Strategic Project Engineering Manager

Strategic Project Engineering Manager

Company: Confidential - food manufacturer
Location: North Carolina or Virginia (Kinston, NC area)
Compensation: $125,000 - $155,000 + bonus
Employment Type: Full-time

About the Company

Our client is a food manufacturer investing in industrial equipment automation across its meat processing operations in North Carolina and Virginia.

The Role

This Strategic Project Engineering Manager role is for someone passionate about technology and innovation in industrial equipment automation. You will drive automation projects for the meat processing industry, work closely with business partners and cross-functional teams to understand automation needs, and translate them into practical solutions. As a trusted authority on automation project management, you will take on the most complex challenges and turn concepts into running systems.

What You Will Do

• Develop preliminary designs and specifications for engineering and materials, and prepare project cost estimates.
• Conduct research, feasibility studies and economic studies to confirm designs are viable and cost-effective.
• Determine design criteria from required standards and codes; validate field work and create as-built drawings.
• Review engineering projects for accuracy and soundness, and manage execution by directing vendors and contractors.
• Coordinate project schedules with plant personnel, vendors and contractors, aligned with management and engineering teams.
• Direct equipment vendors on layouts, utility requirements and installation schedules.
• Review consultant work products and recommend adjustments.
• Maintain complete project documentation: equipment manuals, mechanical and electrical drawings, parts lists, specifications and vendor contacts.
• Lead pre-project planning, design and operational reviews; define scope, prepare requests for proposals and evaluate responses.
• Administer contracts, including reviewing bid packages for compliance and completeness.
• Prepare justifications, budget analyses, calculations, plans and schedules, and manage assigned budgets through installation.
• Keep building robotics and controls knowledge to deliver new solutions.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field and 5+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 2+ years of leadership experience, including team development and management
• Layout and design experience, and knowledge of installation and construction project scheduling
• Experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets and large-scope projects
• Project management, contract administration, and national codes and standards interpretation skills
• Proficiency in engineering economics, AutoCAD, Excel and Microsoft Office
• Knowledge of engineering principles and techniques related to food processing and the meat industry
• Ability to travel to other locations about 50% of the time

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