Program Manager - Inline Plastics

Inline Plastics is the leading manufacturer of innovative, high quality, crystal clear, food packaging containers. The company transformed the marketplace with their Safe-T-Fresh® line, a premium, tamper-resistant and tamper-evident product which utilizes the patented tear-strip technology, providing retailers and consumers with greater product protection. We continue to design and manufacture packaging solutions that keep food products safe, fresh, and enhance shelf merchandising while keeping sustainability front and center of everything we do. The company also offers the most complete line of automated equipment to load, close and label their containers. Headquartered in Shelton, CT, Inline Plastics celebrated 50th Anniversary in 2018. For more information on our vast line of award-winning products, visit www.inlineplastics.com.

The Program Manager is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, implementation, execution, control and completion of projects related to new product launches and tool capacity expansion ensuring consistency with company strategy, commitments and goals. The Program Manager will define the project’s objectives, formulate schedules with milestones, coordinate activities, and ensure all deliverables are satisfied throughout the entire project until the new product(s) and tool(s) are successfully commercialized. This position will work closely with Managers, Supervisors and associates in the following departments: RD&E, Marketing / Product Group, Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Accounting, Purchasing and external suppliers.

This role will also participate in defining and executing Program Management Office (PMO) processes and policies and maintaining stakeholder and customer relationships. The Program Manager reports to the PMO lead in the Research, Development & Engineering (RD&E) department.

Essential Job Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential functions/duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties/functions may be added or assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws

Operations

• Leads a cross-functional team to deliver projects/products within the constraints of schedule, budget and scope
• Formulates project schedule(s) considering the procurement and delivery of new tools and other associated activities that result in the successful launch of new products and/or the commercialization of new tools to enhance manufacturing capacity
• Develops alternative schedules and plans for different business scenarios in order to identify and/or remove constraints resulting in the timely completion of project(s)
• Identifies, coordinates and ensures the procurement of thermoforming tooling, raw materials, marketing materials, QA fixtures and other items necessary to successfully launch new products per the project schedule
• Formulates, maintains and consistently publishes the status of tooling procurement activities that includes the project name, product description, vendor, target delivery date and estimated days to actual delivery
• Schedules preliminary and final design review meetings with tooling vendors and Inline Plastics’ cross-functional team members to ensure tooling is designed and built according to IPC’s standards and specifications
• Coordinates the delivery of technical and project related information from RD&E, Manufacturing, Sales, Marketing, and QA to project team members
• Acts as an intermediary to resolve schedule and resource conflicts between team members or departments that affect the successful timely completion of the project
• Participates in the development of a full functioning PMO for IPC, including consistent methods and tools for project initiation, team structure, risk management, new product development processes, project/program reviews, escalation processes, business case development and cross-functional team leadership
• Participates in driving a continuous improvement culture/mindset with respect to project delivery and leadership demonstrated through the utilization of useful project performance metrics and defined performance improvement plans
• Ensures that projects are communicated effectively within project teams and to key stakeholders outside of the project teams
• Ensures a high level of project planning to develop realistic timelines and budgets, and monitor variances to the targets across projects
• Implements and reports on project performance metrics (KPIs) to provide a data-centric view of project performance and to validate improvement on an ongoing basis
• Participates in communicating and driving the adoption and alignment of standards, policies and procedures across the business, globally
• Participates in driving the use of best practices and applies lessons learned to improve select performance outcomes
• Participates in strategic implementation of major engineering, technology & innovation strategies and initiatives
• Resolves individual, project and team issues across the cross-functional matrix
• Contributes in maintaining a project management system
• Applies Operational Excellence concepts to identify and eliminate non-value-added tasks and/or activities in the product development process
• Participates in annual PMO, PDP, and R&D forums
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with other departments
• Travels to external suppliers and other Inline Plastics facilities up to 20% of the time may be necessary

Minimum Requirements (include education, experience, special skills, licenses and/or certifications required.)

The list below represents the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education and/or Experience - Bachelor's Degree from a four-year college or university. Preferred experience in project management in a manufacturing or an engineering environment with a proven track record of managing multiple projects simultaneously. Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from Project Management Institute (PMI) is beneficial. Working knowledge of software programs required – Microsoft Project, Word, PowerPoint, Excel. Experience using data analysis to drive decisions (familiarity with statistics) a plus.
• Computer Skills – Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Project.
• Skills / Competencies - Strong organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to proactively take initiative and complete tasks in a timely manner. Prior leadership experience in a technical capacity in related industries. Prior experience identifying key risks and critical factors for project success and adapting project methodology to ensure results. Ability to manage cross-functional teams, prioritize, and project plan while ensuring all relevant issues have been factored. Excellent communications skills, strong customer relationships, leadership skills and team building competencies. Excellent time management skills.

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Inline Plastics Corp. is an EO employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability or protected veteran status.