Mfg. Project Manager - New Products

KNIGHT WALL SYSTEMS®; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) with employer match

PTO and holidays

Training and professional development

Employee events

Family-friendly culture

Job summary

Knight Wall Systems Inc. seeks a Manufacturing Project Manager - New Products to lead complex launches from early planning through ramp-up and stabilization.

You will coordinate cross-functional teams, suppliers, equipment readiness, automation integration, and risk management to deliver on-time, safe manufacturing outcomes. You will oversee capital expenditures, supplier readiness, and quality assurance, while communicating with executives and managing project budgets and schedules.

Qualifications

• Defines project scope with senior leadership and plant management.
• Maintains master schedules and critical path milestones for launches.
• Manages budgets, CapEx for tooling and equipment, and cost variances.

Responsibilities

• Define project scope with leadership and plant management.
• Maintain master schedules and track milestones across teams.
• Manage CapEx procurement, installation, and commissioning of new equipment.
• Coordinate with plant managers, engineers, procurement, QA, and floor supervisors.
• Develop quality control plans and work instructions for new products.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, ISO 9001, and internal quality systems.
• Lead cross-functional meetings and provide status updates to executives.
• Support training and development related to new products.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Launch planning

Quality & risk management

Tools

Capex planning

Supplier coordination

Job description

Established in 2010 in Deer Park, Washington, Knight Wall Systems Inc. (“KWS”) specializes in the design and manufacture of thermally efficient rainscreen attachment systems. Driven by innovation and high performance, our technologies have set new standards for the rainscreen and cladding industries, resulting in several awards such as Environmental Building News’ “Top 10 Green Building Products,” Readers’ Choice Award from Metal Construction News magazine, and two-time recipient of Architectural Record’s Record Products designations. Our success depends on attracting, retaining, and developing a diverse workforce. While meeting industry and municipal standards is important, we aim to surpass them to ensure future growth and sustainability. We value the unique contributions of each team member and are committed to creating a collaborative, welcoming environment where everyone’s voice is heard and valued.

Position Summary:

The Manufacturing Project Manager - New Products role will lead complex new product introduction launches from early project planning through production ramp-up and stabilization. You will coordinate cross-functional teams, supplier partners, equipment readiness, automation integration, launch risk management, and executive reporting to deliver safe, reliable, and on-time manufacturing outcomes.

Project Planning and Execution

• Define Project Scope: Outline clear project goals, deliverables, and resource requirements in collaboration with senior leadership and plant management.
• Launch Timelines: Create, maintain, and track master schedules, managing critical path milestones across cross-functional teams to meet strict market launch dates.
• Budget & Cost Tracking: Manage project budgets, including capital expenses (CapEx) for new tooling and equipment, cost targets and financial variances to keep projects within budget.

Shop Floor and Process Optimization

• Oversee Capital Expenditures (CapEx): Manage the procurement, installation, and commissioning of new manufacturing equipment, assembly lines, or facility expansions.
• Coordinate Operations: Work directly with plant managers, engineers, procurement, quality assurance, and floor supervisors to prevent production bottlenecks during project rollouts.

Supply Chain and Quality Assurance

• Supplier Readiness: Work with procurement to source raw materials and ensure external vendors are ready to supply components at the required volume and quality.
• Quality & Testing: Establish quality control plans, testing procedures, and assembly documentation (Work Instructions) specifically tailored for the new products.

Risk and Quality Management

• Ensure Compliance: Maintain strict adherence to industry regulations, OSHA safety standards, and company quality management systems (e.g., ISO 9001).
• Quality Control: Ensure all project outputs meet exact engineering drawings, client specifications, and performance metrics.

Stakeholder Communication

• Lead Teams: Facilitate regular cross-functional meetings between engineering, supply chain, production, finance, and external vendors. Serve as the primary escalation point for high-impact, complex, or cross-functional issues while using critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, compliance, and financial controls to keep launches aligned to schedule, budget, quality, safety, and business commitments.
• Status Reporting: Provide clear, data-driven progress updates and performance metrics to executive stakeholders.
• Paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance policies for employees with employer contributions to dependent coverage.
• Voluntary plans (health savings account, flexible spending account, long term disability, buy up life & AD&D insurance, accident insurance, and dependent plans).
• 401(k) with employer match - fully vested after 90 day waiting period.
• Paid Time Off (PTO), paid holidays and paid sick leave.
• Training and professional development classes.
• Fun monthly employee events.
• Family-friendly, collaborative culture.
• So much more!

No recruiting/staffing agencies.