IT Project Manager

Ascent Aerospace – Inspiring the next generation of flight!

Ascent Aerospace is a world-renowned, single-source provider of production and automated assembly systems for the aerospace and defense industry. We provide high-precision advanced automated equipment as well as a full suite of both mold and assembly tooling required for the aerospace manufacturing market, including the largest Invar molds ever made— making us the largest tooling group in the industry. We work with our customers to develop their project and see it through, from process engineering to build and installation, to ensure it is an efficient and cost-effective solution. As a true, single-source integrator, we have proven tools to surpass our customer expectations. We have greater control of timing and schedules, which allows for 100% accountability, and avoids costly mark-ups, ultimately saving our customers money. The result: a group of businesses, each an industry leader within their own discipline, now acting as one truly integrated supply base. 

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The IT Project Manager is responsible for the delivery and execution of the Ascent Enterprise Platform at Ascent Aerospace. This role owns the delivery schedule for initiatives on the Ascent Enterprise Platform roadmap, sequencing work within the priorities and dependencies set by the Enterprise Solutions Architect, manages cross-functional dependencies, and holds business owners, internal team members, and external vendors accountable to commitments and timelines. The IT Project Manager serves as the operational engine of the IT program office, ensuring that the right work happens in the right order and that progress is visible to leadership. This is a delivery-focused role for someone who is equally comfortable managing a project schedule, running a working session, and escalating a risk before it becomes a problem. This role reports to the Enterprise Solutions Architect.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Program and Project Delivery

Maintain and manage the master program schedule across all Ascent Enterprise Platform workstreams including ERP cleanup, AccureAI platform, scheduling and operations, analytics, customer visibility, and HR systems.

Sequence initiatives based on dependencies, resource availability, and business priority, and actively manage conflicts when they arise.

Track milestones, deliverables, and commitments across all active workstreams and provide a consolidated status view to the Enterprise Solutions Architect and VP of Information Technology on a regular cadence.

Identify risks, issues, and dependencies early and drive resolution before they impact delivery.

Facilitate project kickoffs, working sessions, and retrospectives across business and IT stakeholders.

Stakeholder and Vendor Accountability

Hold business owners accountable to their commitments on requirements, decisions, testing, and change management activities.

Serve as the day-to-day point of contact for external software vendors and implementation contractors, managing scope, deliverables, and issue resolution.

Prepare and present steering committee updates, including program status, risks, decisions required, and upcoming milestones.

Coordinate across the Business Systems Analyst, AI Platform and Data Engineer, Application Administrator, and ERP Functional Analyst to ensure the delivery team is aligned and unblocked.

Governance and Reporting

Establish and maintain program delivery practices including status reporting, decision logging, change control, and lessons learned documentation. Platform governance is owned by the Enterprise Solutions Architect.

Manage the program budget tracking for IT initiatives including vendor contracts, software licenses, and professional services engagements.

Support the VP of Information Technology in roadmap planning, resource allocation, and initiative prioritization.

Maintain a consolidated view of all open actions, decisions, and risks across the program and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

REQUIRED SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience.

5 or more years of experience in IT project management or program management, with a track record of delivering complex, multi-workstream initiatives on time.

Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional programs in a manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or regulated industry environment.

Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting to senior leadership and executive stakeholders.

Proven ability to hold stakeholders accountable in a constructive way, including escalating risks and surfacing trade-offs before they become problems.

Experience managing external vendors and implementation partners, including contract and scope management.

Proficiency with project management tools and methods for tracking schedules, dependencies, and deliverables across concurrent workstreams.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Project Management Professional certification or equivalent.

Experience supporting ERP implementation or cleanup programs, particularly SAP ECC or S/4HANA.

Familiarity with AI platform deployments or enterprise digital transformation programs.

Experience working in an engineer-to-order or project-based manufacturing environment.

Agile or hybrid project management methodology experience.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

No direct supervisory responsibility. Coordinates and holds accountable cross-functional stakeholders, business owners, delivery team members, and external vendors without direct line authority.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Less than 10%. Occasional travel to global and domestic sites as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Working conditions described here are representative of those that may be experienced by an employee on a daily basis while performing the functions of this job.

Typically sits for extended periods at a computer workstation

May access and work in the manufacturing plant

While performing the duties of this job, employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes and airborne particles

The employee may be exposed to vibration

The employee is occasionally exposed to caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate

May be required to travel to other site locations during the work day

May be required to work weekends to meet department and business demands

Work with safe manufacturing processes and understand that eyewear is mandatory in the manufacturing area.

Knows that safety shoes are recommended in the manufacturing area

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Must be able to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

Must be able to see, talk, hear, touch, feel and reach with hands and arms.

Must be able to frequently walk and stand for short periods of time

Must be able to lift and move up to 35lbs, occasionally lift and move objects up to 50lbs.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Employment is contingent upon successfully passing an employee reference check, criminal background check, and drug screening.

This position requires use of information that is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be U.S. persons within the meaning of ITAR. ITAR defines a U.S. person as a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder').

Ascent Aerospace is 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, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws. If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please call toll-free +1 586-726-0500. This phone number is created exclusively to assist disabled job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Only messages left for this purpose will be returned. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or technical issues not related to a disability, will not receive a response.

BENEFITS

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

AD&D Insurance

PTO

401k Match

No Unauthorized Referrals from Recruiters & Vendors

Please note that Ascent Aerospace does not seek or accept unsolicited resumes or offers from third party recruiters or staffing agencies associated with any published or unpublished employment opportunities. Any unsolicited information sent to Ascent Aerospace will be considered as unencumbered and free from any fee or charge whatsoever. Only members of our Human Resources Team have the authority to engage or authorize recruiting services, which must be agreed upon before the unsolicited resume or offer is received.