Senior Engineering Manager

Mars; Franklin (VA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k matching

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Education assistance

Free bag of premium pet food

Job summary

Champion Petfoods is seeking a Senior Engineering Manager to lead a small, high-performing engineering team (3 direct reports) and oversee ~$30MM in annual capital expenditures, aligning projects with OGSM and operational needs.

You will drive planning, execution, and delivery of capital projects, provide technical direction, ensure safety and regulatory compliance, and partner with operations, finance, and supply chain to deliver value.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required.
• MBA or Master’s degree preferred.
• 7–12+ years of engineering experience, including capital project management.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prioritize, and oversee execution of ~30MM annual capital project portfolio.
• Develop and manage multi-year capital plans aligned with OGSM and operational needs.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Lead project justification, ROI analysis, cost estimation, and risk assessments.
• Manage vendor selection, contractor performance, and contract negotiations.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Problem solving

Engineering tools/ERP

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

MBA or Master’s degree

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 are we 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 can you 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, 401k with Company, 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 everywhere.


• 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 views 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.

#cpfind