Senior Project Manager, Utilities

job purpose:

The Senior Project Manager, Utilities, is responsible for the successful execution of large-scale capital projects within the utilities workstream, ensuring delivery within approved schedules and budgets. This role requires strong coordination across Engineering and Operations to drive alignment and collaboration. The Utilities Senior Project Manager must possess a solid technical understanding of project scope, along with a clear awareness of cross-functional stakeholder requirements. Responsibilities also include managing budgets, timelines, and supporting resources. Key accountabilities span the full project lifecycle, including feasibility studies, procurement, installation support, commissioning, validation, and ramp-up activities.

responsibilities:

• Support the review of scope, including budget analysis, schedule analysis, and identifying possible scope gaps.

• Ownership over budget, timeline, and risk assessments of the project.

• Key communications between internal stakeholders, key vendors and partners, and operations team.

• Manage equipment deliveries, required access and shutdown, installation support, commissioning support, and start up support.

• Ensures key criteria of the project are delivered by the vendors and meet fairlife’s standards.

• Participate in equipment factory acceptance testing, punch list creation, and close out.

• Understand critical business needs to ensure success of the project as well as other business functions.

• Support for the integration of PLCs, HMIs, and auxiliary equipment associated with Utility Equipment

• Deliver status updates and weekly routines to project stakeholders.

• Implement key plant fit-out items, including visual displays, signage, workstations, lab equipment, and safety barriers.

• Support development of technical data base for project hand off to include creating standardized Engineering documentation for future project needs.

• Coordinate with EHS and Quality Managers to ensure safety and compliance with all environmental laws and regulations

• Understand and develop turnover documentation to ensure success of the equipment and operations team.

skills/qualifications required:

• 10+ years of industrial manufacturing experience – dairy, food & beverage, or liquid manufacturing preferred

• Knowledge of aseptic and sanitary design standards.

• Strong understanding of Utility systems to support process equipment, including steam and boiler systems, glycol chiller systems, tower water systems, Reverse Osmosis systems, and electrical systems.

• Ability to read and understand P&IDs.

• Experience project managing commercial and capital projects.

• Developed leadership skills – ability to lead contractor and project teams through various project disciplines

• Initiative-taker; positive & proactive mindset

• Effective cost management, forecasting, and budget experience.

• Understanding of total supply chain and ability to flex to support cross functional work streams.

• Strong project life cycle understanding to include development, planning, installation, commissioning, and acceptance phases.

• Ability to lead cross functional teams and influence others.

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