Project Manager, Operations

Formerra; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Formerra is seeking a seasoned PMO leader to guide cross-functional strategic initiatives, delivering projects on time and within scope. You will partner with stakeholders across supply chain, procurement, IT, and operations to drive governance, charters, and risk management.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in project management in manufacturing, distribution, or chemicals, strong analytical and financial acumen, and proven ability to influence senior stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, finance, or related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in Project Management.
• Proven ability to work cross‑functionally and influence senior stakeholders; demonstrated success leading complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Solid analytical skills and comfort working with data.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate project steering committee meetings and executive status updates, including prioritization of projects and resources across the organization.
• Lead and manage strategic cross-functional projects from initiation through implementation.
• Develop project charters, business cases, timelines, budgets, resource plans, and governance structures.
• Establish project management methodologies, tools, templates, and reporting standards.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues.
• Track project milestones, deliverables, dependencies, and overall project health.
• Drive accountability across stakeholders to ensure project objectives are achieved.
• Support organizational transformation, process improvement, system implementation, and change management initiatives.
• Drive adoption of best practices in project management, change management, and operational excellence.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, improve quality, and strengthen project outcomes.
• Manage indirect spend categories (e.g., IT, professional services, facilities, logistics, HR services, marketing, travel).

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder influence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain

Bachelor's degree in Finance

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Formerra is a preeminent distributor of engineered materials, connecting the world’s leading polymer producers with thousands of OEMs and brand owners across healthcare, consumer, industrial, and mobility markets. Powered by technical and commercial expertise, it brings a distinctive combination of portfolio depth, supply chain strength, industry knowledge, service, leading ecommerce capabilities, and ingenuity. The experienced Formerra team helps customers across multiple industries to design, select, process, and develop products in new and better ways – driving improved performance, productivity, reliability, and sustainability. To learn more, visit www.formerra.com .

Formerra leads in the market with the following key capabilities:

• Problem-solving mindset, based on ingenuity and backed by a skilled and experienced commercial team that brings differentiated insights across markets including healthcare, consumer, industrial and mobility
• Expansive material portfolio, including engineering thermoplastics and traditional polymers across leading material brands
• Integrated, long-standing relationships with leading, global suppliers
• Unparalleled and highly specialized technical, processing, and design support
• Regulatory-compliant material support and expertise

Position Summary

The PMO is responsible for providing project management leadership for cross-functional business initiatives. This role will partner closely with business stakeholders to ensure strategic projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with organizational objectives. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical capabilities, commercial acumen, project management skills, and the ability to influence cross‑functional teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate project steering committee meetings and executive status update, including prioritization of projects and resources across the organization.
• Lead and manage strategic cross-functional projects from initiation through implementation.
• Develop project charters, business cases, timelines, budgets, resource plans, and governance structures.
• Establish project management methodologies, tools, templates, and reporting standards.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues.
• Track project milestones, deliverables, dependencies, and overall project health.
• Drive accountability across stakeholders to ensure project objectives are achieved.
• Support organizational transformation, process improvement, system implementation, and change management initiatives.
• Drive adoption of best practices in project management, change management, and operational excellence.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, improve quality, and strengthen project outcomes.
• Manage indirect spend categories (e.g., IT, professional services, facilities, logistics, HR services, marketing, travel), collaborating with functional leaders to support contract management, negotiation, and spend.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, Finance, or related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in Project Management.
• Proven ability to work cross‑functionally and influence senior stakeholders; demonstrated success leading complex cross-functional initiatives.
• Solid analytical skills and comfort working with data.

Preferred

• Experience in manufacturing, distribution, or specialty chemicals environments.
• Experience implementing or improving procurement policies and controls.

Core Competencies & Skills

• Strategic and analytical thinker with strong financial acumen
• Excellent commercial judgment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple initiatives in a fast‑paced environment
• Project planning and execution including change management, program governance, and risk and issue management
• Results‑oriented with a continuous improvement mindset
• High integrity and strong attention to detail

Disclaimers:

• Legal authorization to work in the specified country is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening.
• The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.
• It is the policy of Formerra that all employees are employed at the will of Formerra for an indefinite period and are subject to termination at any time, for any reason, with or without cause or notice. At the same time, employees may terminate their employment at any time and for any reason.
• Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic information, creed, citizenship status, marital status or any other consideration prohibited by law or contract.