Senior Manager, Process - Columbia - GEA

Description

Responsibilities / Tasks

GEA Group, founded in Germany in 1881, is a global leader in engineering solutions, serving industries such as food and beverage, pharma, dairy, and more. With over 18,000 employees worldwide and a strong U.S. presence since 1929, GEA combines the heritage of a well-established company with the innovation of a forward-thinking industry leader. At GEA, we're not just building equipment, we're building lasting careers with an average employee tenure range from 8 + years, reflecting the strong culture, growth opportunities, and support we provide.

• Start strong – Medical, dental, and vision coverage begins on your first day
• Recharge and refresh – Enjoy 12 paid holidays, including a flexible floating holiday, and 136 hours of PTO to relax or explore
• Invest in your future – A 7% 401(k) employer match helps grow your retirement savings faster
• Keep learning – Take advantage of tuition reimbursement to further your education or skillset
• Live well – Our wellness incentive program rewards healthy habits
• Get support when you need it – Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program for personal or professional guidance
• Save smart – Flexible Health Savings and Spending Accounts to manage out-of-pocket expenses

The typical base pay range for this position at the start of employment is expected to be between $88,000 - $118,000 + bonus per year. GEA Group has different base pay ranges for different work locations within the United States.

The pay range is not guaranteed compensation or salary. The estimated range is the budgeted amount for the position. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, location, qualifications, and other job-related reasons. You may be eligible for additional rewards, such as a discretionary bonus (based on eligibility) and/or equity awards.

Overview

The Senior Manager, Process & Project Engineering serves as the Project Management Team Lead and is responsible for supporting the Director of Engineering in the daily operations of the Project Engineering group. This role provides leadership through coaching, mentoring, and development of Project Managers and Project Engineers while also maintaining direct responsibility for managing assigned projects.

The Senior Manager ensures successful project execution by delivering projects on time, within budget, and in accordance with defined scope, technical specifications, and customer expectations. In addition to people leadership, this role provides organizational, technical, and documentation support across chemical and process engineering projects.

Roles & Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead the Project Engineering team supporting execution of the LPT North America project portfolio, which varies in size, complexity, and duration.
• Partner with the Director of Engineering to ensure projects are delivered according to budget, schedule, scope, specifications, and customer expectations.
• Supervise, coach, mentor, and develop Project and Process Engineers, ensuring adherence to company procedures, engineering standards, and best practices.
• Foster a positive and collaborative team environment that supports engagement, performance, and retention.
• Conduct resource planning and staffing forecasts to support project workload, schedule commitments, succession planning, and talent retention.
• Identify training needs, support professional development, and complete performance evaluations.
• Review and approve timesheets, PTO requests, and expense reports for the team.

Project Execution & Technical Oversight

• Provide direct project support as needed to meet project requirements and resolve execution challenges.
• Oversee a subset of the project portfolio by monitoring progress, coordinating activities, conducting engineering reviews, and resolving technical issues.
• Support project risk assessments and assist in developing mitigation strategies and response plans.
• Ensure compliance with GEA Project Management guidelines (PPP), Product Engineering Standards, and LPT Technology & Application Management requirements.
• Ensure adherence to all GEA policies, including Travel, Health, and Safety standards.

Engineering Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Support LPT Technologies & Application Development initiatives related to technical development, standardization, and resolution of engineering design and testing challenges.
• Improve engineering efficiency through the development and implementation of tools, processes, procedures, and standardized methods to reduce repetitive work.
• Promote consistent documentation and knowledge sharing across the Project Engineering team.

Pre-Sales & Customer Engagement

• Support the Technical Offer Management team during pre-sales activities, including review of engineering hours, historical cost data, and installation pricing.
• Provide engineering input for installation specifications, contractor coordination, and installation planning.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers and project stakeholders.
• Address customer concerns related to project performance and support claim resolution and negotiations within the scope of project engineering responsibility.

Your Profile / Qualifications

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Food Science, or related field) required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in engineering and/or project management.
• Experience in process engineering, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and/or structural engineering preferred.
• Project management and engineering experience within the Chemical or Pharmaceutical industries is a plus.
• Ability to read and interpret technical specifications and engineering drawings.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to lead and collaborate in a team environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and standard engineering tools.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and self-motivated with the ability to work independently.
• Willingness to travel approximately 25%.

At GEA, we don't just offer jobs, we offer opportunities to thrive, grow, and make an impact.

#engineeringforthebetter

Please note: This position is based in the United States and does not offer visa or work sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship.

GEA Group is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment where all clients and employees feel welcomed, accepted, and valued. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

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