Senior Engineering Manager

Champion Petfoods; Franklin (TN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Safety program

401(k) with company contribution

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Education assistance program

Free premium pet food monthly

Job summary

Champion Petfoods is seeking a Senior Engineering Manager to lead a small, high‑performing engineering team and manage a ~$30MM annual capital program. This role focuses on planning, execution, and delivery of capital projects while ensuring safety, compliance, and alignment with OGSM and business objectives.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical leadership with finance discipline and proven ability to drive project delivery across operations and manufacturing settings.

Qualifications

• 7–12+ years of engineering experience with capital projects.
• Experience managing capital budgets $10MM–$50MM annually.
• Experience in industrial, manufacturing, supply chain, or operations environments.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prioritize, and oversee execution of ~$30MM annual capital project portfolio.
• Provide technical direction and review for project designs, specifications, and execution plans.
• Develop and manage capital budgets, forecasts, and expenditure tracking.
• Collaborate with operations, supply chain, finance, and other stakeholders to define project requirements and priorities.
• Identify opportunities to improve project delivery processes and drive lean practices.

Skills

Project management

Financial acumen

Leadership

Communication

Strategic planning

Problem solving

Engineering design tools

Project management systems

ERP platforms

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Master’s degree or MBA preferred

Tools

Engineering design tools

Project management systems

ERP platforms

Job description

Job Description

Champion Petfoods is expanding! We are excited to announce we are looking for a Senior Engineering Manager to join our rapidly growing company.

Champion Petfoods is an award‑winning pet food maker with a reputation of trust spanning 35+ years. Founded in a small town in Alberta, Canada, Champion – with its ORIJEN® and ACANA® brands – is a key player in the global premium pet food industry across three major geographic regions.

We would love to hear from you if you are passionate about personal and professional growth and see yourself as a key player contributing to our continued success as an award‑winning company.

Here’s The Scoop – Summary

The Senior Engineering Manager is responsible for leading a small, high‑performing engineering team (3 direct reports) while managing approximately $30MM in annual capital expenditures.

This role focuses on planning, execution, and delivery of capital projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives, operational efficiency, safety, and financial targets.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with project management discipline and people leadership capabilities to drive successful project outcomes.

What a Typical Day Looks Like

Capital Project Management

• Plan, prioritize, and oversee execution of ~$30MM annual capital project portfolio.
• Develop and manage multi‑year capital plans aligned with company OGSM and operational needs.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Lead project justification, including ROI analysis, cost estimation, and risk assessments.
• Manage vendor selection, contractor performance, and contract negotiations.
• Drive rigorous project governance, including milestone tracking, reporting, and issue resolution.

Engineering & Technical Oversight

• Provide technical direction and review for project designs, specifications, and execution plans.
• Ensure compliance with engineering standards, regulatory requirements, and safety guidelines.
• Oversee design reviews, risk assessments, and commissioning activities.
• Drive standardization, best practices, and engineering excellence across projects.

Financial & Budget Management

• Develop and manage capital budgets, forecasts, and expenditure tracking.
• Ensure accurate financial reporting and variance analysis.
• Identify cost‑saving opportunities and improve capital efficiency.
• Partner with finance to develop business cases and ensure financial discipline.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with operations, supply chain, finance, and other stakeholders to define project requirements and priorities.
• Communicate project status, risks, and outcomes to leadership.
• Align capital investments with operational strategies and long‑term growth plans.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve project delivery processes, tools, and methodologies.
• Implement best practices in project management (e.g., stage‑gate processes, lean principles).
• Drive lessons learned and knowledge sharing across projects.

What We’re Looking For

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related field required)
• Master’s degree or MBA preferred

Experience

• 7–12+ years of engineering experience, including capital project management
• Proven experience managing capital budgets in the range of $10MM–$50MM annually
• Experience in industrial, manufacturing, supply chain, or operations environments preferred

Skills & Competencies

• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Financial acumen and experience building capital justifications
• Leadership and team development capabilities
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands‑on execution
• Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making skills
• Familiarity with engineering design tools, project management systems, and ERP platforms

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Capital project delivery (schedule, cost, scope)
• Return on investment (ROI) for capital projects
• Budget adherence and forecasting accuracy
• Team performance and engagement
• Safety and compliance performance
• Continuous improvement and cost savings achieved

Work Environment

• Mix of office and on‑site project environments
• May require periodic travel to project sites 35‑45%

What You Can Expect From Champion

• Safety: a strong commitment to ensure all people are provided with a safe, healthy and respectful environment.
• Earnings: competitive wages that give financial peace of mind, 401(k) with company contribution, and donation matching.
• Industry‑competitive benefits: medical, dental, vision and employee assistance programs to meet your individual or family needs.
• Continuing education: in‑house & online learning & development, as well as an education assistance program.
• Quality: a dedication to uphold the highest standards of authenticity, nutritional integrity, and food safety, to earn the trust of pet lovers worldwide.
• Other perks: free bag of premium pet food each month, free parking and more!

What are you waiting for? Join the pack!

Come as you are.

We value diversity in all forms and know the power it can bring. Workplace equality allows for creative ideas to bloom, diverse points of view to be heard, and increases overall happiness. That sounds pretty good to us.

Champion is an equal‑opportunity employer. Regardless of your race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, veteran status, or any other creed, you are wanted here.