Project Manager

Description

ROLE DESCRIPTION

The Project Manager (PM) is responsible for leading design/build projects for custom power distribution equipment—including switchboards, docking stations, panelboards, and medium voltage switchgear—from post-sale kickoff through final shipment and closeout. This role is focused on establishing, maintaining, and executing milestone-based project plans across all departments (Sales, Engineering, Purchasing, Fabrication, Assembly, Quality, and Shipping). The ideal candidate is a highly responsive, proactive communicator and structured planner who drives internal accountability and external clarity to ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and aligned with customer expectations. Key performance indicators associated with this role include but are not limited to on-time delivery, customer satisfaction and profitability.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Project Planning & Milestone Management

• Develop and maintain high-level milestone schedules in ClickUp for all assigned projects
• Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, and Operations to align on scope, deliverables, and timeline expectations at project initiation
• Facilitate internal and customer-facing kickoff meetings to set expectations
• Own the development and communication of milestone updates and recovery plans if projects fall behind

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Ensure each department (Sales, ENG, Purchasing, Fab, Assembly, Quality, Shipping) understands and commits to their project milestones
• Drive accountability across teams for updating and completing assigned tasks on schedule
• Track and escalate risks to schedule, cost, or scope; drive resolution through clear action plans

Communication & Reporting

• Own daily and weekly internal and external project status updates, including progress vs. milestones, blockers, and recovery plans
• Act as the central point of contact for customer communication related to commercial timelines, customer input deadlines and general coordination
• Proactively manage Customer expectations, seeking to avoid surprises and pushing back when necessary
• Maintain change order tracking and ensure that impacts to scope or timeline are properly communicated and reflected in the milestone plan and all systems

Process Execution & Documentation

• Coordinate job setup in JobBOSS² and ClickUp upon project award and maintain data in all systems with 100% accuracy
• Drive consistent use of RFIs, submittal redlines, and approval workflows in Engineering.
• Maintain proper documentation throughout the project lifecycle, including RFIs, closeout packages and shipping coordination

Budget Tracking and Profitability

• Maintain records of estimated costs for materials and labor based on initial sales quotes
• Track and reconcile actual expenditures against budgets through the procurement and build phases
• Monitor project costs in real-time to identify variances and proactively address budget overruns
• Prepare and present detailed profitability reports upon order completion, highlighting cost drivers and margin performance
• Collaborate with finance and procurement teams to ensure accurate cost allocation and invoice tracking
• Identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements based on post-project financial analysis
• Support continuous improvement by providing feedback on estimating accuracy and cost forecasting assumptions

Departmental Integration  

• Sales: Oversee milestone alignment and change order process; send initial and post-submittal order acknowledgments
• Engineering: Attend customer calls and stay abreast of customer requests and potential scope and schedule impacts; maintain RFI logs; stay aligned with Project Engineering on project status and customer deliverable requirements
• Purchasing: Initiate AOGs; ensure departments complete pre-requisites before requests; manage special vendor partnerships
• Fabrication & Inventory: Drive kitting and production schedules; coordinate purchasing follow-up on open POs to support timely assembly 
• Production & Quality: Ensure adherence to build and inspection milestones.
• Shipping & Closeout: Coordinate all final shipment logistics and ensure documentation completion.

PREFERRED SKILLS

• 3+ years of experience in project management, preferably in manufacturing, construction, heavy industrial or a similar environment
• Strong people orientation; able to quickly and effectively connect with all personality types
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Healthy sense of urgency and a Can-Do attitude
• Technically savvy and/or proficient in project management and ERP tools (ClickUp and JobBOSS² preferred)
• Able to read and understand technical drawings and project specifications
• Familiarity with switchgear or electrical product manufacturing a strong plus

BENEFITS

Kratos Industries provides employees with legally mandated benefits, such as Workers Compensation and Unemployment Insurance. The Company offers health insurance benefits, vision, dental, and life insurance benefits.

Kratos currently has a 4% matching 401(k). You will be eligible for regular full-time employee benefits when offered, subject to the eligibility requirements and other terms and conditions for each benefit. 

PERFORMANCE BONUS

You will be eligible to receive a discretionary (i.e., non-guaranteed) annual bonus based on personal and company performance and goals achieved. 

PAID TIME OFF (PTO)

You will receive PTO effective on your Start Date. That can be utilized after 60 days of continuous employment. PTO may be used for holidays, vacation, personal leave, or sick leave and requires manager approval in advance.