Sr. Project Manager - Chillers

Gradian Thermal Solutions; Maple Grove (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental plans

Short-term and long-term disability

HSA, FSA, and Dependent Care plans

8 paid holidays, 4 floating holidays,

PTO

401k matching

Company events

Education assistance

Job summary

Gradian Thermal Solutions is seeking an ETO Project Manager for Chillers to own all chiller project activities from approved submittal through manufacturing, factory testing, shipment, and site commissioning. You will coordinate cross‑functional teams, maintain schedules, budgets, and PMO documentation, ensuring timely RFI/Submittal processing and KPI tracking.

A background in HVAC or engineered systems with 2–5 years of PM experience and proficiency in MS Office is required; PMP certification

Qualifications

• 2–5 years of project management experience in ETO manufacturing or engineered-systems environments (HVAC, mechanical/chiller systems).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams/SharePoint); ability to work with Gantt-style schedules.
• Ability to learn Gradian’s engineered products, workflow sequences, and PMO processes quickly.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the customer’s single point of contact (SPOC) from Job Kickoff.
• Execute PMO communications: weekly status updates, milestone notices, schedule reports, risk/issue summaries.
• Administer RFI and Submittal processes for accuracy, traceability, and timely closure.
• Own scope, schedule, cost, risk, and quality from PO through completion.
• Maintain multi-month project schedules and coordinate cross-functional teams including Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, QA, and Logistics.
• Logistics: coordinate shipping, pre‑shipment inspections, and FAT/FWT when required.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Team motivation

Cross-functional alignment

Task delegation

Tools

Microsoft Office

Asana

Job description

Gradian creates custom-engineered thermal management solutions for markets that thrive on flexibility, creativity, and bold ideas. From humble beginnings to becoming an emergent multi‑brand manufacturing leader, we’ve grown by bringing in great people and empowering them to do great work.At Gradian, we believe innovation happens when everyone contributes, diversity of thought is celebrated, and people feel supported in their growth. We take pride in working hard together, tackling challenges, solving problems, and having fun along the way. As we expand into both emerging and mission-critical industries, we stay committed to delivering efficient, competitive, and sustainable heating and cooling technologies. And throughout your career here, you’ll have the chance to directly shape the foundation for what's next in our industry.Position SummaryGradian specializes in delivering Engineer‑to‑Order (ETO) heat rejection systems including air‑cooled and liquid‑cooled chiller solutions for mission‑critical data center and industrial applications. As part of the developing Enterprise Program Management office, the ETO Project Manager for Chillers is the single‑threaded owner responsible for managing all chiller project activities from approved submittal through manufacturing, factory testing, shipment, delivery, site commissioning and project close‑out.This role ensures consistent communication, disciplined document control, and coordinated execution across Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Logistics, and Customer stakeholders—directly supporting the standardized processes and tools defined by the PMO, including the Communication Plan, ETO workflow, responsibility matrix, Request for Information (RFI)/Submittal procedures, Decisions Log, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).Key ResponsibilitiesCustomer & Communication LeadershipServe as the customer’s single point of contact (SPOC) beginning at the Job Kickoff (post‑PO).Execute all communication using standard PMO tools: weekly status updates, milestone notices, schedule reports, risk and issue summaries, and decision documentation.Administer the post‑PO RFI and Submittal processes to ensure accuracy, traceability, and timely closure (clear 2-way communications per the communication plan).Maintain a consistent, predictable communication rhythm between Gradian and all customer representatives.Project Execution & ControlOwn and manage scope, schedule, cost, risk, change control, and quality from PO through completion.Build and maintain multi‑month project schedules (typical duration: 2 to 12 months) and manage several dozen active ETO projects simultaneously.Coordinate cross‑functional teams, including Applications Engineering, Production Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance (QA), and Logistics, with particular attention to compressor, refrigeration circuit, and heat rejection (cooling tower/dry cooler) coordination across mechanical, electrical, and controls disciplines.Maintain all PMO digital artifacts in Microsoft Teams and SharePoint:Decisions LogRFI RegisterSubmittal RegisterRisk and Issue LogVersion‑controlled drawings, specifications, and approvalsSupport internal and external gate reviews and milestone events as required.Logistics, Delivery CoordinationCommunicate scheduling and shipment details using PMO standard templates, including:Estimated Ship Date (ESD)Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) rangesShipment notifications, exceptions, and Proof of Delivery (POD) confirmationsCoordinate factory readiness, pre‑shipment inspections, and support testing (FAT or FWT) when required, including validation of flow rates, refrigerant charge, compressor run testing, and performance validation against tonnage and efficiency specifications.Align close‑out communication and activities with the developing PMO process.Financial & Change Control ManagementTrack budgets and protect project margin through proactive risk mitigation and formal change control.Document scope changes, schedule impacts, and cost implications; secure required approvals; update baselines.Continuous Improvement & PMO DevelopmentCapture lessons learned and recommend enhancements to PMO processes, templates, and tools.Support rollout of new standards as Gradian scales the PMO framework.Identify and support improvements in department processes to increase efficiency.Qualifications & Requirements:Required:2–5 years of project management experience in ETO manufacturing or engineered‑systems environments e.g., HVAC, mechanical/chiller systems, industrial equipment).Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams/SharePoint); ability to work with Gantt‑style schedules.Ability to learn Gradian’s engineered products, workflow sequences, and PMO processes quickly.Preferred:Experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (e.g., Salesforce, IFS, SAP) a plus, but not required.Familiarity with manufacturing environments, engineering drawing review, and formal document control.Familiarity with chiller equipment and terminology, such as air-cooled and water/liquid-cooled chillers, compressors, refrigeration circuits, tonnage sizing, and heat rejection equipment (cooling towers, dry/adiabatic coolers) or surrogate oil and gas fluid systems.Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or ability to obtain within 12 months (company-supported).Experience with RFI/Submittal workflows or disciplined project documentation.Key CompetenciesHigh-Volume Execution: Demonstrated ability to manage high‑volume, multi‑month projects concurrently.Tracking & Tooling: Maintain timelines, budgets, and resource allocation using software like Asana.Stakeholder Management and Communication: Strong communication, customer‑management, and documentation skills.Risk Management: Identify potential project roadblocks early and implement effective mitigation strategies.Team Motivation: Foster a positive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture.Cross-functional Alignment: Drive execution across diverse teams without direct authority.Task Delegation: Assign clear ownership of deliverables based on team member strengths.BenefitsMedical, vision, and dental plansShort-term and long-term disability insuranceGroup term life insurance coverageHSA, FSA, and Dependent Care plans available8 paid holidays, 4 floating holidays, and generous PTO policy401k matchingCompany paid eventsAnnual safety shoe allowanceEducation assistance programEEO StatementMAS HVAC is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other legally protected status.Employment decisions at MAS HVAC are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind and actively promote a culture of fairness, equity, and opportunity.We also provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances, in accordance with applicable laws.