Manufacturing Project Manager Jobs in Evanston, IL

Job Description

WHO WE ARE

Founded in 1959 by Ed Miller near Chicago, Prince Industries has grown from a one-man shop into a global manufacturing partner. With seven facilities across the U.S. and China, we serve industries from hydraulics to aerospace, handling everything from just-in-time components to high-volume assemblies.

At Prince, we don’t just make parts—we solve complex supply chain challenges. We are a strategic partner, focused on helping clients improve products, reduce costs, and simplify operations. Certified to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485, and AS9100 standards, we combine quality, innovation, and growth-minded thinking to deliver real value.

JOB SUMMARY

The Project Manager is responsible for owning customer programs from handoff through execution, ensuring alignment across Sales, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations. This role drives schedule adherence, communication clarity, and issue resolution for active programs, with a strong focus on execution discipline, customer requirements, and risk management.

The Project Manager serves as the internal owner for assigned programs, ensuring that commitments made to customers are clearly understood, documented, and executed across all functions and facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Own assigned customer programs from internal handoff through production execution and delivery.
• Serve as the primary internal point of contact for program coordination, ensuring alignment between Sales, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations.
• Maintain clear program schedules, milestones, and deliverables; proactively identify risks to cost, schedule, or quality.
• Ensure customer requirements, approvals, and documentation are clearly captured, communicated, and followed.
• Coordinate internal reviews and cross‑functional meetings to support program execution and issue resolution.
• Track program status, open actions, and risks; escalate issues early with clear recommendations.
• Support customer communication in partnership with Sales, ensuring consistent messaging and follow‑through.
• Proactively coordinate and escalate schedules with outside processors, suppliers, and material partners to prevent delays and maintain workflow continuity.
• Monitor material flow, identify risks or bottlenecks, and drive timely resolutions through effective communication and collaboration across internal and external teams.
• Ensure changes in scope, requirements, or priorities are documented, communicated, and aligned internally.
• Partner with Quality and Engineering on customer-driven requirements, approvals, and corrective actions.
• Support new program launches, including onboarding, documentation alignment, and readiness reviews.
• Drive continuous improvement in program execution, communication flow, and handoff processes.
• Travel to Prince facilities and customer sites as required.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong organizational and execution skills with the ability to manage multiple active programs.Clear, direct communicator; able to align cross‑functional teams and manage expectations.
• Strong attention to detail and follow‑through.
• Ability to identify risks early and drive resolution.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, manufacturing environment with tight customer requirements.
• Strong problem‑solving skills with a practical, execution‑focused mindset.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with ERP and project tracking tools preferred.
• Ability to work effectively across multiple facilities and functional teams.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in project management, program management, or operations within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting aerospace, space, defense, or other regulated industries strongly preferred.
• Prior experience coordinating cross‑functional teams required.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Regularly required to stand and reach the duration of shift, 8-10 hours.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to access and navigate production facilities.
• Ability to travel as required to support programs across facilities.

Benefits

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical insurance (PPO and HDHP with HSA) w/ Prescription Coverage
• Dental PPO Insurance
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Company Paid Life Insurance and AD & D – Including options to add on additional life insurance for yourself, spouse & children.
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• 401(k) Fidelity Plan with strong employer match
• Personal Retirement Advisor
• Generous PTO Policy and 9 Paid Holidays per year
• 100% Tuition Reimbursement for Job-Related Classes
• Personal Protective Equipment reimbursement (safety glasses, shoes, etc.)
• Uniform Rental Service
• Employee Events

Due to ITAR regulations, only U.S. persons—defined as U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders), and U.S. nationals—are eligible for this position.

*We are an Equal Employment Opportunity ("EEO") Employer. Applicants can learn more about Prince's status as an equal opportunity employer by viewing the federal "EEO is the Law" poster ( https://www.eeoc.gov/employers )