Strategic Project Manager

APPLIED Adhesives is a leader in adhesive solutions, dedicated to innovative products and operational efficiency. The Strategic Project Manager will lead internal corporate projects, ensuring timely execution of strategic initiatives and process improvements while collaborating with various stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end project management for internal corporate initiatives from initiation through closure
• Develop comprehensive project plans including scope, schedule, budget, resource requirements, and risk mitigation strategies
• Define project objectives, deliverables, and success criteria in collaboration with stakeholders
• Execute projects according to established methodologies and best practices
• Monitor and control project performance using appropriate tools and metrics
• Identify and engage project stakeholders across all organizational levels
• Facilitate effective communication among project team members, sponsors, and affected departments
• Conduct regular status meetings and provide timely updates on project progress, risks, and issues
• Manage stakeholder expectations and ensure alignment with project objectives
• Build and maintain strong working relationships across functional areas
• Identify resource needs and coordinate with department managers to secure appropriate personnel for project activities
• Manage project team dynamics and facilitate effective collaboration among cross-functional team members
• Balance project demands with operational priorities in partnership with functional leaders
• Coordinate external vendor relationships and manage third-party deliverables when applicable
• Proactively identify, assess, and document project risks and issues
• Develop and implement risk mitigation and issue resolution strategies
• Escalate critical risks and issues to appropriate leadership with recommended solutions
• Maintain risk and issue logs with clear ownership and action plans
• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation including charters, plans, status reports, and lessons learned
• Develop and distribute regular status reports to stakeholders and leadership
• Document key decisions, changes, and approvals throughout the project lifecycle
• Ensure project deliverables are properly documented and transitioned to operational teams
• Manage a prioritized queue of corporate projects and provide visibility into capacity and workload
• Participate in project intake and prioritization processes
• Provide input on project feasibility, resource requirements, and timeline estimates
• Support evaluation of new project requests and business cases
• Implement and maintain consistent project management methodologies and tools
• Coordinate with the Program Manager to ensure alignment on tools and approaches
• Identify opportunities to improve project execution and organizational capabilities
• Conduct post-project reviews and capture lessons learned for continuous improvement
• Stay current with project management best practices and industry trends
• Support and adhere to all safety procedures and complete all required safety training
• Identify and support improvement opportunities for processes to support company objectives and customer expectations

Requirements:

• Associates's Degree required
• Minimum 5 years of progressive project management experience
• Demonstrated success managing multiple concurrent projects of varying size and complexity
• Experience with IT implementations, process improvement initiatives, or corporate infrastructure projects
• Track record of delivering projects on time and within budget
• Strong knowledge of project management methodologies, tools, and best practices
• Proficiency with project management software and collaboration tools
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with ability to engage effectively at all organizational levels
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Demonstrated leadership and team facilitation skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities and adapt to changing circumstances
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to influence without direct authority and build consensus across departments
• Strategic thinking with ability to align projects with business objectives
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Engineering, Information Technology, or related field preferred
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent
• Experience in manufacturing, distribution, or B2B services environment
• Agile or Scrum certification and experience
• Experience with ERP systems or business system implementations
• Knowledge of Lean or Six Sigma methodologies
• Change management training or certification