Project Manager - New Product Development

Laitram LLC; Harahan (LA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Intralox’s New Product Development Food Business Unit seeks a technically sharp project leader to drive modular plastic belting solutions for the global food industry. You’ll collaborate with engineers, mold designers, application experts, and manufacturing partners to turn concepts into production-ready systems that solve customer problems.

This role thrives in an engineering-centric environment with fast-paced delivery and strong end-user focus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in delivery‑oriented environments.
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments with evolving priorities.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% as needed.
• Familiarity with mechanical design and manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex, cross‑functional projects from concept through launch in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.
• Ensure alignment with business objectives and end‑user requirements across engineering, manufacturing, marketing and commercial teams.
• Build and manage timelines, project scopes, and resource plans with flexibility.
• Facilitate clear communication across technical and non‑technical stakeholders, driving accountability.
• Identify and mitigate risks while championing execution and continuous learning.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication

Ambiguity management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

MS Office

Project management software

Job description

Intralox’s New Product Development Food Business Unit is seeking a technically sharp, strategically minded, and pragmatic project leader to drive the development of modular plastic belting solutions for the global food industry. Our business serves a wide array of sectors—including beef, pork, poultry, seafood, frozen and fresh produce, and bakery/snack applications—requiring solutions that balance innovation, hygienic design, durability, and food safety. This role supports a constantly shifting industry and complex product offerings, requiring strong organization, flexibility, and the ability to solve problems transparently. As a company whose key principles focus on change, curiosity, tenacity, and a love of learning, Intralox believes strongly that who we are as a company is based on who we have working with us. We are looking for someone who can objectively evaluate their landscape, ask the right questions to understand gaps, build a plan to address those gaps—and most importantly, who is a dynamic and engaged communicator with a special talent for getting teams excited for the ride. You won’t just be managing Gantt charts—you’ll be a core contributor in a fast‑paced, engineering‑centric environment where product development moves quickly and is shaped by close proximity to end‑user needs. You’ll collaborate with talented mechanical engineers, plastic injection mold designers, application experts, commercial representatives, and manufacturing partners to turn concepts into real‑world, production‑ready systems that solve pressing customer problems. Our global workforce of over 3,000 employees in 20+ countries consist of reliable problem solvers, continuously developing and directly delivering solutions that have driven our customers’ growth worldwide for more than 50 years. Intralox was founded on the principle of doing the right thing, by treating customers, employees, and suppliers with honesty, fairness, and respect. We invest heavily in these values and aim to practice our business philosophy principles every day, which is why we have been consistently recognized for innovation and workplace excellence. We believe in the power of a good idea no matter where it comes from, using trust as the foundation to how we work, and that self‑managed people are our greatest asset. This is a hybrid position, requiring employees to work from our New Orleans office for 3 days a week once fully onboarded. During the initial employee onboarding period (~3 months) – 5 days per week in‑office attendance is required. We listen objectively, think creatively, and deliver results. To learn more about our company culture, philosophy, and benefits, please visit our company page.

Who You Are

• A pragmatic project leader who thrives in ambiguity and moves with purpose.
• A self‑managed stakeholder invested in seeing a product go from ideation to market.
• A communicator who earns trust across functions and motivates teams through clarity, urgency, and vision.
• A colleague who is more than just a face on a phone call.
• Deeply curious and focused on end‑user needs—you operate within a technical team guided by the goal of solving customer problems and generating end‑user value.
• Not just a task manager—you think like an owner.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex, cross‑functional projects from concept through launch in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.
• Ensure alignment with business objectives and end‑user requirements, serving as the connective tissue between engineering, manufacturing, marketing and commercial teams.
• Build and manage timelines, project scopes, and resource plans while maintaining flexibility and a problem‑solving mindset.
• Facilitate clear, concise communication across technical and non‑technical stakeholders, driving accountability and decision‑making.
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks while championing a bias for execution and continuous learning.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Demonstrated familiarity with mechanical design and manufacturing processes
• Demonstrated success in leading cross‑functional teams in delivery‑oriented environments
• Ability to thrive in fast‑paced environments with evolving priorities and multiple stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management software.
• Willingness to travel up to 10%, as needed or as interested.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent technical
• Minimum 3years of experience in new product development, preferably within manufacturing or industrial environments.
• Experience working directly on the development of plastic injection molded components would be nice to have.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or Agile experience (a plus but not required).