Project Manager
Molex's Optical Connectivity Group (OCG) is seeking a Project Manager, Product Development to lead the planning and execution of product development, customer delivery, and business projects.
The Project Manager is accountable for guiding assigned projects from initiation through launch and closure. This role establishes clear project plans, aligns cross-functional teams, manages dependencies and the critical path, and maintains visibility into project health, risks, changes, decisions, and commitments.
Working across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, commercial, and product management teams, the Project Manager drives execution, facilitates timely decisions, and ensures projects remain aligned with business objectives, customer requirements, and the Product Development Process.
Molex's Optical Connectivity Group designs and delivers optical solutions supporting data centers, telecommunications infrastructure, and next-generation computing. Our global Project Management team provides the execution discipline, cross-functional coordination, and project visibility needed to move complex initiatives from concept through launch.
The Project Manager will independently lead assigned projects, strengthen alignment across global teams, and support continuous improvement of OCG's project management practices, governance, and portfolio reporting.
Reports to: Director, Project Management
Location: Onsite in Lisle, IL, or Eden Prairie, MN
Lead assigned projects from initiation through launch and closure, driving delivery against agreed scope, schedule, cost, quality, customer, and business objectives
Define project scope, deliverables, milestones, ownership, and execution plans aligned with customer requirements and business objectives
Develop and manage project schedules, dependencies, and critical paths
Coordinate execution across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, commercial, and product management teams
Identify resource requirements, secure cross-functional commitments, and escalate capacity or priority conflicts that threaten project objectives
Track project costs and financial commitments, identify variances, and coordinate appropriate actions with Finance and project leaders
Identify and manage project risks, issues, changes, and recovery actions
Lead project meetings and phase reviews, facilitate cross-functional decision-making, and document resulting decisions, actions, and commitments
Ensure project requirements, decisions, approvals, and required phase-gate documentation are complete, current, and appropriately maintained
Maintain alignment with customer requirements, business priorities, and Product Development Process requirements
Provide clear, objective reporting on project health, milestones, risks, and decisions
Escalate issues requiring leadership decisions, prioritization, or additional resources
This position has no direct reports but is responsible for leading cross-functional project teams through influence, coordination, accountability, and sound judgment. The Project Manager independently leads assigned projects, provides objective visibility into project health, recommends appropriate actions, and escalates matters requiring leadership decisions or additional support. Success requires strong execution discipline, business judgment, communication, problem-solving, and the ability to build alignment across global teams.
Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, supply chain, finance, or a related field
Three or more years of experience planning, executing, and managing cross-functional projects from initiation through completion
Experience managing new product introduction (NPI) or other product development projects
Experience working within a formal stage-gate, phase-gate, Product Development Process, or similar product development framework
Experience developing and managing project schedules, milestones, risks, issues, changes, and deliverables
Experience leading cross-functional teams across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, commercial, or related functions
Experience communicating project health, risks, decisions, and recommendations to stakeholders and leadership
Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority and hold teams accountable for commitments
Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, navigate ambiguity, and maintain execution discipline
Ability to support global teams, including occasional meetings outside standard business hours
Ability to travel occasionally to manufacturing sites, suppliers, customers, or other Molex locations based on project needs
PMP certification or another formal project management credential
Experience leading projects in a mechanical, electromechanical, optical connectivity, or related manufacturing environment
Previous experience in an engineering or technical role
Experience managing customer-specific product development or delivery projects
Experience collaborating with international cross-functional teams
Experience with project change control, risk management, and recovery planning
Working knowledge of manufacturing, logistics, bills of material, component structures, sourcing, capacity, and product launches
Experience using Microsoft Project, Excel, PowerPoint, PLM, ERP, or portfolio management systems
Experience supporting portfolio reporting, governance reviews, or business-level project prioritization