Global Cost Optimization Project Manager

MSA, The Safety Company; Cranberry Township (Butler County); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

MSA, The Safety Company in Cranberry Township is looking for an experienced Engineering Project Manager responsible for leading value engineering initiatives. You will manage cross-functional teams across engineering, sourcing, and quality while ensuring project timelines and success criteria are met.

The ideal candidate will have at least 7 years of relevant experience, including project/program management and a Bachelor's degree in engineering. Join us to help protect people and assets around the world!

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in project/program management, sourcing, or operations.
• Experience leading cross-functional, global projects.
• Understanding of VA/VE, should-costing, and value engineering.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end idea Value Engineering portfolio.
• Lead cross-functional execution across various departments.
• Maintain dashboards for pipeline health and execution velocity.

Skills

Project/program management

Value engineering

Cross-functional leadership

Sourcing value levers

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Tools

Project management tools

Job description

Overview

Are you someone who is passionate, motivated, and driven to make a difference? If so, MSA Safety is the perfect fit for your career.

At MSA, SAFETY is who we are AND it is what we do. We are a purpose-driven company committed to deploying innovation and technology to deliver on our Mission to help protect people and assets all around the world. We continue to be relentless in our pursuit of solving our customers greatest problems so they can go home safe each and every day.

Are you in? Read on for more details about this particular role.

Responsibilities

Program & Portfolio Management

• Own the end-to-end idea Value Engineering portfolio from idea intake through validated savings closure.
• Drive weekly intake, execution cadence, escalation, and prioritization forums.
• Ensure execution speed, flow, and accountability across all initiatives.
• Maintain clear ownership, scope, milestones, and success criteria for all projects.

Sourcing Value Engineering (SVE)

• Act as the integration point of Strategic Sourcing for value engineering initiatives.
• Ensure supplier-driven ideas enter the intake and prioritization funnel.
• Coordinate early supplier involvement (ESI) for high-impact redesign and cost-out projects.
• Ensure sourcing levers are evaluated in parallel with engineering solutions.
• Align sourcing execution timing with engineering readiness and plant implementation.
• Ensure sourcing actions do not delay technical execution.

Value Engineering Enablement

• Ensure each project has a clear value hypothesis combining engineering and sourcing levers.
• Partner with VAVE Manager to sequence technical feasibility and supplier feasibility.
• Ensure should-cost outputs are actionable for sourcing and negotiation decisions.
• Track value realization against approved business cases.

Project Management & Execution

• Lead cross-functional execution across Engineering, Sourcing, Manufacturing, Packaging, and Quality.
• Build and manage integrated project plans, timelines, dependencies, and risks.
• Drive issue resolution and decision-making speed.
• Coordinate prototype builds, testing cycles, and implementation readiness.
• Ensure projects progress through governance and design assurance gates.

Governance, Metrics & Reporting

• Maintain dashboards for pipeline health, execution velocity, and savings realization.
• Track sourcing-related value metrics and execution timing.
• Prepare executive-ready reporting for leadership and steering committees.

Continuous Improvement & Standardization

• Continuously improve execution processes and governance.
• Standardize best practices for sourcing and engineering value delivery.
• Capture lessons learned and embed them into playbooks.

Qualifications

Experience Required:

• 7+ years of experience in project/program management, value engineering, sourcing, or operations.
• Experience leading improvement initiatives with suppliers.
• Experience leading cross-functional, global initiatives.
• Understanding of VA/VE, should-costing, and sourcing value levers.

Qualifications Note:

This position is available at one career level based upon experience, education, etc.:

• Engineering Project Manager I - minimum 7 years of project management / engineering experience.
• Master's degree may be substituted for up to 2 years of relevant experience.

• Engineering Project Manager II - minimum 9 years of project management / engineering experience.
• Master's degree may be substituted for up to 2 years of relevant experience. PMP Required.

Experience Preferred:

• Proficiency with project management and reporting tools.
• PMP or similar certification preferred.

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, or related field.

Education Preferred:

• MBA/MS