Senior Project Manager

The project
A food processing company is retrofitting an optical grading and sizing system onto an existing fresh-pack production line at its California facility. The installation window is set by the crop, not by us — the line becomes available in mid-February 2027 and has to be running by May. There is no second window. The need is simple to state and hard to do: deliver this project on time and on budget.
The role
This would be a temporary engagement of roughly nine to eleven months, starting this fall. The PM would own the schedule; manage the equipment manufacturer through specification freeze and factory acceptance testing; coordinate international shipping and delivery; manage the mechanical, electrical, and controls installation; oversee contractors and food-safety requirements in an operating plant; and drive performance acceptance, phased startup, and operator training. The role would report to me.
To be clear on the structure, this is a temporary position, not contract-to-hire. That said, we run capital projects continuously, so if this goes well, there is a real possibility we would work with the same person again.
What I need in a candidate:
Five-plus years directly managing capital equipment delivery in food or agricultural processing
Experience installing equipment into operating plants — tying into existing lines, relocating equipment to make room, and working around live production. Greenfield construction experience alone isn't the same job.
Delivery within a fixed shutdown or seasonal installation window
Overseas equipment manufacturer management, including factory acceptance testing, international equipment logistics, customs/import coordination, delivery responsibilities, and vendor coordination through final delivery
Commissioning and documented performance acceptance
Experience managing capital budgets of $1 million or more

Work arrangement
Yes