Project Manager Engineering & Capital Projects

Foods you love. Brands you trust. And a career that empowers you to grow.

At Nestlé USA, we’re all working towards the same goal – to delight and deliver for our consumers. With a rich portfolio of beloved brands, including DiGiorno, Toll House, and Coffee mate, in 97% of U.S. households, we have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to be there for every moment in our consumers’ lives.

Joining Nestlé means becoming part of an inclusive workplace that inspires innovation, encourages strategic thinking and creativity, and celebrates your achievements. No matter where you work within the organization, you are empowered to challenge the status quo, embrace risk-taking, and pioneer new ideas. Our supportive and collaborative environment encourages bold ambitions and continuous learning so that everyone can grow and thrive.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

Position Summary:

Lead capital projects from concept through execution, commissioning, start-up, and closeout in a manufacturing environment. This role combines strong project management with sufficient engineering and technical experience to guide equipment installations, facility upgrades, process improvements, and other CapEx initiatives. The Project Manager serves as the primary project leader, aligning cross-functional teams and ensuring projects achieve safety, quality, scope, schedule, budget, and business objectives.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the development of pre-project approval documents, including the project charter, project management plan, project kick-start materials, cost estimate, business justification, risk assessment, and milestone schedule.

• Lead assigned capital projects from concept through design, execution, commissioning, start-up, handover, and project closeout with limited supervision from the department manager.

• Serve as the primary project leader and point of contact for stakeholders, ensuring effective communication, alignment, risk management, and timely decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

• Monitor design progress and ensure deliverables meet established project requirements, engineering standards, approved scope, and business objectives.

• Work with internal and external design teams to understand technical deliverables and coordinate the development and release of bid packages for construction bidding and field execution.

• Select qualified contractors, vendors, and contracting methods in accordance with established engineering ways of working, procurement requirements, and prequalification processes.

• Direct and coordinate equipment installation, construction, commissioning, qualification, and start-up activities for assigned projects.

• Manage project scope and secure appropriate review and approval for changes in accordance with established engineering change-control requirements.

• Manage and control project budgets, including commitments, forecasts, cash-flow projections, cost risks, and monthly project cost and status reporting.

• Develop, manage, and maintain integrated project milestone schedules, including detailed execution schedules aligned with the approved project charter.

• Identify, evaluate, and mitigate project risks related to safety, quality, cost, schedule, resources, technical performance, and operational continuity.

• Coordinate cross-functional project teams that may include Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, Electrical & Automation, Industrial Services, Quality, Safety, Procurement, Finance, contractors, and equipment vendors.

• Manage project data collection, lessons learned, stakeholder feedback, technical documentation, and turnover requirements.

• Monitor project activities and processes for compliance with quality and GMP requirements and applicable FDA, OSHA, environmental, and site requirements.

• Provide construction management and plant start-up support as needed to ensure successful execution, operational readiness, and sustainable handover to the factory team.

• Evaluate construction firms and other project service providers through competitive bidding, technical review, commercial evaluation, and prequalification processes; support contract award and administration.

• Coordinate and monitor the work output of project team members, consultants, contractors, and less-experienced engineers as assigned by the department manager.

• Provide technical and project management support to factory operations, including troubleshooting, feasibility evaluations, and development of practical solutions.

• Support and participate in Nestlé Continuous Excellence (NCE), Total Performance Management (TPM), and continuous improvement activities as part of the role within the Business Unit or assigned factory.

• Demonstrate absolute intolerance for unsafe situations. Do not implement any change, whether directly instructed or initiated independently, without first evaluating its impact on product safety and quality, people safety, and the environment. No compromises will be tolerated.

Qualifications and Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Industrial Technology, Business, or a related field preferred.

• Candidates without an Engineering degree must demonstrate significant experience managing engineering-driven capital projects in a manufacturing, industrial, construction, or related environment.

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is preferred, particularly for candidates without an Engineering degree. Other recognized project management certifications will also be considered.

• Strong analytical, conceptual-thinking, and data-analysis skills.

• Ability to apply structured problem-solving techniques, resolve issues, manage risk, and implement sustainable change.

• Excellent written and verbal communication, stakeholder-management, and interpersonal skills.

• Proven ability to lead major projects in a manufacturing, industrial, construction, military, or similarly complex technical environment.

• Ability to plan and schedule internal and external resources effectively while balancing project execution, operational priorities, and continuous improvement.

• Sufficient engineering, technical, or construction knowledge to effectively lead equipment installations, facility upgrades, process improvements, and manufacturing capital projects.

Experience and Skills Preferred:

• 5+ years of experience leading capital (CapEx) projects with increasing responsibility and complexity in a manufacturing, industrial, food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, military, construction, or related environment.

• Proven experience managing cross-functional teams through the full project lifecycle, from concept development and design through construction, commissioning, start-up, and closeout.

• Demonstrated experience managing project scope, cost, schedules, risk, change control, contractor performance, and stakeholder communication.

• Working knowledge of engineering principles and demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with engineering, operations, maintenance, contractors, consultants, and equipment vendors.

• Experience with equipment installation, facility infrastructure, process systems, packaging systems, utilities, automation, or other manufacturing capital projects.

• Experience using SAP, Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, or equivalent project controls and scheduling tools.

• Experience in food manufacturing, consumer packaged goods, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.

• TPM, NCE, Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience.

• Additional consideration may be given to candidates with subject-matter expertise in process, packaging, electrical and automation, refrigeration, utilities, facilities, construction, or another relevant engineering field.

Key Success Profile:

• Balances project leadership with sound technical judgment.

• Creates ownership and alignment across cross-functional teams.

• Communicates risks, decisions, and status clearly and early.

• Drives execution while maintaining safety, quality, compliance, and operational continuity.

• Delivers projects that meet approved business objectives and transition successfully to factory ownership.

Salary: $86,180.40 to $123,462.00 per year

Bonus Eligibility: Yes

The pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to knowledge, skills and abilities as well as geographic location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at top of range.

Nestlé offers performance-based incentives and a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k with company match, healthcare coverage and a broad range of other benefits. Incentives and/or benefit packages may vary depending on the position. Learn more at https://www.nestlejobs.com/nestle-in-the-us-benefits

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.

To our veterans and separated service members, you're at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestlé. The skills you've gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility, and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognize the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestlé seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you’ll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestlé home.

The Nestlé Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at accommodations@nestle.com or please dial 711 and provide this number to the operator: 1-800-321-6467.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

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Job Requisition: 417426