Guided Search Partners (GSP)
Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long-term Relationships.
We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

About the Opportunity

We’re partnering with a family-owned global packaging manufacturer with a strong footprint in food and beverage packaging and a major growth investment underway in its U.S. operation. With significant capital being deployed over the next several years, this is an exciting time to join a business that is expanding its equipment, capabilities, and project management function. This role is ideal for a hands-on, driven project professional who enjoys working closely with customers, managing custom projects, and owning deliverables from concept through launch. The environment needs someone who can bring structure, urgency, and follow-through while helping improve timelines, budgets, and execution.

What You’ll Do

You’ll lead projects across new product development, new material development, and infrastructure-related initiatives. That includes working with customers to understand needs, guiding projects through stage gate processes, supporting validation and launch, and helping ensure projects are delivered on time, in full, and at cost. This role also involves coordinating with internal teams and outside partners across design, tooling, equipment, testing, procurement, operations, and quality. You’ll help build stronger project tracking, improve execution processes, support trials and validation work, and provide both technical and commercial input throughout the life of the project.

Who You Are

You’re a go-getter who likes being close to the work and taking ownership. You are hands-on, eager, and comfortable managing multiple priorities while staying focused on deadlines, customer expectations, and business goals. You work well across functions, communicate clearly with different stakeholders, and are comfortable operating in an environment where structure is still being built. This is a strong fit for someone who wants visibility, variety, and the chance to make a real impact.

Preferred Experience & Attributes

• Experience in project management from conception through completion
• Ability to manage timelines, budgets, and customer demands across multiple projects
• Comfort working in customer-facing, commercial, and cross-functional environments
• CAD knowledge such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks
• Plastic packaging experience is a plus, but not required
• Familiarity with injection molding and thermoforming is helpful
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills
• Comfortable working independently and driving progress
• Engineering degree is preferred, but not a hard requirement
• Early-career project engineers with the right mindset may also be a fit

Why This Role Matters

This position plays an important role in a growing U.S. operation that is adding new thermoforming lines, injection presses, and broader project management capability. The business is strong in product design and is now looking to strengthen project execution, customer delivery, and process discipline. For the right person, this is a chance to step into a visible role, help shape how projects are managed, and contribute to a business making major investments in future growth.

Reporting Structure

This role reports to the Commercial Director and works alongside one other project manager, with plans to grow the broader team over time. There are no direct reports today. The position works closely with customers and internal teams across operations, procurement, quality, sales, and other functions. Travel is an important part of the role and may reach roughly 35–40%, depending on projects and customer needs, including domestic and international travel. The role also includes training in Austria and periodic travel abroad for company meetings.