Director, Engineering PMO
Novolex · Lake Forest, IL
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Base pay
- $180k–$200k
- Travel
- 50%
- Degree
- Preferred
- Experience asked
- 10+ years
- Industry
- Packaging
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level manufacturing role at Novolex (packaging) in Lake Forest, IL. At Novolex, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.
- They ask for
- 10+ years · degree preferred
- Tools it names
- Extrusion
- Base pay
- $180k–$200k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · about 50% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 9, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $89k–$128k. This one lists $180k–$200k.
Median of the low and high ends of 41 live postings that list pay, out of 79 manufacturing engineer openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 78 other live manufacturing postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- About 103% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (10+ vs 5+)
Typical $85k–$102k, from 35 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 39%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 34%
- Tooling 32%
- Lean 30%
- Automation 29%
- New product launch 27%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Extrusion, Union environment, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Novolex
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- The posting says about 50% travel. Between which sites?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Novolex in Lake Forest
1 other open role at this site.
- Director, Maintenance Engineering · Reliability · Director+
Full description from NovolexAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Position Summary
The Director, Project Management & Commercialization is responsible for leading the project management and commercialization function for engineering initiatives across Novolex Business Units. This role establishes the strategic direction for the team, advances standardized project management governance, and leads the implementation of an enterprise stage-gate process to strengthen execution discipline, improve visibility, and ensure alignment to business priorities.
Key Responsibilities
- ◆Develop and execute the strategic roadmap for the Project Management & Commercialization team, including team mission, operating model, role clarity, and implementation priorities.
- ◆Operationalize the organization by establishing governance routines, decision-making protocols, operating rhythms, and cross-functional interfaces with Engineering, Operations, Commercial, Finance, and Business Unit leadership.
- ◆Design, standardize, and implement an enterprise stage-gate project management process, including gate criteria, approval requirements, required deliverables, escalation pathways, and performance metrics.
- ◆Lead change management and cross-business-unit implementation to drive adoption of project management standards, tools, reporting cadence, and governance expectations.
- ◆Own project schedules, budget tracking, and scope management to ensure deliverables meet quality standards and deadlines.
- ◆Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of engineering projects, including balancing timelines, budgets, and technical specifications.
- ◆Assign tasks, balance workloads, and delegate
responsibilities
to maximize team productivity.
- ◆Act as the primary bridge between the engineering team and stakeholders.
- ◆Perform additional duties as assigned.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Company Overview
Why Choose Us?
Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries including foodservice, restaurant delivery and carryout, food processing, grocery and retail, and industrial sectors. Novolex manufacturing and sourcing expertise spans a diverse range of substrates including resin, paper, molded fiber, aluminum and more. We provide customers a broad array of stock and customized solutions with 120 product categories, 250 brands and over 39,000 SKUs.
Our Sustainability Commitment
The Novolex sustainability vision is built upon three pillars: our products, our operations and our people. Each is critically important to our growth and future as a business. These pillars form the foundation of our company-wide commitment to sustainability, helping us achieve our ambitious goals through our wide-ranging initiatives.
Job Description
Essential
- •10+ years of program management, project management, commercialization, PMO, or enterprise initiative leadership experience, preferably within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
- •5+ years of leadership experience leading engineering or technical organizations.
- •Experience developing and implementing project management strategies, governance models, stage-gate processes, or PMO capabilities within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
- •Demonstrated ability to establish operating rhythms, lead organizational change, and implement standardized processes across cross-functional stakeholder groups.
- •Strong management and prioritization skills.
- •Executive communication and stakeholder alignment capability.
- •Technical background and understanding of engineering principles and practices.
- •Experience overseeing multiple projects simultaneously, at multiple locations.
- •Ability to communicate cross-functionally with both internal and external stakeholders.
- •Proficiency using common office technology and tools.
Preferred
- +Experience supporting packaging, plastics, extrusion, thermoforming, molded fiber, paper, and/or related manufacturing operations.
- +Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline highly preferred.
Travel: Up to 50%
A reasonable estimate of the current range is $180,000- $200,000 + bonus + benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. At Novolex, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.
The benefits for this role include 401(k) plan with company match, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, paid vacation, and sick days, paid parental leave, paid holidays and wellness program.
#INDSalaried
Company Benefits
What You'll Get From Us
Benefits
With safety as our top priority and a commitment to employee well-being an important focus, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits that include medical, dental and vision insurance as well as a variety of other well-being resources focused on mental, physical and financial health. Specific benefits and well-being programs may vary depending on where you work.
Community Engagement
At Novolex, giving back to the local communities that support us is important. Our Focused Giving Program prioritizes support for organizations whose missions promote sustainability initiatives or address food and hunger needs. We also encourage facility level support of activities in the communities where our employees live and work.
Training and Development
We offer constant opportunities for advancement. From skills development to advanced education programs, training and development programs and courses are available through MyLearning. Programs include company and industry training curricula, support for formal education through the Tuition Reimbursement Program (Non-Union), and a Learning Management System that suppor