Research Associate Project Manager Jobs in Minnesota

Description

Gray's Specialty Equipment segment offers a comprehensive range of expert services to design, manufacture, integrate, install, and maintain some of the most advanced systems on the market. The Specialty Equipment segment includes Anderson Dahlen, located in Ramsey, MN, and Waconia, MN. Anderson Dahlen delivers end-to-end equipment design-build and contract manufacturing, with precision fabrication - cutting, forming, machining, welding, finishing, and complex assemblies - backed by engineering, integration, and complete process solutions including skids and sanitary platforms tailored to customer applications. Anderson Dahlen is ISO 9001:2015 certified, as well as ASME, AWS, and PED compliant. 

The wage range for this role takes into account a wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, certifications, as well as other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is $72,000 to $104,000/annually. 

Our comprehensive health plan options, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, provide our team members with the tools they need for treatment, preventative care, exams, and prescriptions.  ADI's life, disability, and supplemental insurance options provide peace of mind and support to rely on in challenging times. Our team members overseas are offered private health insurance, life insurance, and an employee assistance program (EAP). 

Visa Sponsorship: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. 

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION:

The Associate Project Manager (APM) is an early-career role on the Pharma Business Unit at Anderson Dahlen Inc. (ADI). The APM supports the Pharma Business Unit on active pharma and bioprocessing orders and manages the order stack from initiation through on-time completion.

A core part of the role is operationalizing ADI's customer rules of engagement with strategic enterprise accounts. The APM partners with the Pharma Account Manager to enforce disciplined intake, classify new requests and change orders into the agreed demand buckets, maintain the operating cadence (scorecards, status reports, change order logs), and protect on-time delivery and lead time commitments. The APM coordinates job flow across Sales, Engineering, Procurement, and Operations, and with external customers, consistent with ADI goals, budget, and customer satisfaction.

This position is designed for a recent graduate with strong aptitude, organization, and a hunger to learn the pharma equipment and bioprocessing business from the ground up.

MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:

• Supports the business unit on coordinating and managing the customer order stack, including scheduling and tracking deliverables across engineering, procurement, manufacturing, and delivery.
• Builds and maintains project trackers, schedules, and dashboards in Microsoft Excel and the ERP system. Surfaces risks, bottlenecks, and schedule slippage early.
• Coordinates with Engineering, Procurement, and Operations to acquire materials, expedite items, and arrange subcontracting when needed.
• Communicates project status, milestones, scope alignment, and change orders to internal and external stakeholders.
• Executes ADI's customer rules of engagement for strategic enterprise accounts, including governance, escalation paths, and service-level commitments.
• Owns the intake discipline for new requests and change orders. Classifies into the agreed demand buckets and confirms lead times and commitments against the firm platform (the locked production schedule).
• Maintains the change order log, tracks variance against plan, and surfaces patterns that drive rework, indirect cost, or on-time delivery risk.
• Supports project financial tracking, surfaces budget variance early, and partners with the Pharma Account Manager on commercial implications of scope and schedule changes.
• Builds and runs the operational cadence with strategic customers, including weekly and monthly scorecards, status reports, and review packs, in partnership with the Pharma Account Manager.
• Partners with the Pharma Account Manager on customer-facing touchpoints, escalations, and continuous improvement actions that support predictability, lead time reduction, and time-to-market.
• Supports customer interactions, including drawing approvals, change orders, FAT, and SAT coordination under the guidance of the Pharma Account Manager.
• Represents ADI to customers with honesty, integrity, and a professional demeanor.
• Maintains a positive attitude, asks questions, demonstrates curiosity, and has a strong desire to learn.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS FOR ENTRY:

• BS degree required in one of the following: Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Manufacturing Engineering, Business, or a closely related technical or business discipline.
• 0-2 years of experience. Recent graduates are strongly encouraged to apply. Internship or co-op experience in manufacturing, supply chain, operations, or project management preferred.
• Coursework, certifications, or demonstrated exposure to project management (e.g., CAPM, PMI coursework, CPIM/CSCP, capstone projects, or relevant academic work) preferred.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills required, including formulas, lookups, pivot tables, and basic data analysis. Will be evaluated as part of the interview.
• Basic ability to read engineering drawings.
• Exposure to ERP systems is a plus.
• Exposure to a manufacturing environment (welding, fabrication, or control panel manufacturing) is a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including client-facing situations.
• Detail-oriented, organized, fast learner, and self-motivated. Comfortable juggling multiple priorities.
• Comfortable working onsite full-time in a manufacturing environment in Ramsey, MN.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The company fosters a manufacturing-type environment. This position will primarily involve operating a computer at a desk in an office environment. 

• Lift/Carry- 0-10 lbs.- Occasionally, 11-50 lbs.- Never, 51-100 lbs.- Never
• Push/Pull-0-25 lbs.- Occasionally, 26-75 lbs.- Never, 76-100 lbs.- Never
• Bend- 0-33% during an 8-hour shift
• Twist/Turn- 0-33% during an 8-hour shift
• Kneel/Squat- Not at all
• Sit- 67-100% during an 8-hour shift.
• Stand/Walk- 0-33% during an 8-hour shift
• Overhead Reaching- 0-33% during an 8-hour shift
• Ladder/Stair- 0-33% during an 8-hour shift

EEO DISCLAIMER:

Gray is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes everyone to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.