Senior Project Manager, Engineering

Cochawaii; Hawaii; On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Cochawaii in Hawaii seeks a Senior Project Manager, Engineering to lead the annual capital program across food-grade CPG and nut processing facilities. You will drive capital project execution, manage contractors, and support packaging and utility infrastructure, aligning with safety, quality, and regulatory goals.

The role collaborates across Operations, Quality, Safety, and Supply Chain, delivering throughput and cost improvements in a high-speed agricultural environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related Engineering; advanced degree or PE license preferred but not required.
• 5+ years of project management in manufacturing/operations; food, CPG, or nut/agribusiness processing experience strongly preferred.
• Project Management certification is preferred but not required.
• Strong knowledge of lean/continuous improvement tools and reliability-centered maintenance practices.
• Familiarity with food safety and quality systems (HACCP, GMPs, FSMA, SQF/BRC or similar) and designing sanitary/hygienic equipment installations.
• Experience managing capital projects from concept through commissioning, including vendor management and contractor oversight.
• Strong leadership, communication, and change management skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams in a multicultural Hawaii workforce.
• Possession of a valid driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle.
• Must have strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

Responsibilities

• Manage the annual capital plan from plan approvals to oversight of all projects.
• Lead larger capital engineering projects and ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Work with contractors and OEMs on new technologies and equipment improvements.
• Support Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and other Agricultural Operations as a technical resource.
• Implement and optimize processing and packaging lines for husking, drying, cracking, sorting, roasting, seasoning, enrobing, panning, packing, and related CPG operations.
• Lead capital planning and execution for new equipment, expansions, and facility upgrades.
• Track cash flow on capital projects with Accounting and Finance; report KPI performance.
• Apply value engineering and lean manufacturing to improve line design and reduce cost per pound.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, FDA/FSMA, USDA (if applicable), environmental regs and Hawaii codes.
• Partner with Quality and Food Safety to ensure hygienic equipment and allergen control.

Skills

Project management

Capital projects

Vendor management

Lean manufacturing

Leadership

Manufacturing operations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related Engineering

Tools

MS Office

ERP systems

Job description

TheSeniorProject Manager, Engineeringleads theEngineeringfunction forthe company’sfood-grade CPG and nut harvesting/processing facilities, with responsibility forall capital projects, capital project management, managing contractors, and supporting facility packaging and processing equipment and facilityutilityinfrastructure.This dynamic roleworkscross-functionallyacross the organizationand indirectly supports maintenancereliabilityprograms, maintenancestrategy, and ensuring projectssupporthuman safety,productionefficiency, quality, and regulatory compliance. This role partners closely with Operations, Quality, Safety, Supply Chain, and other functionsto deliver throughput, cost, and continuous improvementobjectivesinlarge scale agricultural operations and ahigh-speedmanufacturing environment.This role reports directly to theSeniorDirectorManufacturing.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Full responsibility to manage the annual capital plan from plan approvals, to oversight of all projects, to leading larger capital engineering projects.

Ensures project management isrun effectively delivering projects on time, at or below cost,and succeeding in project deliverables whilemeetingoverall organizational expectations.

Works closely with contractors and OEMs on new technologies, improved equipment performance, and drives overall equipmentandmanufacturing / processingengineeringimprovements.

Supports and coachesfunctions as a technical resource for Operations, Manufacturing,Supply Chainand all AgriculturalOperations.

Implementandoptimize processing and packaging lines forhusking, drying, cracking, sorting,roasting, seasoning,enrobing, panning,packing, andotherassociated CPG operations, ensuring OEE and yield targets.?

Support efficient us ofplant utilities and infrastructure (steam, compressed air, refrigeration, water/wastewater, power) with focus on energy efficiency and Hawaii-specific cost/availability constraintsin collaboration with Plant Manager and EHS.

Lead capital planning and execution (scoping, justification, vendor selection, installation, commissioning) for new equipment, expansions, and facility upgrades.?

Tracks and manages cash flow on capital projects working with Accounting and Finance along withother key stakeholders.

Leads with bothaValueEngineering mindset andleverageslean manufacturing and continuous improvementprinciples(5S, value stream mapping, SMED, line balancing, waste reduction) to improveline designthroughput and reduce cost per pound.?

Ensure engineeringprojectscomply with OSHA, FDA/FSMA, USDA (ifapplicable), environmental regulations, and local/state of Hawaii codes and permitting.?

Partner with Quality and Food Safety toensurehygienic equipment, allergen control, sanitation-friendly layouts, and support root cause analysis for customer or regulatory issues.?

Maintain plant layouts, drawings, and documentation; standardize work instructions and change control for process and equipment changes.?

Possess a range of analytical and mechanical skills with a high tolerance for uncertainty in dynamic conditions.?

Develop and manage departmental budget (labor, MRO, capital) and report performance via KPIs (downtime, OEE, MTBF, maintenance cost, energy use).?

Prepare monthly reports for?the business, including productivity metrics and budget costs, partnering with finance and accounting.

Fulfill any?additional?duties or?projects?assigned,?demonstrating?flexibility andan initiative-takingapproach to meeting organizational needs.?

Adhere to Company policies and procedures in all duties, reflecting Company values in behavioral conduct?both on-site and off.?

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, or related Engineering field; advanced degree or PE license preferred but notrequired.

5+ years ofproject management inmanufacturing/operations.Food, CPG, or nut/agribusiness processing experiencestronglypreferred.

Project Management certification is preferred but notrequired.

Strong knowledge of lean/continuous improvement tools and reliability-centered maintenance practices.

Familiarity with food safety and quality systems (HACCP, GMPs, FSMA, SQF/BRC or similar) and designing sanitary/hygienic equipment installations.

Experience managing capital projects from concept through commissioning, including vendor management and contractor oversight.

Strong leadership, communication, and change management skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and work effectively in a multicultural Hawaii workforce.

Possession of a valid driver's license and access to areliablevehicle.?

Must have strong?problem-solving and decision-making abilities.?

Capacity to work with and relate to employees at all levels of the organization.?

Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.?

Competency in computer systems and software applications.?

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.?Reasonable?accommodation?may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and vibration and will occasionally be required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop; kneel; crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell.The employee must occasionally lift, and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Also, sitting for extended periods, often during meetings or computer work.

Maintains regular and punctual attendance.

Ability to work longer hours, including nights and weekendsas needed.

Standing and walking duringwork,meetings, events, presentations,or whileon facility visits.

Regular use of hands/fingers tooperatecomputers, telephones, and standard office equipment.

Close visual acuity for analyzing data, viewing a computer screen, and preparingpresentations/reports.

Hearing and speaking clearly in person, over the phone, and when giving presentations.

Occasional lifting or carrying of materials (such asproduct, promotional items, or equipment) up to50pounds.

Reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, or crouching when handling files orworkmaterials.

Occasional interisland travel between Oahu and the Big Island is required to support multi-site operations and capital project execution.