Project Manager, Manufacturing Transformation

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions.

The Role

The Project Manager, Manufacturing Transformation leads the planning and execution of complex manufacturing initiatives across a multi-site network. The role converts manufacturing strategy into executable programs, with responsibility for plant closures and openings, site consolidations, product line transfers, capacity changes, and other high-impact operational transformations.

This leader coordinates cross-functional teams from business case and planning through transfer, launch, stabilization, and benefits realization. Success requires disciplined program management, practical manufacturing experience, strong financial acumen, and the ability to maintain customer, quality, safety, and delivery performance during significant change.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

·   Lead end-to-end execution of plant closures, facility openings, consolidations, expansions, and manufacturing footprint initiatives.

·   Lead domestic and international product line transfers, including movement of equipment, tooling, inventory, documentation, and process knowledge.

·   Translate network and manufacturing strategies into integrated project plans with clear scope, milestones, owners, dependencies, budgets, and decision gates.

·   Coordinate sending-site ramp-down and receiving-site readiness, including capacity, staffing, layout, equipment, materials, quality, supply chain, IT, facilities, EHS, and training requirements.

·   Build and maintain program governance, including workstream reviews, risk and issue management, change control, executive status reporting, and escalation paths.

·   Partner with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, HR, EHS, IT, Legal, Commercial, and site leadership to drive timely decisions and execution.

·   Develop and support business cases, restructuring estimates, capital requests, cost-to-move assessments, savings plans, and post-implementation financial tracking.

·   Protect customer continuity by establishing inventory buffers, production cutover plans, qualification requirements, contingency plans, and launch stabilization metrics.

·   Manage external partners as needed, including equipment movers, contractors, engineering firms, logistics providers, and other project resources.

·   Capture lessons learned and standardize playbooks, checklists, templates, and stage-gate practices for future manufacturing transformation programs.

Key Deliverables

·   Approved project charter, business case, governance model, integrated master schedule, and resource plan.

·   Workstream-specific readiness plans for people, process, equipment, materials, systems, quality, facilities, and customer continuity.

·   Reporting on milestones, budget, risks, decisions, savings, and operational readiness.

·   Controlled production cutover, qualification, ramp-up, and stabilization plan for each receiving location.

·   Benefits realization review confirming cost, service, capacity, and strategic outcomes.

Qualifications

Required

·   Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field.

·   8+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing, operations, engineering, supply chain, or program management.

·   Demonstrated leadership of complex, cross-functional manufacturing projects in a multi-site environment.

·   Direct experience with at least two of the following: plant closure, plant startup, site consolidation, product line transfer, capacity expansion, manufacturing network redesign, or post-acquisition integration.

·   Ability to develop and manage project schedules, budgets, risks, resource plans, and executive communications.

·   Working knowledge of manufacturing operations, Lean principles, quality systems, capital project execution, and production readiness.

·   Willingness and ability to travel to manufacturing locations based on project needs.

Preferred

·   Experience leading cross-border manufacturing transfers, particularly between the United States and Mexico.

·   Experience in engineered products, industrial equipment, water technology, or other complex manufacturing environments.

·   PMP, Lean Six Sigma, or formal change management certification.

·   MBA, advanced engineering degree, or equivalent business experience.

·   Experience supporting restructuring, footprint optimization, or M&A integration programs.

Capabilities and Leadership Attributes

Program Leadership
Creates structure, pace, and accountability across complex, interdependent workstreams.

Manufacturing Acumen
Understands production systems, site readiness, equipment moves, process qualification, and ramp-up.

Strategic Execution
Connects enterprise objectives to practical decisions, resources, milestones, and measurable outcomes.

Change Leadership
Leads through ambiguity and helps teams navigate organizational and operational change.

Financial Acumen
Builds credible business cases and manages capital, restructuring costs, savings, and benefits realization.

Executive Communication
Communicates status, risk, tradeoffs, and decisions clearly to senior leaders and site teams.

Risk Management
Anticipates operational, customer, quality, supply, labor, and schedule risks and drives mitigation.

Influence
Builds alignment across functions and sites without relying solely on direct authority.

Measures of Success

·   Programs delivered safely, on schedule, and within approved budget.

·   Customer delivery, product quality, and regulatory compliance maintained during transitions.

·   Receiving sites achieve planned readiness, qualification, ramp-up, and stabilization targets.

·   Approved savings, capacity, service, and footprint benefits are realized and sustained.

·   Risks and decisions are surfaced early, with clear ownership and timely escalation.

·   Repeatable transformation standards and organizational capability improve with each program.

Why Join Us

This role provides the opportunity to shape and execute the future of our manufacturing network. You will lead highly visible programs that improve operational resilience, cost competitiveness, capacity, and customer service, while working directly with leaders across manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, finance, and the business.

The salary range for this position is $130,000 to $150,000 plus bonus. Starting pay is dependent on multiple factors, such as skills, experience, and work location, and is not typically at the top of the range. At Xylem, we offer a competitive compensation package with a generous benefit package, including Medical, Dental, and Vision plans, 401(k) with company contribution, paid time off, paid parental leave, and tuition reimbursement.

#LI-SUTTONMOORE

Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.

At Xylem, you'll not only contribute to solving water issues but also have the chance to make a difference through our paid Volunteer Program, Xylem Watermark. We prioritize our employees' well-being through inclusion and belonging as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERG). Proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (including disability and veterans) and Affirmative Action workplace, Xylem fosters an inclusive environment free from discrimination or harassment. 

Please note that the information in this job description outlines the general nature of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Xylem is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to enable all employees to perform their essential job functions. We reserve the right to modify this job description and assign additional duties as needed. Embrace the opportunity to be part of Xylem's transformative journey in shaping the future of water technology! #XylemCareers #GlobalImpact #WaterInnovation