Senior Strategic Project Manager

Smithfield Foods is a food manufacturing company producing pork and packaged meat products. The Senior Strategic Project Manager leads complex engineering projects, overseeing project teams, budgets, schedules, scope, communication, and risk management while developing innovative robotic and controls solutions. The role also provides technical guidance, manages stakeholders and vendors, and addresses business and regulatory issues.

Responsibilities:

• Develops and executes the overall project to ensure success through team development, multiple plans (budget, schedule, communication, risk management, etc), and necessary monitoring with corrective action
• Develops the overall budget through thorough good engineering practices to ensure an accurate cost estimate to enable the organization to make a well-informed decision
• Executes the project with pro-active budget control ensuring that each sub-team manages their budgets
• Develops the overall schedule with good engineering practices to provide a realistic schedule
• Monitors the schedule and proactively scans the internal and external situation to ensure the project is delivered as specified
• Develops the preliminary engineering designs to meet the stated need of the project
• Monitors the scope, maintaining the original project scope preventing unnecessary scope creep while keeping the leadership actively informed of any necessary changes
• May lead multiple teams responsible for sections of the project
• Develops and executes management routines to provide oversight and guidance to ensure each team and project section is successful
• Develops communication plans to ensure that the organization is actively engaged and always aware of the status of the project
• Pro-actively communicates potential issues with the recommended solution in advance of it becoming a problem
• Continuously improves upon robotic and controls knowledge to execute innovative solutions
• Interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Engineering or related field and 8+ years of relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required
• 2+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development or project leadership is required
• Ability to apply sound engineering principles to operational and design issues
• Knowledge of installation and construction project scheduling
• Must possess Project Management skills; Contract Administration skills; National codes and standards interpretation skills
• Proficient in engineering economics
• Proficient in AutoCAD
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software and Word processing software, other Microsoft Office products
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, organizational planning, teamwork, analytical reasoning, and adaptability
• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment
• Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment
• Travel is required with extended overnight stays
• The majority of the time is spent in an office setting outside of the production plant. The plant environment will include wet or humid conditions (non-weather related), extreme cold and heat (non-weather related), working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, and chemicals
• Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud when in the production area
• Knowledge of engineering principles and techniques related to food processing and the meat industry, preferred
• Previous experience in the management of multi-million dollar projects with large scopes, desirable