Program Manager Jobs in Lenexa, KS (NOW HIRING)

About Project MFG

America is running out of skilled tradespeople. Open jobs are going unfilled by the hundreds of thousands, and the gap is widening fast, putting our way of life and our national security at risk. The things that keep our country running and safe don't get built without the people who know how to build them.

Project MFG is a mission-driven organization on a bold quest to inspire the next generation to discover the trades and reframe them as what they really are: aspirational, high-impact careers that futures are built on. We do it through hands-on competitions, discovery events, networking, scholarships, and more that connect community, education, and industry around one shared goal: growing America's skilled trades pipeline.

As the need for skilled tradespeople grows more urgent, we're expanding our team to increase our reach and help close the gap.

The Program Manager leads a regional portfolio of Project MFG Experiences, ensuring every event advances our mission while delivering an exceptional experience for participants, educators, manufacturers, sponsors, and community partners. You'll own the planning, execution, performance, and continuous improvement of approximately 12–16 Experiences across an assigned region, serving as both the strategic leader behind the work and the senior on-site representative during execution.

This role is ideal for a highly organized leader who thrives in dynamic environments, enjoys building relationships, makes sound decisions under pressure, and can balance long-term strategy with hands-on execution.

This position reports to the Vice President of Community Impact. Regional portfolios include the Eastern United States, Western United States, and the Pacific region (Hawaii and Guam). Extensive travel is required.

What You'll Do

·     Lead a regional portfolio of approximately 12–16 Project MFG Experiences, ensuring every event aligns with organizational priorities and mission objectives.

·     Define success metrics, operational standards, and desired outcomes across your portfolio while driving continuous improvement from one Experience to the next.

·     Develop comprehensive plans for each Experience, identifying required resources, logistics, staffing, partnerships, and operational readiness.

·     Serve as the senior Project MFG representative on-site, leading event execution and making real-time operational decisions to ensure successful outcomes.

·     Build and maintain strong relationships with educators, manufacturers, sponsors, community partners, volunteers, and participants throughout planning and execution.

·     Monitor portfolio performance, evaluate results, and use feedback and data to improve future Experiences.

·     Manage portfolio budgets and allocate resources strategically to maximize organizational impact.

·     Identify operational risks and proactively develop solutions to keep Experiences on track.

·     Collaborate across departments to ensure marketing, communications, operations, logistics, partnerships, and programming are aligned before and during each Experience.

·     Develop and strengthen partnerships that expand Project MFG's reach and support long-term workforce development goals.

·     Represent Project MFG with professionalism and credibility in high-visibility public settings.

·     Contribute to the ongoing development of best practices, operational standards, and scalable processes that support organizational growth.

What You Bring

·     Seven to ten or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience in program management, operations, workforce development, education, large-scale events, or another complex, multi-stakeholder environment.

·     Demonstrated success managing multiple concurrent programs or initiatives with accountability for outcomes, budgets, and performance.

·     Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate organizational goals into actionable plans and measurable results.

·     Excellent leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence diverse stakeholders.

·     Confidence making informed decisions in fast-paced, live-event environments.

·     Experience managing budgets, allocating resources, and balancing competing priorities.

·     Ability to analyze performance data and apply insights to improve future programming.

·     High level of professionalism, adaptability, and sound judgment while representing the organization publicly.

·     Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.

·     Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard business productivity tools.

Education

·     Bachelor's degree preferred in Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Education, Project Management, Event Management, or a related field.

·     Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or comparable program management training is a plus.

Additional Requirements

·     Ability and willingness to travel extensively throughout the year, including overnight and multi-day assignments.

·     Comfortable serving as the senior on-site leader responsible for operational execution and stakeholder experience.

·     Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.

·     Commitment to Project MFG's mission of promoting, elevating, and accelerating the skilled trades.

We invite you to apply today and join us in promoting, elevating, and accelerating the trades.