Operations Innovation Manager Jobs in North Carolina

Project/ Program Manager – Whipcart Production & Logistics

Position Overview

Gaylor Electric has been awarded a major production contract to manufacture and deliver the first 200 Whipcarts for a confidential hyperscale data center client’s commissioning operations. The Program Manager will lead this high-visibility initiative from production launch through final delivery, serving as the primary coordinator between the client, engineering, manufacturing, procurement, logistics, quality, and field operations.

This role requires a highly organized leader capable of managing multiple workstreams simultaneously while maintaining schedule, budget, quality, and customer satisfaction objectives. While the position encompasses all aspects of program management, there is a significant emphasis on logistics planning, inventory management, deployment coordination, and delivery execution across multiple client sites.

Travel: Periodic travel to client sites, manufacturing facilities, suppliers, and customer meetings.

Key Responsibilities

Customer & Program Leadership

• Serve as the primary customer-facing project lead for the confidential hyperscale data center client’s Whipcart program.
• Conduct regular program reviews with client stakeholders.
• Manage project scope, schedule, risks, milestones, and deliverables.
• Coordinate customer feedback, change requests, and deployment requirements.
• Provide executive-level reporting on production status, shipments, costs, and risks.
• Lead program kickoff, production readiness, and deployment planning meetings.

Production & Manufacturing Coordination

• Coordinate engineering, procurement, manufacturing, and quality teams to maintain production schedules.
• Track weekly production output and capacity planning.
• Monitor production bottlenecks and implement corrective actions.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to increase manufacturing efficiency.
• Ensure all Whipcarts meet quality standards before shipment.
• Coordinate engineering revisions, design improvements, and change management.

Logistics & Deployment Management

Primary Focus Area

• Develop and manage the master logistics plan for all Whipcart deliveries.
• Coordinate transportation, warehousing, inventory staging, and site deliveries.

• Manage deployment schedules across multiple client regions and project sites.

• Optimize shipping methods, freight costs, and delivery schedules.
• Coordinate loading, unloading, and site acceptance activities.
• Maintain visibility of all equipment in transit and at deployment locations.
• Track serial numbers, asset locations, and deployment status.
• Coordinate reverse logistics for repairs, warranty returns, upgrades, and redeployments.

• Ensure compliance with client site access, delivery, and documentation requirements.

Procurement & Supply Chain Management

• Coordinate procurement activities to support uninterrupted production.
• Monitor supplier performance, lead times, and material availability.
• Develop mitigation plans for long-lead or at-risk components.
• Manage inventory levels to support production and deployment schedules.
• Collaborate with sourcing teams to identify alternate suppliers and reduce risk.
• Support forecasting and demand planning activities.

Financial & Performance Management

• Track project budgets, labor performance, material expenditures, and logistics costs.
• Monitor program profitability and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Manage change orders and customer-driven scope adjustments.
• Maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) for:
• Production output
• On-time delivery
• Inventory accuracy
• Freight costs
• Customer satisfaction
• Quality metrics

Risk Management

• Identify schedule, procurement, manufacturing, and logistics risks.
• Develop contingency plans for supply chain disruptions.
• Escalate critical issues and drive resolution across functional teams.
• Maintain a comprehensive risk register and mitigation plan.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business, or related field preferred.
• 5+ years of project, program, operations, manufacturing, logistics, or supply chain management experience.
• Experience managing large-scale production or deployment programs.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing and supply chain operations.
• Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Power BI, and project management software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting hyperscale data center clients or mission-critical facilities.

• Experience with prefabrication, modular construction, or industrial manufacturing.
• Knowledge of logistics planning and transportation management.
• Experience managing production programs exceeding $10M.
• PMP certification or equivalent program management experience.
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems and inventory management tools.
• Understanding of commissioning, testing, and electrical distribution equipment.

Success Measures

The Program Manager will be evaluated on:

• Successful delivery of the first 200 Whipcarts for the confidential hyperscale data center client.

• On-time production milestones.
• On-time delivery performance.
• Reduction of logistics and freight costs.
• Inventory accuracy and asset traceability.
• Customer satisfaction and stakeholder engagement.
• Achievement of profitability objectives.
• Minimal production downtime due to material shortages.
• Successful scaling of future Whipcart production programs.

Why This Role Exists

This position is not a traditional construction PM role. It is a production program leadership role responsible for orchestrating the manufacturing, logistics, deployment, and customer coordination efforts required to successfully execute a high-volume product rollout for a confidential hyperscale data center client. The successful candidate will function as the central hub connecting the client, engineering, procurement, manufacturing, quality, and field operations to ensure the Whipcart program scales efficiently and profitably.