Project Manager - Industrial Engineering

Ghafari Associates; Dearborn (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ghafari Associates Industrial Engineering (IE) Project Manager will lead project teams, serve as liaison between clients and internal management, and drive value across facility layout, material flow, and continuous improvement initiatives.

You will own project plans, manage schedule, budget, resourcing, and change control while maintaining strong client relationships and ensuring deliverables meet scope and QA standards.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive project management experience.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or business; master's preferred.
• Strong client relationships, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient with MS Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Lead project team and liaise with client and management.
• Develop and manage schedules, budgets, and resources.
• Ensure deliverables meet scope and QA standards.
• Maintain client relationships and coordinate governance meetings.
• Oversee change control and closeout activities.
• Provide team leadership and performance feedback.

Skills

Communication

Active listening

Hands-on mindset

Learning mindset

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

MS Office

MS Project

Excel

PowerPoint

Organization

Multi-project management

AutoCAD

Revit

Education

BS in Engineering or Business

Master's degree preferred

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

Job Description:

General Summary:

The Industrial Engineering (IE) Project Manager (PM) serves as the project team leader and liaison between the project team, the client and internal management. Our IE group leads projects spanning facility layout planning and development, materials management and flow studies, and continuous improvement initiatives to improve safety, quality, cost, and delivery performance. We also support process optimization, time and labor standards/work measurement, capacity and resource planning, data-driven analysis to eliminate waste. The PM participates in day-to-day project activities and is responsible for controlling project activities to contain cost, meet deadlines, satisfy client’s expectations and maintain positive client relationships.

Essential Job Functions:

• Manage development of project deliverables, ensuring alignment with internal QA/QC standards and client requirements.
• Maintain working knowledge of contract documents, project objectives, client standards, and applicable codes/regulations.
• Develop and manage project execution and control plans, including schedule, budget, resourcing, and change control.
• Monitor project activities for compliance with scope, objectives, and agreed performance targets; escalat[e?] and resolve issues as needed.
• Conduct and/or oversee preparation and review of engineering calculations or drawings and ensure timely review of deliverables per scope.
• Own overall deliverable quality and client acceptance, ensuring consistent standards internally and externally.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships and act as a trusted point of contact throughout the project lifecycle.
• Foster positive internal relationships and team morale, promoting collaboration and accountability.
• Direct development of project procedures, policies, and approval workflows, including review/approval timing with internal teams and the client.
• Lead and document project governance, coordinating and recording kickoff, client, job review, bid, open issues, and lessons-learned meetings.
• Provide team leadership, including clear direction, coaching, and ongoing performance feedback.
• Manage project administration and closeout, including safety readiness for onsite work, invoicing/payment follow-up, staffing/resource tracking, and lessons learned/closeout compliance; support business development and uphold firm professionalism.

Employment Qualifications:

Education:

• BS degree in Engineering or Business from an accredited university preferred or a four-year college degree in an engineering discipline.
• A Master’s Degree is preferred, however not required.

Experience

• 10 or more years of progressively more responsible previous experience.

Skills/Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong listening skills are essential. Team members must demonstrate the ability to actively listen, understand diverse perspectives, and effectively interpret feedback to ensure alignment with project goals and objectives.
• Demonstrates a hands‑on mindset and is willing and able to dive into detailed engineering work, troubleshoot root causes, and drive practical improvements from analysis through implementation.
• Open to learning and eager to develop skills, with the potential to contribute to other areas within the organization.
• Strong leadership skills that highlight a passion for client satisfaction, quality, team building, creative problem solving, critical thinking, mentoring and conflict resolution.
• Process driven and supporting processes associated with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite of software, including MS Project, with strength in Excel and PowerPoint.
• Highly organized and able to effectively manage a large amount of data and communications.
• Ability to support and manage multiple projects at one time.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD is a plus. Experience with AutoCAD 3D and Revit is a plus.

About Us

At Ghafari Associates, we don’t just design buildings—we help shape the future of the industries we serve. As a global leader in architecture, engineering, and consulting, we partner with clients to deliver forward-thinking solutions that transform how people work, manufacture, and connect.

Our strength lies in our people. We bring together curious minds, technical experts, and creative problem-solvers who thrive on collaboration and innovation. Whether supporting major industrial programs or advancing federal and commercial projects, our teams are empowered to make a meaningful impact—both for our clients and within our communities.

We are committed to investing in our employees’ financial, physical, and emotional well-being, as well as their professional growth. Through robust training, licensure support, internships, mentorships, and tuition reimbursement, we provide the resources our people need to build rewarding careers while making a lasting difference in the communities we are proud to call home.

Ghafari Associates is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. As a federal contractor, Ghafari Associates maintains affirmative action programs for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans in accordance with applicable laws.

Pay Transparency

Ghafari Associates will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Accommodation

Ghafari Associates is also committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. If you need an accommodation due to a disability to use our online system to apply for a position, you may also apply for positions in the following ways:

• By fax at: 313.436.8624, Attn: Human Resources
• By mail at: 17101 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126, Attn: Human Resources
• In person at: 17101 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126
• By email at: [e-mail]

If there are any questions about the accommodations offered above, please contact 313.441.3000 for assistance.