The Associate Director - Project Management, is responsible for establishing and leading enterprise programs and project management capability across Milacron. This role serves as a strategic execution partner to Product Management, ensuring discipline, timeliness, and high-quality implementation of product initiatives. In addition, the Director leads cross-functional delivery of special technical and transformation projects that are critical to business performance, operational excellence, and growth. The role acts as the central integrator across Product, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, IT, and Commercial teams.

Key Responsibilities / Objectives

• Establish and lead a standardized enterprise project and program management framework to support product implementation and technical initiatives.
• Serve as the primary execution partner to Product Management, translating product roadmaps into executable, cross-functional delivery plans.
• Own end-to-end delivery governance for new product introductions, platform changes, major options/configurations, and portfolio initiatives.
• Lead planning, execution, tracking, and risk management for complex, multi-site and multi-functional programs.
• Drive clarity on scope, milestones, dependencies, resources, and decision rights across projects.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations to ensure technical feasibility, manufacturability, capacity readiness, and quality outcomes.
• Lead special technical projects including manufacturing footprint changes, technology upgrades, cost-out initiatives, and operational transformations.
• Implement robust project health reporting, escalation mechanisms, and executive dashboards for OLT and senior leadership.
• Identify and proactively manage risks, constraints, and trade-offs impacting cost, quality, timing, and margin.
• Support SIOP and portfolio prioritization by aligning project capacity, sequencing, and resource allocation.
• Ensure disciplined change management and communication for projects impacting customers, sales, and operations.
• Develop and mentor project/program management talent; define capability standards, tools, and ways of working.
• Embed continuous improvement practices to increase speed-to-market and execution reliability.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on execution strategy, delivery risks, and mitigation plans.

Leadership Scope

This role has enterprise-wide impact and operates with broad autonomy. The Director influences outcomes across Product, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, IT, and Commercial teams without direct authority, and may directly or indirectly lead a Project and Program Management Office (PMO).

Skills & Experience

• 15+ years of progressive experience in Project, Program, or Technical Program Management within industrial or capital equipment environments.
• Proven experience leading complex, cross-functional, and global technical programs.
• Strong understanding of product development, manufacturing processes, and operational constraints.
• Demonstrated ability to operate at both strategic and execution levels.
• Advanced stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and risk management capabilities.
• Experience building or leading PMO structures, governance, and standards preferred.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field required. MBA is preferred.
• PMP certification mandatory.

Travel

25–30% domestic and international travel expected.

Core Competencies

• Program & Portfolio Execution
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Technical & Operational Acumen
• Risk & Dependency Management
• Executive Communication
• Change Management

Disclaimer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties or responsibilities. Management reserves the right to modify responsibilities as business needs evolve.