Job Title: PMO Manager
Job Description
The PMO Manager will lead the Project Management Office for the commissioning of a new dairy processing facility, overseeing the transition from construction handover through equipment installation, utilities integration, testing, validation, and start-up. This role serves as the central hub for planning, governance, reporting, and cross-functional alignment across engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, and external contractors to ensure all commissioning activities are executed in a controlled, coordinated, and timely manner.
Responsibilities
Establish and maintain robust project governance frameworks, workflows, and documentation standards for all commissioning activities.
Develop and manage the commissioning master plan, including detailed schedules, milestones, and tracking systems.
Ensure all commissioning activities comply with relevant regulatory, safety, GMP, HACCP, and food industry standards.
Create, maintain, and monitor risk registers, mitigation plans, and issue resolution processes to proactively manage project risks.
Build and maintain an integrated commissioning schedule covering utilities, process equipment, automation, cleaning systems (CIP), cold chain, and packaging lines.
Coordinate readiness assessments and pre-commissioning checklists to confirm systems and teams are prepared for each commissioning phase.
Track critical path activities, identify potential delays, and drive corrective actions to keep the project on schedule.
Facilitate alignment and collaboration between engineering, QA/QC, production, maintenance, EHS, procurement, and external vendors.
Lead daily and weekly commissioning meetings, clearly communicate priorities, and ensure timely follow-up on action items.
Coordinate FAT and SAT activities, validation protocols, and the preparation and completion of handover documentation.
Prepare executive-level dashboards, progress reports, and KPI summaries that clearly communicate project performance.
Report project status, risks, and key decisions to senior leadership and stakeholders in a transparent and timely manner.
Maintain accurate, up-to-date documentation and version control for all commissioning deliverables.
Support budget tracking for commissioning activities, including monitoring contractor hours, materials, and equipment costs.
Monitor resource allocation across the commissioning program and identify gaps in staffing or technical expertise.
Assist with procurement planning for commissioning tools, spare parts, and consumables to support uninterrupted execution.
Ensure commissioning activities follow GMP, HACCP, and dairy industry regulatory requirements at all times.
Collaborate closely with QA teams to ensure validation protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ) are executed correctly and fully documented.
Support EHS teams in enforcing safety procedures and standards during start-up, testing, and commissioning activities.
Capture lessons learned from the commissioning process and develop best-practice frameworks for future projects.
Continuously optimize workflows, documentation templates, and commissioning processes to improve efficiency and quality.
Promote and drive a culture of operational excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement within the commissioning team.
Ensure commissioning is completed on schedule and within budget while enabling a smooth transition from construction to operational readiness.
Work to achieve high stakeholder satisfaction and minimize disruptions during start-up and early operations.
Essential Skills
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Food Technology, or a related field.
At least 7 years of project management experience, preferably in food manufacturing or dairy processing environments.
Proven experience commissioning large-scale industrial or processing facilities.
Strong understanding of dairy processing equipment, including pasteurizers, separators, homogenizers, CIP systems, and filling/packaging lines.
Familiarity with utilities commissioning, including steam, refrigeration, compressed air, and water treatment systems.
Proficiency with project management tools such as MS Project, Primavera, or similar platforms.
Knowledge of GMP, HACCP, and food safety regulations relevant to dairy or food processing.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities, with the capacity to engage diverse technical and operational teams.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to address complex commissioning challenges.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams under tight timelines and high-pressure conditions.
High level of organization, attention to detail, and proactive planning.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience working with SAP or similar enterprise systems, particularly for project-related data and reporting.
Experience handling vendor invoices and supporting financial tracking for project or commissioning activities.
Comfort with data entry and maintaining accurate, detailed project records.
Background in food manufacturing or dairy processing operations is highly advantageous.
Experience supporting or managing IQ/OQ/PQ validation activities in regulated environments.
Proven track record of driving continuous improvement and implementing best-practice frameworks in project or commissioning @contexts.
Why Work Here?
You will contribute to the commissioning of a new, large-scale dairy processing facility, playing a pivotal role in shaping efficient and compliant operations from day one. The organization values structured project governance, cross-functional collaboration, and a culture of operational excellence, offering the opportunity to work closely with experienced professionals across engineering, quality, operations, and EHS. This assignment provides exposure to complex industrial commissioning, modern dairy processing technologies, and best-in-class food safety practices, helping you further develop your leadership and technical project management capabilities.
Work Environment
This role primarily operates on-site at a dairy processing facility, with approximately 80% of the time spent at the plant in Hugoton, Kansas, and up to 20% in Kansas City for candidates based there. The environment is a large industrial food manufacturing setting that includes processing equipment, utilities systems, automation, CIP systems, and packaging lines. Work involves frequent interaction with engineering, production, maintenance, QA, EHS, procurement teams, and external contractors in both office and plant-floor areas. The position supports commissioning, testing, and start-up activities, which may require flexibility in hours to align with critical project milestones and operational readiness. Appropriate safety attire and adherence to plant safety and food safety procedures are required while working in production and utility areas.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of New Century, KS.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $36.06 - $48.08/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in New Century,KS.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Apr 24, 2026.
About Aerotek:
We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meets their goals, skills and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry - from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role solving for companies' construction, manufacturing and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.
Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
