Project Manager

VITS Consulting; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

VITS Consulting seeks a Project Manager to lead multi-discipline engineering retrofit projects across sites in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. You will plan, organize, and execute projects from initiation to closeout, ensuring scope, schedule, cost, quality, and safety targets are met.

Ideal candidates have 10+ years in heavy industrial settings, a PE license, and strong expertise in schedule governance using MS Project and Primavera P6. Willingness to travel to domestic sites is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical preferred); PE license strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of relevant engineering and project experience in heavy industrial environments.
• 5+ years of experience managing capital projects, preferably small- to mid-cap retrofit projects.
• Consulting engineering experience preferred.
• Strong proficiency in critical path scheduling using MS Project and/or Primavera P6.
• Experience managing distributed teams across multiple locations.
• Willingness to travel routinely to domestic project sites.

Responsibilities

• Manage client and stakeholder expectations and ensure fulfillment of contractual obligations.
• Provide leadership to project teams and coordinate with engineering/design leadership.
• Develop WBS, execution plans, and schedules with resource alignment.
• Define roles and interfaces among client, Company, and third parties; oversee stage-gated delivery.
• Monitor progress, costs, risks, and change control; forecast impacts and budgets.
• Lead project closeout activities including documentation handover and lessons learned.
• Ensure safety and company policies are followed across sites.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical)

PE license

Tools

Microsoft Project

Primavera P6

Job description

Project Manager - Direct Hire (Bellingham, WA; Billings, MT; Bismarck, ND; Minneapolis, MN; Spokane, WA; Vancouver, WA)

Summary

The Project Manager is responsible for planning, organizing, monitoring, and managing multi-discipline engineering activities and resources to successfully execute small- to mid-capital retrofit projects from initiation through closeout. This role carries single-point accountability for integrating and leading project teams to achieve scope, schedule, cost, quality, and safety objectives. An engineering background with experience in heavy industrial environments-such as pulp & paper, petroleum refining, hydrocarbons, high-tech manufacturing, or specialty chemicals-is strongly preferred.

Reporting Structure

Reports administratively to the Manager of Projects.

Key Responsibilities

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Maintain effective and professional interaction with clients and stakeholders, clearly defining and managing expectations.
• Ensure fulfillment of all Company and client contractual obligations.
• Monitor client satisfaction and proactively address concerns, engaging Company leadership when necessary.
• Promote Company capabilities and pursue opportunities to expand scope of services where value is demonstrated.
• Protect the interests, confidentiality, and reputation of both the Company and its clients.

Project Planning & Execution

• Initiate, plan, execute, and close projects in accordance with approved proposals, contracts, and Company procedures.
• Develop Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), project execution plans, and detailed schedules covering scope, cost, schedule, risks, and deliverables.
• Define project organization and coordinate with engineering and design leadership to secure appropriate resources.
• Clearly establish roles, responsibilities, and interfaces among the client, Company, and third parties.
• Manage interdisciplinary engineering activities within a stage-gated project delivery framework (e.g., Front-End Loading).

Schedule, Cost & Risk Management

• Develop and maintain project schedules using Microsoft Project and/or Primavera P6, managing dependencies and critical path activities.
• Identify, assess, document, and manage project risks and mitigation strategies.
• Implement effective management-of-change processes, including forecasting impacts, preparing change orders, and updating budgets, schedules, and scopes.
• Monitor and report project progress, costs, risks, and quality, providing accurate forecasts and recommending corrective actions as required.

Communication & Documentation

• Communicate project expectations, risks, and priorities clearly and consistently to project teams and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure timely preparation, submission, tracking, and approval of deliverables and work packages.
• Maintain accurate, organized project records and ensure proper documentation control and archiving.
• Lead project closeout activities, including documentation handover, lessons learned, and closeout reporting.

Financial & Contract Administration

• Review and approve client invoices and actively monitor payment status.
• Ensure project execution aligns with contractual scope, client requirements, and Company standards.

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide clear direction, set performance expectations, and foster collaboration across disciplines and offices.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and open communication.
• Address conflicts constructively and drive issues to resolution.
• Support the development of project personnel and recognize individual and team accomplishments.

Education, Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical preferred); Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly preferred.
• Minimum 10+ years of relevant engineering and project experience in heavy industrial environments.
• At least 5 years of experience managing capital projects, preferably small- to mid-cap retrofit projects.
• Prior consulting engineering experience strongly preferred.
• Strong proficiency in critical path scheduling using Microsoft Project and/or Primavera P6.
• Experience managing distributed teams and work-sharing across multiple locations.
• Willingness to travel routinely to domestic project sites.

Certifications & Credentials

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
• Eligibility to obtain or currently possess a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) required.

General Requirements

• Legal authorization to work in the United States (no visa sponsorship available).
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, manage change, and prioritize multiple responsibilities.
• Strong verbal, written, analytical, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Commitment to ethical conduct, safety, and Company policies.

Workplace & Physical Requirements

• Ability and willingness to work at industrial client sites, comply with safety requirements, and wear required PPE.
• Capable of performing site-related physical activities, including walking, climbing, lifting (up to 50 lbs occasionally), and working in loud or hazardous environments.
• Valid driver's license and insurability required; ability to travel by air without restriction.

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Drug and alcohol screening and background checks conducted in accordance with client, state, and federal requirements.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, 401(k), Company-paid Life & AD&D Insurance, Short- and Long-Term Disability, Paid Time Off, paid holidays, and exempt staff compensation for hours worked beyond 40 per week.