Senior Project Manager - Capital Projects/Manufacturing

Bakelite; Riverside Gardens (KY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Bakelite in Louisville, KY is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead capital projects for the manufacturing division. You will develop scopes, estimates, schedules, and economics for major capital initiatives and drive safe, compliant execution across sites.

You'll collaborate with facility leadership, manage design and construction, track budgets, justify investments, and ensure alignment with ROI goals. Occasional travel (~50%) is required as projects advance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in mechanical or chemical engineering.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in developing projects and managing design/construction.
• Chemical manufacturing experience preferred.
• Strong leadership and ability to influence and build partnerships.
• Knowledge of PM tools and managing projects over $500,000.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of designing and executing assigned capital projects.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to refine project scope and schedules.
• Investigate feasibility to maximize value and justify investments.
• Map timelines, align resources, and coordinate activities.
• Develop budgets and monitor financials to meet ROI targets.
• Lead project implementation and ensure safety and regulatory compliance.
• Maintain open communication with leadership and stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Cost control

Scheduling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering

Tools

Estimating

Scheduling

Cost engineering

Job description

Senior Project Manager - Capital Projects/Manufacturing

Louisville, KY, USA

Job Description

At Bakelite, you’ll help us create a better tomorrow with sustainable and innovative chemistry today.

We’re Everywhere. Everywhere you look, you’ll find products enabled by Bakelite, from stronger homes to safer automobiles and everywhere in between. With more than 100 years of history and strong customer relationships, we boldly engineer sustainable products to tackle our world’s most challenging demands.

Join Our Team and Help Us Build a Stronger, Safer, Better World.

It’s Better with Bakelite.

Senior Project Manager: The Impact You’ll Have On The Organization and World

• You’ll play a critical role in the success of the company. You will be responsible for the execution of the capital plan for the division, developing the scope of work, cost estimates, project economics and schedules for major capital projects.
• You’ll engage in strategic collaboration. You will partner closely with your peers and facility leadership to drive project execution and deliver impactful results.
• You’ll ensure compliance. You’ll ensure that safety and environmental regulations are considered during every aspect of planning and are strictly followed during execution to deliver a safe project with no environmental incidents.

It's Better with Bakelite: Our Commitment Back to You

• You’ll Help Shape Our Future. As a Bakelite associate, you’re part of a diverse, global population creating the next generation of the company and we expect you to put your fingerprint on it.
• We Champion Our Associates. At Bakelite, you don’t just climb the career ladder – you pave your personal path through continued learning and development.
• Together, We Will Protect the Planet. From our processes to our products, we are focusing on the opportunities that both grow our profitability as a company, and improve and protect the planet.
• Safety is a Core Value. At Bakelite, safety is a 24/7 mindset. We are all safe today to ensure we are able to show up tomorrow – for our families and friends, for each other and for our communities.
• We Care. Plain and simple, we care about our associates. From the top on down, we place a high value on our culture and the associate experience. We offer competitive compensation, robust benefits and support our associates every step of their career.

Travel

• This role will require travel (approximately 50%). Please note there will be periods of higher travel during certain periods.

What Does a Typical Day Look Like? Here are your primary responsibilities:

• Responsible for managing all aspects of designing and executing assigned projects.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to refine project scope, set boundaries, and finalize process designs to meet operational goals.
• Investigate alternatives to projects to determine feasibility and maximize value and provide justification for investment.
• Map out project timelines, align resources, and coordinate activities to ensure smooth project progression and timely execution.
• Develop budget for every stage of a project, monitor and refine results as projects progress, ensuring financial tracking aligns with ROI targets and that projects remain within their approved scope.
• Develop detailed execution strategies, assessing feasibility and resolving potential roadblocks to meet deadlines.
• Conduct checks to ensure all safety protocols and environmental regulations are strictly followed during every phase of project planning and execution.
• Lead project implementation, address challenges as they arise, and document progress and results to achieve seamless project closure.
• Maintain open communication with peers, leadership, and stakeholders to align on progress, address concerns, and foster strategic collaboration.

What is Needed to be Successful in this Role (Required Skills/Abilities):

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in mechanical or chemical engineering with a minimum of 5 years of experience developing projects, managing design and construction activities. Chemical manufacturing experience preferred.
• Strong leadership based on integrity, humility, and respect for others
• Capable of influencing and building partnerships, developing teamwork and managing others
• Knowledge of PM tools (Estimating, Scheduling, Costs Control and Cost Engineering) and execution of projects exceeding $500,000.
• Strong economic and critical thinking skills.

We are an Equal Opportunity, Aff… employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, minority status, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, status as a qualified individual with a disability or any characteristic protected by law.