Project Manager – Strategic Initiatives

Onsite: Wood Dale, IL

Salary: $100,600.00 - $111,400.00

Position overview:

The Project Manager is responsible for leading cross-functional initiatives that support Optimas’ strategic priorities and operational objectives. This role partners closely with teams across Commercial, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance, IT, and Continuous Improvement to successfully execute projects that enhance operational performance, improve customer experience and drive cost efficiency.

This role ensures initiatives are delivered on schedule, within defined scope, and aligned with business expectations. The Project Manager plays a key role in initiative planning, execution, risk management and stakeholder communication while reinforcing PMO standards, tools and methodologies.

The Project Manager collaborates with functional teams and PMO leadership to translate business needs into actionable project plans and provide clear visibility into project timelines, milestones, risks and overall health.

#LI-Onsite

Key Responsibilities

Initiative Execution & Delivery

Lead assigned projects from initiation through implementation, stabilization and post-launch support, ensuring successful delivery against defined objectives
Partner with functional stakeholders to clearly define project scope, objectives, timelines, deliverables and measurable success criteria
Develop and maintain visible detailed project plans including milestones, dependencies, and resource needs
Monitor project progress against plan, proactively identifying and mitigating risks, managing issues and addressing constraints to maintain momentum
Coordinate cross-functional activities to ensure alignment on priorities, deliverables and timelines, adjusting plans as needed to meet evolving business needs

Stakeholder Communication & Alignment

Facilitate effective project governance through structured meetings such as design sessions, working sessions and executive status reviews
Provide clear, consistent, and actionable project updates to stakeholders and PMO leadership, highlighting progress, risks, dependencies and decisions needed
Proactively escalate risks, scope changes, timeline impacts or resource constraints with recommended mitigation strategies
Build strong relationships across stakeholder groups to ensure alignment on project goals, priorities and delivery expectations

Project Intake & Planning Support

Support structured intake, prioritization and discovery processes to evaluate and define new project opportunities
Assist in gathering and documenting business requirements, success metrics and high-level solution approaches

Partner with functional teams to confirm technical feasibility and resource availability

Contribute to development of realistic project timelines, resource plans and implementation strategies aligned to business priorities

Risk & Issue Management

Identify, assess, and prioritize project risks, developing mitigation and contingency plans to minimize impact

Drive issue resolution through collaboration with functional teams

Communicate risk status, trends and mitigation progress to stakeholders and leadership in a clear and concise manner
Maintain and regularly update risk and issue logs, ensuring transparency and accountability for resolution

Implementation & Adoption Support

Support development of training materials, documentation, and process updates
Develop and Coordinate implementation or readiness activities

Partner with business stakeholders to ensure smooth transition to operational ownership following go-live
Participate in post-implementation reviews, capturing lessons learned and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement

PMO Standards & Methodology

Apply established PMO standards, methodologies, templates and governance practices to ensure consistent project execution
Maintain accurate and up-to-date project documentation, including plans, status reports and decision logs

Support PMO reporting and portfolio visibility processes

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field required; advanced degree (MBA or similar) is a plus
5+ years of project coordination or project management experience

PMP or equivalent certification preferred, with demonstrated application of project management principles and methodologies
Proven experience working across business functions such as Supply Chain, Operations, Commercial, Finance, or IT

Experience working in distribution, supply chain, manufacturing, or industrial environments

Exposure to ERP, CRM, or other enterprise system implementations or enhancements

Experience with project management tools (Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, or similar)

Core Competencies

Strong organization and planning skills
Effective meeting facilitation
Clear written and verbal communication
Problem solving and critical thinking
Collaboration and relationship building
Time management and prioritization
Adaptability in fast-paced environments

To Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Optimas does not accept unsolicited CVs or applications from agencies. Optimas is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs or applications and explicitly reserve its right to contact candidates presented in such unsolicited CV or application.

Optimas OE Solutions provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Optimas OE Solutions complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.