. Strong working knowledge of plastic injection molding processes and injection mold tooling. Experience leading engineering projects, tooling programs, product launches, or manufacturing transfers. Strong understanding of project planning, resource allocation, risk management, budgets, and project economics. General knowledge of automation systems and manufacturing equipment. Ability to interpret product drawings, tooling drawings, specifications, and dimensional reports. Proficiency with CAD, Microsoft Office, and MRP/ERP systems. Working knowledge of applicable ISO requirements, process and document controls, and GMPs. Strong leadership, communication, interpersonal, and team-development skills. Ability to work primarily onsite and travel approximately 10-25% as required. Preferred Qualifications include PMP certification. Experience leading or developing project engineering teams. Experience with scientific molding, process development, validation, and tooling qualification. Background supporting regulated or highly controlled manufacturing environments. Experience managing multiple simultaneous tooling and product launch programs across sites. Knowledge of continuous improvement and root-cause problem-solving methodologies.