Project Leader

Job Description:

At Milwaukee Tool (Milwaukee), we strive for operational excellence to deliver best-in-class products that exceed the needs of our end users. We achieve this by cultivating a culture to hire, reward, mentor and grow 'Exceptional People.'

As an Operations Project Leader within the Strategic Operations team, your primary focus would be the support of Milwaukee's Hand Tools Storage, PPE, Core and Layout products. You will be utilizing your technical skills and project management ability to support new product development (NPD) launches, manufacturing support initiatives, risk mitigation efforts and strategic transfer execution.  Project types include execution of operations milestones, in house product releases as well as some capacity and process improvement projects. In addition, you will work directly with manufacturing cells to improve processes and reduce costs through machine improvements, capacity projects, and design changes. 

Milwaukee Electric Tool offers benefits on your first day of work (health, dental, vision, life insurance, 401k) and an excellent working environment that includes an on-site cafeteria as well as a state-of-the-art fitness facility!

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead multiple moderate to highly complex operations projects for NPD, process improvement & manufacturing support with minimal direction. Provide project management & technical problem solving support on high complexity projects, as needed.  Consistently visualizes entire scope of a project with very little guidance.
• Create project schedules, resource plans (RASICs), and facilitate and document project meetings.
• Track project schedule to ensure adherence to timelines; keep team and management informed of project issues.  Identify and mitigate project risks & implements risk reduction plans.  Escalate as appropriate.
• Work cross-functionally and globally with Quality & Reliability, Engineering, Sourcing, Finance, Supply and Demand, Marketing, and other departments.
• Communicate technical details, ideas, and concepts to engineers and non-engineers in multiple locations both verbally and written.  Lead formal project technical reviews and participate in management reviews for assigned projects. Regularly makes presentations of project status.
• Evaluate product design relative to material selection, cost, reliability and manufacturability and offer improvement ideas.  Make component, material, or process recommendations.
• Lead manufacturing process related feasibility studies. Analyzes, evaluates and selects from manufacturing alternatives to best meet objectives for capital, cost, capacity and timing.
• Lead operational readiness & implementation.  Accountable for technical elements of project execution including integration of equipment, tooling, capability reviews, manufacturing process and safety, regulatory and standards compliance.
• Interact with operations, quality and suppliers to develop processes capable of meeting part/product specifications that meet performance requirements.
• serve as a technical resource to troubleshoot problems with manufacturing teams and suppliers.
• Creates manufacturing cost models for new projects to analyze the best approach for operations business planning.
• Interpret data and make corresponding recommendations including but not limited to:
  • Impact to financials (GM and EBIT, total CapEx)
  • Intermediate supply chain design analysis
  • End to end logistics modeling
  • Risk trade off for short and long term strategy
  • Line layout considerations for NPD if in house
• Does not have formal supervisory responsibilities, although will provide input for performance appraisals for cross functional project team members. Also oversees day-to-day activities of project team members.
• Regularly visit the production sites and suppliers to maintain open lines of communication and provide opportunity/troubleshooting analysis as required.  Sites include downtown Milwaukee, West Bend WI, Mukwonago WI, Cookeville TN, Vietnam, China.  While applicant’s primary location will be West Bend WI, they can expect to travel across WI sites weekly, domestic sites monthly, and international sites 1-2 times per year

Education and Experience

• Relevant degree in industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, supply chain or operations.  Graduate studies preferred in the business areas such as Project Management, Finance, Marketing, or Organizational studies. Formal project management training preferred.
• Minimum 7 years engineering experience in related field.
• Experience successfully managing moderate complexity projects and/or subsystems of larger projects.
• Must possess a high level of Manufacturing/Industrial engineering aptitude including a broad knowledge of manufacturing processes & experience implementing equipment. 
• Proficient understanding of various cost drivers associated with materials, labor & overhead is required.
• Must have a working design knowledge of a wide variety of the technologies associated with Milwaukee products.
• Must be able to personally conduct detailed analyses or recognize the need to seek the appropriate expertise to achieve the desired results.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office software including Microsoft Project.
• Ability to travel to China & domestically several times of year is required (15% travel).
• Computer aided design skills are a significant advantage but not required; including Unigraphics (NX8.5) or similar 3D CAD package. Experience with Teamcenter a plus.
• Experience with ERP systems and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) desired – Oracle Cloud and High Jump a plus

Milwaukee Tool is an equal opportunity employer.