Entry-level Manufacturing Project Manager

Job Description

This Project Manager role focuses on overseeing customer orders from initial receipt through final completion within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. You will coordinate closely with sales, engineering, production, purchasing, and customers to ensure that every project is delivered on time, accurately documented, and aligned with customer expectations. The position is ideal for a highly organized, detail-oriented professional who enjoys managing multiple projects simultaneously and collaborating with diverse teams in a machine shop or manufacturing setting.

Responsibilities

• Manage customer-based projects and orders from start to finish, ensuring successful delivery and completion.
• Enter, track, and monitor customer orders using Microsoft Dynamics 365, maintaining accurate and up-to-date information.
• Coordinate daily with sales, engineering, production, purchasing, and other internal departments to support on-time delivery and resolve issues.
• Communicate proactively with sales staff, customers, vendors, and internal teams to provide status updates and clarify project requirements.
• Prioritize workloads across multiple projects and orders, balancing quick design jobs with longer tooling projects.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve scheduling or order-related issues to keep projects on track.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, including order details, timelines, and status updates, to ensure transparency and traceability.
• Manage an average workload of 3–5 orders per day, adjusting priorities as needed based on customer and production demands.
• Support a structured project environment where assignments are divided among project managers by major accounts.
• Contribute to a collaborative team culture by engaging with engineers, sales staff, shop personnel, and other stakeholders openly and professionally.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors Degree
• Manufacturing Internships
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems, with the ability to quickly learn and use Microsoft Dynamics 365.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects and orders simultaneously.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Team-oriented mindset with an open, friendly personality and willingness to engage with different groups.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 or similar ERP platforms such as SAP, NetSuite, Oracle, or Epicor.
• Background in product management in addition to project management within manufacturing environments.
• Comfort working with technical products and machine tools, including understanding basic workflows in turning, grinding, and milling operations.
• Ability to adapt to varying project durations, from quick design projects of approximately two weeks to tooling projects of 10–12 weeks.
• Interest in contributing to the design, development, and support of high-quality industrial products.

Work Environment

This role is based in an office environment with open workstations rather than enclosed cubicles, encouraging collaboration and easy communication among team members. Standard working hours are from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with a company-wide lunch break from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, and occasional overtime may be required depending on project demands. The organization designs, develops, manufactures, and supports its own workholding systems for turning, grinding, and milling machine tools, offering exposure to advanced industrial technologies and processes. Training includes HR onboarding and a product overview to help you become familiar with the company’s offerings, systems, and workflows. The workplace operates on a single shift, providing a consistent schedule in a structured yet dynamic manufacturing-focused environment.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Wheeling, IL.

The pay range for this position is $36.00 - $40.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

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 onsite position in Wheeling,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 9, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

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 astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.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.