Project Manager in Aurora, Oregon at Van's Aircraft, Inc.

Introduction
Van’s Aircraft is seeking a highly organized, proactive Project Manager to help drive critical cross-functional initiatives that support our teams, and our long-term business objectives. This role is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing projects across manufacturing, supply chain, and engineering teams to support Aircraft design and manufacturing execution. The ideal candidate brings structure to complexity, communicates clearly at all levels, and keeps projects moving forward in a fast-paced, hands-on environment. This role will have one direct report (Project Coordinator) but will be a working manager as a team of two supporting product engineering teams.

Key Responsibilities
Lead end-to-end project planning and execution for cross-departmental initiatives, from kickoff through completion
Define project scope, timelines, milestones, dependencies, and success criteria
Coordinate closely with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment, accountability, and timely decision-making
Identify risks, constraints, and resource needs; proactively develop mitigation plans
Track project progress, manage changes, and communicate status updates to leadership and project teams
Facilitate meetings, document action items, and ensure follow-through
Support process improvement initiatives by documenting workflows, identifying inefficiencies, and recommending solutions
Ensure projects align with company priorities, operational capacity, and customer commitments

What You’ll Bring to the Team:
5 - 7 years of Project Management experience
Proven experience managing cross-functional projects in a manufacturing and engineering environment
Experience working as a project manager supporting new product development teams specifically within a CPG or durable goods industry.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Experience with MS Project or other project management systems
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence working across all levels of the organization
Ability to translate complex information into clear plans and actionable next steps
Strong problem-solving skills and a calm, solutions-oriented approach
Experience using project management tools, timelines, and tracking methods (formal or informal)
A collaborative mindset with the ability to influence without authority

Work Environment:
This role is based at Van’s Aircraft in Aurora, Oregon, with regular interaction across office, manufacturing, and warehouse environments. The Project Manager will work closely with leadership and frontline teams in a highly collaborative, hands-on setting. Some projects may require time spent on the shop floor or coordinating across departments to ensure real-world execution aligns with project plans.