Project Manager

pridgeonandclay; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Medical and prescription coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Tuition reimbursement

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Pridgeon and Clay is seeking a Project Manager to lead new product launches across Grand Rapids facilities. You will manage budgets, tooling costs, and APQP activities while coordinating with customers, sourcing, and production teams to meet strict milestones.

The role requires strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills, plus experience in a project management environment within automotive or manufacturing settings.

Qualifications

• Associate degree (Business preferred) and/or Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field.
• Project management experience with ability to drive multiple programs to on-time completion.
• Strong communication, organization and problem solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Initiate, track, and monitor project budgets and tooling expenses.
• Lead APQP/PPAP processes and coordinate with customers and cross‑functional teams.
• Prepare and present project status updates, risk assessments, and action plans.
• Ensure compliance with ISO/AIAG/IATF 16949 and safety regulations.
• Facilitate meetings, document decisions, and maintain APQP documents.
• Support supply chain and production teams to meet launch milestones.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Teamwork

Organization

Problem solving

Self-motivation

Education

Associate degree (Business preferred)

Bachelor's degree (Business preferred)

Tools

MS Office

AIAG Core Tools (APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA)

Job description

Are you looking for a challenging yet rewarding job that allows you to utilize your skills to their fullest potential? Do you want to join a team of hardworking, enthusiastic and creative people and enjoy working with a company that recognizes and embraces diversity? Do you take pride working with a company that is committed to being a great corporate citizen and playing a role in producing the highest quality products and services?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Pridgeon and Clay is the place for you...

Founded in 1948 by John Pridgeon and Donald Clay, we are one of the largest independent, value-added manufacturers and suppliers of automotive stamped and fine-blanked components in the United States.

Objective: The Project Manager will manage the successful launch of new products in an exemplary manner according to the company policies while meeting or exceeding our customer requirements.

Qualified candidates will possess the following Minimum Requirements:

• Associates degree (Business preferred)
• Experience in a project management environment
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects and drive on-time completion of programs with a high degree of detail
• High level of proficiency in MS Office (including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project)
• Strong self-motivation, with ability to manage personal work load with minimal supervision
• Ability and willingness to work well in a team-based work setting, building effective work relationships using collaboration skills
• Excellent communication (written and verbal), customer service and interpersonal skills
• Strong organization skills, including detail-oriented project-management skills
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Exceptional professional attributes of dependability and confidentiality
• An excellent work record, including attendance

Outstanding candidates will possess the following Desired Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree (Business preferred)
• Previous experience in the automotive industry
• Working knowledge of the Advanced Product Quality Process (APQP)
• Experience with AIAG Core Tools (APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, and MSA
• Strong technical skills

(Minimum requirements are updated annually to meet the demands of various positions; employees hired prior to the latest revision update may not meet all current requirements)

Essential Functions:

Finance:

• Initiate and track customer billing per project budget.
• Initiate, track, and monitor tooling project expenses.
• Initiate, track, and monitor Cost of Goods Sold.
• Track and monitor Capital Expenditure Projects associated with any Launch related project.
• Meet weekly with Program Launch Business Manager and communicate changes in forecasted profit and loss on tooling projects.
• Develop a justification summary and corrective action with input from the launch team for management review and approval if budgets are to be exceeded.
• Support Strategic Sourcing Specialist to initiate tool and gauge supplier Authorization To Proceed letters and Purchase Orders (POs).
• Support Strategic Sourcing Specialist to initiate tool and gauge supplier progressive payments.

Quality/Production/Shipping:

• Issue Kick Off and Engineering Change notices for Grand Rapids, Franklin, Mexico, and Hungry plants.
• Initiate, monitor, and record Supplier Tooling runoff dates.
• Initiate, monitor, and record Home line Capability runoff dates.
• Initiate, monitor, and record Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) submission dates.
• Initiate and preload Flowing Form documentation.
• Create, monitor, drive, and track the completion of APQP project tasks on time.
• Maintaining and organizing appropriate APQP documents within Part Folders.
• Manage timeline: elevate, and drive the achievement of Gate Milestone on time.
• Monitor, elevate, and drive the closure of project action items on time.
• Maintain daily comment project file tracker to ensure project progress is up to date and accurate.
• Facilitate required team meetings.
• Organize and track on-time production and shipping of early parts, dies, gauges, and PPAP packages.

Customer Service (Internal & External):

• Submit requests for Launch / Production Planning Meeting agenda updates and additions.
• Submit presentation requests for Gate Review Meeting agenda.
• Work with customers to clearly define and document goals and objectives of new product launches.
• Identify and communicate risks of launch plans, and then communicate risk to management.
• Ensure launch due dates for critical path items are communicated to the APQP team.
• Organize and attend program meetings/conference calls with customers as required.
• Create and manage project timelines and provide timing plan and project status updates, to customers per their requests and/or requirements.
• Accurately inform Customer Service to add or remove orders related to early parts, cap runs and prove out runs.
• Accurately inform Information Technology Department about routers and bill of materials and ensure that information is updated correctly.
• Inform team and assure compliance with customer specific forms and practice (feasibility forms, asset tags, die pictures, die biographies, etc.).

Organization/Communication/Professionalism:

• Effectively communicate with co-workers and management personnel to enhance teamwork and communication initiatives.
• Provide necessary, accurate, and timely feedback of all pertinent information to co-workers and management.
• Consistently exhibit appropriate attendance habits, working the hours necessary to perform the job.
• Organize and maintain efficiency of personal work area.
• Consistently adhere to, and support, company policies and procedures, including ISO, AIAG, IATF 16949, and safety regulations.
• Accept instructions and duties in a positive manner.
• Treat all co-workers with dignity and respect.
• Exhibit all the attributes of a positive role model (including professionalism, personal integrity, and positive attitude) for employees and managers to emulate.
• Assist in maintaining company values (Integrity, People, Customers, Safety, We Can If...Do What It Takes, and Ownership) daily, through thoughts and actions.

In return, Pridgeon and Clay will provide:

• A competitive total compensation including a comprehensive benefit plan including premium medical and prescription coverage starting at just $5.00 per week for employee coverage, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, and tuition reimbursement.
• A safe, team oriented work environment with a leadership team that treats you like family and values your input
• An opportunity to participate in shaping the success of the organization through continuous improvement and problem solving events
• A positive work/life balance
• An opportunity for career growth - Over 70% of our leaders have been promoted from within