Associate Project Manager - Operations & Systems

About Commercial Stainless

Commercial Stainless is an established custom manufacturer serving the commercial foodservice industry throughout the United States. We design, manufacture, and install custom stainless-steel equipment, millwork, serving counters, and solid-surface products.

Our highly customized projects require close coordination among customers, engineering, drafting, purchasing, production, and installation. We value craftsmanship, accountability, continuous improvement, and doing what we say we will do.

Position Summary

Commercial Stainless is seeking a motivated and technologically capable Associate Project Manager – Operations & Systems who wants to learn how a successful manufacturing company operates and grow into a future project-management or leadership role.

This is not simply an administrative position. The Associate Project Manager – Operations & Systems will help coordinate customer projects from initial handoff through manufacturing, installation, and completion. This person will also help improve how we use our ERP system, Excel, SharePoint, artificial intelligence, and other technology to manage information and operate more effectively.

The ideal candidate is organized, curious, analytical, comfortable communicating with different types of people, and hungry to take on increasing responsibility. We are looking for someone who learns quickly, follows through, asks thoughtful questions, and takes ownership of results.

Primary Responsibilities

The Associate Project Manager – Operations & Systems will:

• Learn our products, customers, manufacturing processes, and overall project workflow.
• Assist experienced project managers and gradually assume independent ownership of projects.
• Review project requirements, drawings, specifications, schedules, and customer expectations.
• Coordinate information among customers, drafting, engineering, purchasing, production, and installation.
• Track schedules, approvals, materials, open items, and deadlines.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with customers and internal departments.
• Identify potential problems early and help develop practical solutions.
• Maintain accurate project information and follow up until outstanding items are resolved.
• Become a knowledgeable user of the company’s ERP system.
• Build and improve Excel reports, dashboards, trackers, and analytical tools.
• Identify repetitive or inefficient processes that could be simplified or automated.
• Explore practical uses of artificial intelligence to improve communication, reporting, productivity, and decision-making.
• Participate in cross-functional improvement initiatives throughout the company.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, operations, supply chain, construction management, information systems, or a related field preferred.
• One to four years of professional experience preferred; exceptional recent graduates will also be considered.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and an aptitude for learning new technology.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Organized and able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Able to analyze information, identify problems, and develop practical solutions.
• Comfortable working with customers, office professionals, technical employees, and manufacturing personnel.
• Manufacturing, construction, project coordination, ERP, SharePoint, data analysis, or workflow automation experience is helpful but not required.

The Person We Are Looking For

A successful Associate Project Manager – Operations & Systems will:

• Take ownership rather than wait to be told every next step.
• Follow through reliably on commitments.
• Learn quickly and respond well to feedback.
• Make reasonable assumptions and act with good judgment.
• Communicate problems early and bring potential solutions.
• Be comfortable working in both an office and manufacturing environment.
• Be curious about how the entire business operates.
• Look for better ways to organize information and complete work.
• Want to earn additional responsibility through performance.
• Have the ambition and potential to become a future leader.

Development and Future Opportunity

The Associate Project Manager – Operations & Systems position provides broad exposure to project management, manufacturing operations, customer communication, financial performance, technology, and business systems.

This individual will work closely with experienced employees and company leadership. As capability and sound judgment are demonstrated, the position will receive progressively greater responsibility, including independent project ownership and opportunities to lead systems, process-improvement, or departmental initiatives.

Advancement is not based solely on time in the position. It is earned through performance, initiative, reliability, judgment, and the ability to produce results through others. For the right person, this role can develop into a full project-management, department-management, or broader company leadership position.

Commercial Stainless is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, performance, and business needs without regard to legally protected characteristics.