Project Manager I - Controls

About Us

We are seeking a highly motivated Project Manager I to join our Cold Chain Professional Services team. This role is responsible for coordinating and executing small to mid-sized technical projects supporting food retail customers across controls, monitoring, commissioning, and field service activities. The Project Manager will act as the primary point of coordination between customers, technical teams, and internal stakeholders, ensuring successful project delivery while maintaining scope, schedule, quality, safety, and financial objectives.

This job is based in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. We provide a flexible working schedule with the option of working hybrid.

Key Responsibilities of the Role

• Manage assigned projects from initiation through closeout, ensuring delivery aligns with approved scope, schedule, budget, and quality requirements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for day-to-day project communication with customers, providing timely updates and ensuring customer expectations are met.
• Coordinate internal and external resources, including Field Service Managers, Technicians, Project Engineers, subcontractors, and suppliers to support successful project execution.
• Review project requirements, validate scope, assumptions, and execution plans, and ensure all necessary resources are aligned before project launch.
• Track project progress, milestones, risks, and deliverables while proactively identifying issues and recommending solutions.
• Maintain project schedules, forecasts, documentation, status reports, and closeout records to ensure accurate project tracking and reporting.
• Monitor project financial performance, including revenue, costs, margins, labor utilization, and material consumption.
• Support monthly forecasting activities and provide input into labor planning, capacity management, and operational demand forecasting.
• Identify opportunities to optimize labor efficiency, resource allocation, and material usage while maintaining project scope and quality standards.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Field Services, Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, and Technical Services teams to ensure successful project delivery.
• Support field execution activities and ensure work performed aligns with project requirements, safety standards, and customer expectations.
• Participate in customer meetings, project reviews, lessons learned sessions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Execute projects in accordance with PMO governance, established project management methodologies, and company processes.
• Maintain accurate project data within required systems and tools while ensuring compliance with reporting and documentation standards.
• Contribute to process improvement initiatives aimed at improving project execution, operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and profitability.
  
  

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Project Management, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience in project coordination, project management, technical services, field service operations, or similar project-based environments.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with customers and cross-functional teams.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% based on project and customer requirements.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.
  
  

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of experience supporting HVACR, refrigeration, controls, automation, commissioning, field service, or technical services projects.
• Experience working with food retail customers and customer-facing project environments.
• Familiarity with PMO-driven organizations and standardized project management processes.
• CAPM, PMP, or equivalent project management certification.
• Knowledge of project financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and cost control practices.
• Experience coordinating field service teams, subcontractors, and technical resources.
• Proactive and results-oriented mindset with the ability to drive projects to successful completion.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across all levels of the organization.
  
  

About the Location

Our Cluj-Napoca office is a key European hub for Copeland, supporting engineering, IT, finance, marketing, and customer operations. Opened in 2024, the modern office is home to more than 240 professionals who contribute to Copeland’s global and European operations. This dynamic environment offers excellent opportunities for career growth, collaboration, and the chance to be part of an innovative, fast-growing team.

Join our dynamic team and be part of a forward-thinking company leading innovation in the cold chain and refrigeration industry.

If this sounds like you, please apply! We can't wait to speak with you!