Project Management Lead - Industrial

This is a rare opportunity to step into a high-impact technical leadership role at a growth-stage industrial company operating at the intersection of engineering excellence and environmental innovation. The Project Manager Lead serves as the operational anchor for a developing project management team, providing the coaching, technical credibility, and process discipline needed to sustain customer confidence and drive project execution across a North American portfolio. This role is ideal for a seasoned project management professional who thrives in complex, multi-stakeholder environments and is energized by building people and systems simultaneously. The organization offers international scope, a collaborative team culture, and the chance to shape the PM function during a critical period of growth and transition.JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESLead, coach, and develop a team of project managers across the full project lifecycle from order inception through commissioning and startup.Serve as the primary technical sounding board and escalation point for complex customer conflicts, schedule disputes, and contractual deliverable challenges.Own cross-functional coordination across engineering, sourcing/production, and aftermarket teams to ensure project milestones are met.Manage scope, schedule, budget, and contractual compliance across a portfolio of concurrent medium-to-large industrial capital projects.Establish KPI frameworks and reporting rhythms that bring structure, visibility, and accountability to the project management function.Build and maintain deep understanding of all active project portfolios, contractual obligations, and key customer relationships across the US, Canada, and Mexico.Read and interpret P&IDs, layout drawings, and engineering specifications to maintain technical oversight of project execution quality.Conduct regularly scheduled project meetings for single and multiple projects and ensure documentation is stored accurately in project management systems.Manage claims monitoring, change order management, and commercial risk documentation in coordination with customers and internal stakeholders.Coordinate creation and delivery of operating manuals, FAT testing participation, and on-site commissioning support as required.Maintain continuous and professional communication with customer project managers, engineering teams, logistics, and operations contacts.Support ERP system adoption and workflow stabilization as part of broader operational improvement initiatives.Collaborate with operations leadership to update and improve project management workflows, process documentation, and support structures.QUALIFICATIONSRequiredSix or more years of progressive project management experience leading medium-to-large industrial or plant engineering projects.Demonstrated technical acumen in reading and interpreting P&IDs, layout drawings, and engineering specifications.Proven ability to coach and mentor project managers through high-pressure customer conflict situations and deliverable escalations.Cross-functional leadership experience coordinating across engineering, operations, and sourcing teams.Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Process, Mechanical, or Electrical preferred) or a related technical field.Excellent communication skills including written documentation, internal presentations, and customer-facing interactions.Proficiency in MS Office/O365 and standard project management tools and systems.Willingness to travel up to 30%.PreferredPMI certification (PMP) or equivalent formal project management credential.Familiarity with industrial wastewater pre-treatment processes, pulp and paper operations, or adjacent industries such as food and beverage.Experience working within a multinational or globally matrixed organization, with the ability to navigate headquarters dynamics effectively.Knowledge of AutoCAD Plant 3D, Autodesk Inventor, or similar engineering design tools.Understanding of anaerobic treatment systems or industrial process equipment.CompetenciesStrong coaching and mentoring instincts; elevates team performance rather than solving problems unilaterally.Technically grounded with comfort operating as a sounding board for complex engineering and operational decisions.Forward-thinking with the ability to anticipate next steps and act proactively.Calculated risk taker with meticulous analytical follow-through.Outstanding communicator - persuasive, intuitive, and comfortable with courageous conversations.High personal energy with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.Emotional intelligence and strategic communication skills to maintain trust internally and with customers.