Engineering Project Manager

Hungry for a career that’s as rewarding as it is delicious? 

At Aspire Bakeries, we don’t just bake breads, cookies, and cakes - we create foods that bring people together. From La Brea Bakery® artisan breads to Otis Spunkmeyer® cookies, our products are enjoyed by millions of people every day. And behind every bite are talented manufacturing and support teams who take pride in their work and our food. 

We’re looking for hard-working people who will bring integrity, creativity, and a passion for excellence to everything they do - whether that’s on the bakery floor, in the office, or supporting customers. In return, we offer a workplace culture built on care, ownership, and growth - where your contributions matter and your career can rise as high as our bread loaves! 

With 13 commercial bakeries across North America and a reputation as an industry leader, Aspire Bakeries is rising together with our people and our customers to be the best all-around bakery solution. If you’re ready to grow with us, we’d love to hear from you

About the Role

We are seeking an Engineering Project Manager to join our team at our Bakery in Cayce, SC. As a member of our Technical Services group, you will co-manage the capital program, lead capital projects and reliability initiatives that improve safety, equipment performance and operational efficiency across our network of bakeries. You will partner closely with Operations, Maintenance, vendors, and other stakeholders to deliver projects from concept through successful commissioning – ensuring they are completed safely, on time, within budget, sanitary design, and meet performance requirements.Success in the role means driving measurable improvements in equipment reliability, reducing downtime, and helping bakeries meet safety, production, quality, and service goals. The ideal candidate has demonstrated strong project leadership, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to move quickly from analysis to execution in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. All in a team-based environment that values collaboration over ego.

This role is based onsite at our Bakery in Cayce, South Carolina.

Core Accountabilities (What You’ll be Doing)

Engineering/Project Management

• Lead capital projects to deliver safe, reliable, and cost-effective solutions from feasibility to commissioning and handover.
• Manage project scope, budget, timeline, vendor performance and stakeholder communication to ensure successful execution.
• Prepare project portfolio reports to communicate overall safety, cost, cashflow, and performance objectives within expectations.
• Drive vendor and equipment investigation, selection, price negotiation, coordination, and procurement efforts related to projects.
• Lead the development and submission of CER documents including the development of presentations to facilitate funding approvals.
• Create clear project scopes and functional/technical requirements that enable effective execution delivering business needs.
• Supervise contractors in the execution of projects and in the commissioning and handover to Operations
• Facilitate project reviews and stakeholder meetings on project progress and risk escalation.
• Utilize a systematic approach for project management and promote the use of tools for continuous improvement.
• Work across Regional boundaries and provide support to local Bakery Operations Teams to ensure the timely completion of small budget projects.
• Manage regional multi-year Capital Program, including plan development and regular reporting on project status, commitments, and spending.
• Initiate sharing of best practices, upgrading common work processes, vendor/equipment performance feedback, and input for continuous improvement across Business Units, Division Supply Chain team and Corporate Support Services.

Reliability

• Identify and prioritize reliability losses to reduce downtime and improve equipment performance.
• As part of project execution, improve preventative maintenance and operating standards to sustain project gains and long-term asset performance.
• Partner with bakery teams to drive continuous improvement in maintenance and equipment reliability

• Develop and implement engineering solutions to eliminate recurring failures.
• Assists in management of equipment supplier related issues causing inefficiencies, regulatory, safety and/or quality problems.
• Ensures equipment is following all sanitation, safety and environmental requirements by local and federal regulatory authorities. 

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions, wet and/or humid conditions, and extreme cold.
• The noise level in the work environment is often moderate to loud.
• We are a 24-hour/7-day manufacturing operation, where occasional off shift/weekend/holiday work will be required based on project needs.
• The role could involve 50-75% travel depending on project assignments.

Minimum Qualifications (What You Bring to the Table)

• B.S. Engineering (electrical, mechanical, or chemical preferred, others considered).
• 7 to 10 years in engineering, project management, and reliability – at least 5 or which is in food manufacturing.
• Capital project leadership from feasibility to startup.
• Knowledge of KPIs utilized in project management and maintenance to assess performance. 

• Knowledge of current personnel safety, food safety, environmental and regulatory compliance issues related to manufacturing and in the food industry.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced dynamic environment and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Maintain valid passport, visa or other credentials for international travel.

Preferred Qualifications (Extra Ingredients for Success) 

• Working knowledge of SAP
• Bakery or similar experience
• Multi-site bakery/manufacturing support exposure
• AutoCAD Proficiency
• Experience applying engineering knowledge cross-functionally to support new food development and commercialization in specialty foods categories.

Aspire Bakeries is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen, assess, or select applicants.