At least 7 years
This role is STARs-friendly: Skilled Through Alternative Routes.
37% STARs in role.
Job Title: Project Manager – Industrial Retrofits & Automation (Travel Role)
Pay rate: $60-65/hour
Duration: 5 month contract (W2) with benefits
Location: Remote - travel heavy role
Job Description
This role leads the coordination and completion of complex industrial retrofit and expansion projects, with a strong focus on material handling equipment and automation in fast-paced, small-site environments. The Project Manager oversees all aspects of multiple concurrent projects and programs, including planning, scheduling, safety, execution, and stakeholder communication. The position requires extensive hands-on experience in live industrial environments, particularly retrofits, and demands a high level of safety awareness, technical aptitude, and the ability to work closely with operations, maintenance, and integrators. The Project Manager relies on seasoned judgment, creativity, and autonomy to plan and accomplish goals while directing the work of others and providing clear status updates to leadership.
Responsibilities
- Lead the coordination and completion of industrial retrofit and expansion projects, with a focus on same-day delivery (SSD) programs, including 1–3 hour rush and other same-day initiatives.
- Oversee all aspects of assigned projects and programs, from initial planning through launch, ensuring that scope, schedule, and quality objectives are met.
- Set project deadlines, develop detailed schedules, and assign responsibilities to internal and external stakeholders to keep projects on track.
- Monitor project progress closely, identify risks and issues early, and implement corrective actions to keep projects within agreed timelines and deliverables.
- Prepare clear, concise status reports and summaries for upper management, highlighting progress, risks, issues, and mitigation plans.
- Lead and direct the work of cross-functional teams, including site safety associates, operations staff, reliability and maintenance engineering (RME), and IT, to ensure coordinated execution.
- Serve as the primary liaison between project sites and external integrators, ensuring alignment on design, installation, testing, and commissioning activities.
- Manage retrofit projects involving the conversion of existing manual systems, such as ADTA intralock sorters, to automated material handling solutions.
- Plan and execute projects on aggressive timelines, including managing a typical seven-week process from project kickoff to launch.
- Support the development of future site plans and expansion initiatives by contributing project insights, lessons learned, and best practices.
- Ensure a strong focus on safety by proactively identifying, addressing, and resolving safety issues in real time during project execution.
- Confront and escalate safety concerns as needed, and work with site teams to implement immediate corrective and preventive actions.
- Collaborate with RME and operations teams using appropriate technical terminology to ensure accurate communication of requirements, issues, and solutions.
- Assist with basic troubleshooting of material handling equipment and automation systems, leveraging a technical experience to support issue resolution.
- Coordinate change orders and manage their impact on scope, schedule, and budget, communicating changes effectively to all stakeholders.
- Work closely with larger integrators, including those specializing in SSD sites, to ensure that installation and integration activities meet operational and safety standards.
- Travel full-time to project sites across the United States, managing on-site activities, stakeholder alignment, and project milestones.
- Participate in a structured interview and onboarding process, including demonstrating the ability to address and resolve safety issues quickly through real-world examples.
Essential Skills
- At least 7 years of experience in project management or a closely related field, with a strong focus on industrial or construction environments.
- Proven project management experience specifically in retrofit projects within live, operational industrial facilities.
- Hands-on experience with material handling equipment (MHE) and automation systems in industrial environments.
- Demonstrated ability to oversee all aspects of projects and programs, including planning, scheduling, execution, and reporting.
- Strong safety mindset with the ability to identify, address, and resolve safety issues quickly in real time.
- Experience working in fast-paced, small-site environments with multiple moving parts and stakeholders.
- Ability to lead and direct cross-functional teams, including operations, maintenance, safety, and IT personnel.
- Proficiency in communicating effectively with technical teams such as RME and operations, using appropriate technical terminology.
- Experience preparing detailed status reports and summaries for upper management.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, relying on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.
- Willingness and ability to travel 100% of the time to project sites across the United States, including extended stays when required.
- Comfort working with large integrators, particularly those specializing in SSD and automation solutions.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to exercise a wide degree of creativity and latitude in project execution.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is beneficial but not required; extensive practical experience is valued more highly.
- Prior experience with major integrators such as Intelligrated or Dematic, especially on SSD or similar high-throughput sites.
- Exposure to grocery automation or similar automation projects in industrial or logistics environments.
- Previous experience with large-scale e-commerce or logistics operations is advantageous.
- Some technical experience that enables participation in troubleshooting and technical discussions related to MHE and automation.
- Experience managing change orders and understanding their impact on project scope, schedule, and budget.
- Familiarity with construction management and material handling equipment installation in active facilities.
- Ability to clearly articulate past safety issues encountered and describe how they were resolved.
- Comfort working with structured interview processes and providing detailed examples of past project and safety experiences.
Work Environment
This role operates primarily in live industrial and logistics environments, including fast-paced, small sites that support same-day delivery programs. Projects focus heavily on retrofitting existing facilities and implementing automation and material handling equipment, including the conversion of manual systems such as ADTA intralock sorters to automated solutions. The Project Manager works on-site alongside site safety associates, operations teams, reliability and maintenance engineering (RME), IT, and external integrators. The position requires 100% travel to project locations across the United States, with a focus on Midwest and East Coast sites but potential assignments anywhere in the country. Travel is typically structured so that you return home on weekends, although occasional weekend stays may be required based on project needs. The work environment is fast-paced and dynamic, with multiple concurrent projects and a strong emphasis on safety, operational continuity, and on-time launches, often within a seven-week timeline. The role includes budgeted overtime (approximately eight hours per week) and reimbursed travel-related expenses. You will work in active, live environments where safety, clear communication, and collaboration with large integrators and site teams are critical to success.
Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Columbus, OH.
Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $65.00 - $65.00/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)
This is a fully remote position.
Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on May 26, 2026.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.
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 actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com 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.
Posting ID: JP-006040241
