Production Manager

Job Title: Manufacturing Project Manager Job Description
The Manufacturing Project Manager oversees customer orders throughout the full manufacturing lifecycle for custom, engineered hydraulic and electrical systems. This role serves as the primary link between Sales, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Production, ensuring that orders move smoothly from receipt through design, procurement, assembly, testing, and shipment. The Manufacturing Project Manager safeguards on-time delivery, optimizes resource utilization, and maintains clear communication with both internal teams and customers to maximize satisfaction and repeat business.
Responsibilities
- Coordinate manufacturing customer orders from initial order receipt through final shipment in close partnership with the Sales team.
- Maintain proactive, clear, and timely communication with customers to set accurate delivery expectations and support long-term relationships and repeat business.
- Support Engineering by prioritizing project assignments and aligning work sequences to meet schedule commitments and delivery targets.
- Continuously monitor projected material availability and provide expediting priorities to the Supply Chain team to uphold delivery commitments.
- Lead cross-functional problem-solving efforts when plans change unexpectedly, working with all departments to re-plan schedules, resources, and priorities as required.
- Manage coordination between multiple production cells on orders that require multiple subsystems, ensuring alignment across hydraulic systems cells and the electrical panel cell.
- Maintain a top-level order status visual board that clearly communicates expected ship dates and revenue projections for stakeholders.
- Host weekly production meetings to review order status, communicate schedule exceptions, and align teams on priorities and actions.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance manufacturing planning, communication, and workflow effectiveness, with a focus on simplicity and practicality.
- Assist management in planning staffing levels and production capacity to meet current and forecasted demand.
- Prioritize safety in all physical interactions with manufacturing associates and machines, reinforcing safe practices on the shop floor.
- Foster teamwork and collaboration among Sales, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Production, modeling a positive attitude toward solving customer delivery challenges.
- Provide training and knowledge transfer to develop backup coverage for core Manufacturing Project Manager functions to ensure continuity during absences.
Essential Skills
- 35 years of experience in a manufacturing, production planning, project management, supply chain, or order management environment.
- Experience in customer or supply chain order management, including managing orders through multiple process steps.
- Experience using ERP systems, preferably Prophet 21, to manage orders, materials, and schedules.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex data sets and translate data into actionable plans and priorities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Outlook, and Word.
- Project management experience coordinating cross-functional activities and timelines.
- Proficiency in Smartsheet or equivalent project management tools for planning, tracking, and reporting.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and with customers.
- Experience in production planning, scheduling, and inventory management in a manufacturing environment.
- Background in logistics, procurement, and supply chain coordination related to manufacturing operations.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience in hydraulic systems manufacturing and familiarity with hydraulic components and assemblies.
- Experience in electrical systems manufacturing, including electrical panels and related subsystems.
- Formal project management training, certification, or equivalent experience.
- Experience with process improvement initiatives in production or supply chain environments.
- Exposure to production management, including coordination across multiple production cells.
- Customer service experience supporting external customers with order status, delivery expectations, and issue resolution.
Work Environment
This role operates in a machine shop environment that supports three production cells: two hydraulic systems cells and one electrical panel cell. The workday typically follows a Monday through Friday schedule from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with some flexibility. The Manufacturing Project Manager works closely with teams involved in sales order receipt, engineering design, material procurement, system assembly, quality control, testing, and shipment. The environment involves regular interaction with production associates, machinery, and shop-floor activities, with a strong emphasis on safety and effective communication across departments.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Portland, OR.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $36.05 - $40.86/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. 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)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Portland, OR.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 19, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Portland,OR.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.