Director Project Management

Your journey to building a better world starts here!

WHO WE ARE

We help create products that build a better world across a variety of industries:

Healthcare and Life Sciences
Aerospace and Defense
Industrial

Some examples of products include:

Ultrasound units
Robotic surgical devices
Molecular diagnostics instruments
Radar design and space applications
Electric-assist Bicycles

WHY WE LOVE IT

At Plexus, we’re at our best when opportunities are met with passion, open communication and teamwork. Our engineers work alongside a global team of experts who engage in projects that span a variety of industries – helping our customers in creating the products that build a better world.

At Plexus, you will find:

A workplace centered on collaboration and integrity
Supportive leadership teams that value work life balance through a flexible work environment
An inclusive environment which values diverse backgrounds, experiences and expertise
Flexible career paths across a variety of disciplines
Innovative design solutions and state-of-the-art technology that improves lives

We believe that our people create our best Plexus. At Plexus, we value the ideas generated by our collective uniqueness and recognize that the diverse backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives of our team members enable us to create the innovative products that build a better world. Because of this, we encourage people of all backgrounds to apply to our positions, and will look at candidates holistically, balancing work, education and additional experiences.

HOW YOU WILL DO IT

Purpose Statement: Manages and develops the Project Management staff within a Design Center. Insures use of best practices and adherence to Quality System SOPs with respect to project management tools, techniques and procedures, while monitoring overall health and financial performance of active projects. Works closely with the Senior Site Director (Design Center) and Senior Management in all areas of quality, P&L, budgeting, staffing and training.

Key Job Accountabilities:

Insures operational project oversight is established and executed appropriately throughout the lifecycle of each design center project/proposal effort through either direct oversight by the DPM or other organizational approaches.
Directly provides and or insures through other organizational approaches effective coaching and mentoring to the PM team members necessary for project success as well as effective career and leadership development.
Insures that Site/operation's perspective is effectively driven into customer account and opportunity strategy planning; assigns PM ownership for leading proposal efforts and provides oversight to the process and team to insure success.
Develops an effective design center PM team strategic plan that consists of organizational, staffing and capabilities development that is aligned with the strategic goals of Plexus and PLXS-ENG; appropriately implements this plan by effective hiring, training and development of the PM organization.
Effectively develops and leverages senior level relationships with external and internal (sector/region/manufacturing) customers in order to best manage customer programs and meet the financial and strategic goals of the design center and Plexus.
Accountable to execute on Plexus’ Best People strategy, leaders will focus on evaluating potential, driving succession planning and ensuring that their employees receive the development and coaching required to realize their full potential.

Additional Accountabilities:

Fosters and actively cultivates a Lean Sigma culture through promotion of the Lean philosophy, support of and direct participation in Lean Sigma activities (including RIEs and Report-outs), and application of the tools (including but not limited to A3, DMAIC, Value Stream Mapping, 5S, etc.).
Manage Project Management staff growth through recruiting, screening, interviewing and selection of internal and external candidates.
Conduct Project Management performance appraisals and complete on a timely basis. Assist Project Managers with career development plans.
Identify and recommend continuing education and training needs for existing and new staff members. This training should develop individual and Project Management group skills, as well as consider the individual's skills and background.
Develop project management capabilities through training, coaching, group and individual meetings and discussion.
Assign Project Management resources and assist in the development of project teams with input from the Functional Managers, Project Managers, and Director of Engineering. Ensure design complexity, customer strategic importance, and team experience is properly balanced.
Manage and own the Design Center individual project P/Ls. Maintain a focus on project variances and project financial forecasting. Detect potential variance issues and work with Project Managers and customers to obtain resolution before they become problems. Ensure the Design Center maintains the target conversion efficiency.
Review Design Center proposals prior to submitting to customer. Provide data on feasibility, cost, schedules, capabilities, resource availability, and contractual obligations for proposal development. Utilize risk management to determine the appropriate pricing model. Negotiate terms and conditions if necessary.
Participate in employee, intra-project, and customer conflict resolution. Support the Project Manager at project crisis meetings.
Participate in the development of Design Center objectives. Develop specific group goals and objectives to support those of Plexus Engineering Solutions and the Design Center.
Work in cooperation (as a team) with the Senior Site Director and Director of Engineering to manage all project-oriented income and cost categories, including (but not limited to) staffing levels, capital budgeting, project variance management, etc.
Develop and maintain the Project Management capital expenditure budget. Work in cooperation with other Design Center leaders to define common project management and computer system’s needs.
Ensure project management process quality through quality guideline revisions, development of corrective actions, planning of continuous improvement, and support of the Quality Improvement Process.
Facilitate the continuous improvement of the project management and product development processes. Ensure consistency within our processes.
Ensure customer satisfaction through review of customer satisfaction surveys and participation in customer meetings.
Establish, track and periodically benchmark group performance metrics including cycle-time, cost, quality, technology, etc. Utilize this information to improve processes, modify pricing, etc.
Serve as the focal point for existing customer development. Work with Senior Site Director and Directors of Engineering Solutions to ensure that Design Center target customers are properly developed.
Serve as the primary Design Center contact for identified target customers.
Participate in new business development by working with Director of Engineering Solutions, sales, potential customers, project directors and individual team members to ensure the accuracy, applicability and success of proposal efforts.
Ensure Project Managers are securing additional projects from their customers. Take an active role in securing business from anchor customers. Own and cultivate these existing customer opportunities.
Provides Design Center leadership in conjunction with Senior Site Director and other Directors.
Work with other Design Center Directors of Project Management to insure consistent use of best practices, policies and procedures across Plexus Engineering Solutions.
Manage key customer projects.
Perform all other tasks as assigned.
Minimal travel may be required to meet the needs of the business (estimated 50%).
Additional duties as assigned.

Education/Experience Qualifications:

A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field is required; a Master's degree in Engineering or Business Administration is preferred.
Nine (9) years of related experience is required; Ten (10) or more years of related experience is preferred.

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the key job accountabilities may be considered.

Other Qualifications:

Intermediate Computer Skills
Advanced Decision making, Problem Solving Skills
Advanced Verbal and Written Communication Skills
Ability to work in a group environment
Possess strong team building skills
Possess good management skills and knowledge of management principles
Possess good organizational, presentation, and leadership skills
Ability to handle demanding schedules
Possess conflict resolution and negotiation skills
General office equipment and materials

Work Environment:

The work setting should consist of an office environment with suitable lighting, comfortable temperatures, and a low noise level.

This document does not represent a contract of employment and is not intended to capture every possible assignment the incumbent could be asked to perform.

Some offers of employment are contingent upon successfully passing a drug screen and upon completion of a confidentiality agreement.

Our Values and How We Lead behaviors guide our processes. Plexus does not make employment decisions based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and encourage all to apply today!

Globally, our policy is to recruit people from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, our company does not typically undertake sponsorship, including for H-1B, TN, and other nonimmigrant visas. Additionally, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Applicants for these positions may need to be “U.S. persons.” “U.S. persons” are generally defined as U.S. citizens, nationals, lawful permanent residents (or, green card holders), individuals granted asylum, and individuals admitted as refugees.

By Plexus

For over 40 years, Plexus has partnered with global brands to deliver Manufacturing, Engineering and Aftermarket Service solutions in pursuit of building a better world. While our logo isn’t seen in the market, our impact is felt across industrie...

10 jobs

FUNDING

Growth

INDUSTRY

Electronics Manufacturing

TEAM SIZE

10000+

LOCATION

Hybrid, based in Neenah, WI

DATE POSTED

July 21, 2023