Senior Production Project Manager

OUTFORM; Union City (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Outform Group is seeking a Senior Production Project Manager to lead complex retail display, fixture, packaging, and merchandising programs through production and final delivery.

You will coordinate cross-functional teams and manufacturing partners to ensure on-time delivery, quality, and budget adherence. The role requires extensive knowledge of manufacturing processes, international sourcing, BOMs, and ERP systems, with strong leadership and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years managing retail display, fixture, packaging, or manufacturing production projects.
• Experience managing domestic and international production programs.
• Strong understanding of engineering documentation and BOMs.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel.
• Experience with ERP systems (Microsoft Dynamics 365 preferred).
• Strong project planning, budgeting, and organizational abilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of assigned projects to ensure on-time, accurate delivery.
• Lead coordination of domestic and international manufacturing partners.
• Generate manufacturing orders and ensure production readiness.
• Support development efforts, including feasibility reviews and material considerations.
• Document engineering and production issues and support corrective actions.
• Review proofs, die-lines, and production samples.
• Identify and mitigate production, quality, and schedule risks.
• Maintain budgets, timelines, and margin targets.
• Drive continuous improvement across production processes.

Skills

Project management

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Communication

Planning

Leadership

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Job description

At Outform Group, our guiding philosophy is Dare To Innovate.

Outform Group specializes in creating tangible consumer engagements that elevate, connect and humanize brand experiences. We unite leading experts in research, strategy, design, innovation and manufacturing, who work together to create unforgettable brand experiences.

Lean, interdisciplinary teams work in close collaboration with clients, helping them to solve their user’s biggest problems. Our user-centric, data-driven approach focuses on creating a seamless experience across different environments.

Job Summary

The Senior Production Project Manager (Sr. PPM) is responsible for leading complex retail display, fixture, packaging, and merchandising projects through production and final delivery. This role serves as a primary production leader, managing multiple high-value programs simultaneously while coordinating cross-functional teams, manufacturing partners, and supply chain stakeholders. The Sr. PPM provides advanced project leadership, drives continuous improvement initiatives, mitigates production risks, and ensures projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. This position requires extensive knowledge of manufacturing processes, international sourcing, engineering documentation, and retail production environments.

DIRECT REPORTS

• None

SCOPE & ACCOUNTABILITY

The Sr. PPM independently manages large-scale and strategically important projects with significant budget, timeline, and client impact. This role is accountable for production planning, material requests, risk management, quality execution, cost control, and project delivery. The Sr. PPM serves as a subject matter expert within the Project Management team, partnering closely with Account Management, Development, Engineering, Purchasing, Logistics, and Manufacturing teams to ensure successful execution across the entire production lifecycle. Additionally, the Sr. PPM provides guidance and mentorship to Associate and Production Project Managers and supports the development of best practices, process improvements, and operational efficiencies.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of assigned projects and programs to ensure on-time and accurate delivery of orders and client objectives
• Lead coordination of domestic and international manufacturing partners throughout the production lifecycle.
• Generate manufacturing orders and ensure projects are fully prepared for production readiness.
• Support project and program development efforts, including feasibility reviews and material considerations.
• Support Development team on prototype builds.
• Document engineering and production issues and support corrective actions.
• Support packaging submissions, including design review and drop testing coordination and compliance requirements.
• Utilize Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP to enter project BOMs, create request purchase orders and support production planning
• Review and approve proofs, die-lines, first article and production samples
• Identify, communicate, and mitigate potential production, quality, and schedule risks.
• Ensure projects remain within approved budgets, timelines, and margin targets.
• Maintain design integrity and quality standards throughout the production process.
• Coordinate instruction sheet requests and provide supporting production documentation.
• Oversee shipping logistics coordination and identify special shipping or distribution requirements.
• Partner with line leads and manufacturing teams to approve first articles, production runs, and finished goods pack-outs.
• Provide guidance and support to Associate PPMs and junior team members as needed.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance production efficiency, quality, and project delivery performance.

KEY INTERFACES (NON-REPORTING)

This Role Collaborates Regularly With

• Account Management Team
• Development Team
• Design & Creative Teams
• Engineering
• Production Line Leads
• Quality Assurance
• Supply Chain & Logistics
• Packaging & Testing Vendors
• Domestic and International Manufacturing Partners
• Purchasing (budget tracking and cost approvals)

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Success in this role will be measured against metrics including but not limited to:

• On‑time project delivery performance
• Budget adherence and cost variance
• Quality metrics (defect rates, rework, and first article approval success)
• Responsiveness to production issues and effectiveness of resolutions
• Stakeholder satisfaction (internal teams and manufacturing partners)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of experience managing retail display, fixture, packaging, or manufacturing production projects.
• Demonstrated success managing complex domestic and international production programs
• Strong understanding of engineering documentation and Bills of Materials (BOMs)
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Experience working within ERP systems (Microsoft Dynamics 365 preferred)
• Strong project planning, budgeting, and organizational abilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing processes including (preferred but not required):
• Corrugated packaging
• Printing methods and technologies
• Vacuum forming
• Plastic fabrication
• Wood fabrication
• Metal fabrication
• Finishing processes such as painting and powder coating

LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES & PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Strategic Thinker - Anticipates project risks, evaluates options, and develops effective solutions to support successful project outcomes.
• Exceptional Problem Solver - Proactively identifies production, engineering, and supply chain challenges and drives timely resolution.
• Results Driven - Leads projects to successful completion while balancing quality, cost, and timeline objectives.
• Highly Organized - Effectively manages multiple complex projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Quality Oriented - Maintains high standards and attention to detail throughout all phases of production.
• Financially Minded - Makes sound business decisions with a focus on budgets, margins, and cost optimization.
• Collaborative Leader - Partners effectively across departments and serves as a resource for team members and stakeholders.
• Continuous Improvement Advocate - Identifies opportunities to improve processes, efficiency, and overall project performance.
• Influential Communicator - Communicates clearly and effectively with internal teams, vendors, clients, and leadership.
• Trusted Decision Maker - Demonstrates sound judgment, accountability, and confidence when making project-critical decisions.
• Deadline Driven - Thrives in fast paced environments with firm delivery timelines

Essential Functions

Working conditions are primarily in an office environment but require frequent visits to our manufacturing facilities. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, sit, and stand, using hands to handle, finger, or feel objects, tools, or controls. Occasionally, the employee must crouch or kneel. The employee must occasionally exert or lift up to 20 pounds. Successful performance requires good eyesight with or without corrective lenses. Requires long periods of time working at a computer and includes phone work. Travel up to 20% of the time is required and is an essential function of this position.

DISCLAIMER

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification and may be amended at any time at the sole discretion of the Employer. 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.