Manufacturing Technical Project Manager

James Hardie Building Products Inc. is the North American leader in fiber cement home siding and exterior design solutions. Hardie® products offer long lasting beauty and endless design possibilities with trusted protection and low maintenance. The company pioneered modern fiber cement building products and continues to invest in innovation to transform the industry. James Hardie is a high-performance organization, with an unwavering commitment to Zero Harm. The company proudly employs a diverse workforce of over 3,000 employees across operations in North America.

Position Summary

As a member of the Global Engineering and Construction department the position will be reporting to the Engineering Manager.  The Technical Project Manager & Insurance Liaison will be responsible for managing the relationship with our insurance carrier and leading small and midsize manufacturing plant projects to meet agreed upon requirements.

This position requires strong leadership, technical and negotiating skills along with the ability to work collaboratively across various functions through influence. The individual must be capable of working independently on small and midsize capital projects, track a portfolio of projects and have a working knowledge of manufacturing, safety and project execution. As a project manager the role will be responsible for delivering projects to JH Zero Harm standards within budget and schedule.

Projects will span globally within both Fiber Cement and Fiber Gypsum operating plants, but the majority will be in the US. Therefore, the role requires excellent communication skills, concern for accuracy and will require 50+% domestic and international travel depending on the phase of the project.

Position Responsibilities

Insurance Company Liaison

• Work with Corporate Risk Manager to partner with insurance companies and drive a positive relationship.
• Develop, communicate, and execute effective strategies at the plant level to achieve mutually agreeable risk improvement solutions
• Acquire tangible risk improvement results in support of corporate objectives
• Interpret insurance carrier risk assessments and inspections of properties to identify potential hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks.
• Develop and implement risk control strategies and protocols to minimize property-related risks and ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations.
• Evaluate existing property systems and infrastructure to recommend improvements for risk reduction and optimization.

Project Leader

• Manage a portfolio of small to midsize projects in collaboration with plant capital teams and keep track of progress across the globe
• Proven leadership skills and ability to manage a multidiscipline aspect of people, projects including utilities, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and piping.
• Supervise mechanical design including plant layout, equipment arrangement, piping and instrumentation, plant utilities.
• Coordinate mechanical and electrical designs.
• Supervise structural design including buildings, foundations and slabs, access platforms, equipment, and crane support structures.
• Work with Corporate EH&S group to prepare operating permits.
• Satisfy other permit requirements including local building codes and Insurance companies.
• Participate in project design review meetings and coordinate with vendors.
• Prepare installation scope of work, bid and award contracts.
• Supervise the installation of buildings and structures, mechanical equipment, and mechanical systems– coordinate with plant.
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, and quality.
• Enforce corporate and construction department safety rules and regulations.
• Ensure all projects follow FEL guidelines and JH standards and specifications

• Develop installation scope of work for mechanical equipment and systems, buildings, foundations, platforms, and structures.
• Solicit quotations for installation or estimate costs using sound engineering judgment.
• Review proposed design with plant operations, maintenance, and safety.
• Prepare overall project estimate, implementation schedule, and Capital Expenditure Request for management review.

The position responsibilities outlined above are in no way to be construed as all encompassing.  Other duties, responsibilities, and qualifications may be required and/or assigned as necessary.

Position Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• • Exceptional interpersonal and written/oral communication skills with the ability to relate well and cooperate with others to effectively coordinate activities and accomplish goals across the globe.
  • Strong project execution and portfolio tracking skills
  • Strong understanding of property risk assessment methodologies, risk control strategies, and regulatory compliance – FM and NFPA experience preferred.
  • Knowledge of Mechanical Building Codes and OSHA and other industry standards as necessary.
  • Knowledge of Equipment and Machine Design Standards and Specifications including AWS, ANSI, ASTM (preferred).
  • Demonstrated advanced skills with the standard features of personal computers including word processing and spreadsheets (Microsoft Word and Excel, Project, Power Point, Outlook, and Internet Explorer).
  • Demonstrated attention to detail and continual diligence about follow-up.
  • Strong desire to learn.
  • Well organized, with the ability to multi-task.
  • Must be able to lead and be a part of cross functional teams. 
  • Demonstrated ability to show initiative, work independently, and perform at a high level with little supervision

Education/Experience:

• Bachelors of Science in Engineering or equivalent or related education required.
• 10 or more years’ experience in an industrial manufacturing environment
• Project Management Experience; Demonstrated Successful Execution including portfolio, safety, schedule, and budget management; design and specification, purchase, installation, and startup of mechanical equipment.
• Experience with mechanical systems including Hydraulics, Pneumatics, High Pressure Water, Compressed Air, and Natural Gas.

James Hardie Building Products Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or any other basis protected by law.