Full-Time

Program Manager

Deadline 6/12/27
Graham Packaging

Graham Packaging

1,001-5,000 employees

Designs and manufactures sustainable plastic containers

Compensation Overview

$109.7k - $164.6k/yr

Lancaster, PA, USA

Hybrid

Remote work is available, but the candidate must be located near a major airport in the Eastern or Midwestern United States. Travel may reach 75%.

Bachelor's

Category
Business & Strategy (1)
Required Skills
SAP Products
Risk Management

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Requirements
  • The candidate must demonstrate technical acumen and the ability to understand technical details and contribute in technical discussions.
  • The candidate must apply project management principles.
  • The candidate must have demonstrated experience developing project scopes, budgets, and timelines using Microsoft Project or an equivalent tool.
  • The candidate must have strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • The candidate must be proficient with capital equipment project life cycles.
  • The candidate must have a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, specifically Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Systems, or Electrical Engineering.
  • The candidate must hold the Project Management Professional certification through the Project Management Institute.
  • The candidate must have 8 or more years of Project Management experience.
  • The candidate must have experience in program planning, coordinating geographically dispersed team members, procurement, and installation and start-up of capital equipment projects.
  • The candidate must have experience with projects involving manufacturing lines performing industrial processing, product manufacturing using robotic assembly lines, or component manufacturing.
  • The candidate must be execution-driven, set clear ambitious goals, and achieve them.
Responsibilities
  • Lead all phases of project execution from business award through closeout.
  • Provide cross-functional technical guidance to capital engineers, process engineers, product development engineers, and other stakeholders, including acting as a technical devil’s advocate.
  • Oversee communication among team members, customers, and stakeholders.
  • Maintain detailed, complete, and timely project records.
  • Provide project status and progress reports, ensure stakeholders receive current project information, and request resources as required.
  • Use project management tools to track and maintain project schedules, task lists, resources, and work allocation, including Microsoft Project and SAP.
  • Manage capital projects through a project management process.
  • Facilitate project pre-planning by scheduling meetings, gathering stakeholder information, and recapping and distributing information.
  • Develop and maintain project documentation, prevent scope creep, and keep projects focused.
  • Determine customer contract requirements, code requirements, laws, and other applicable project requirements.
  • Estimate, track, communicate, and control project budgets, and pursue cost savings.
  • Plan, track, coordinate, and communicate project timelines, including identifying the critical path and key milestones.
  • Provide direction, drive projects to completion, and coordinate activities and resources.
  • Manage project subcontractors when necessary.
  • Prepare or assist with cost justifications for projects.
  • Lead discussions and extract critical information to define business requirements, project scope, solution design and options analysis, project planning, resource management, risk and issue management, and communications plans, then drive projects through successful completion.
  • Resolve situations requiring intervention.
  • Travel up to 75% at times.
Desired Qualifications
  • A preferred background is designing industrial equipment as a design or equipment engineer with a technical specialty.

Graham Packaging designs, manufactures, and sells custom, value-added, and sustainable containers for food, beverage, household, and automotive uses. Its products are plastic bottles and related packaging created to be safe, attractive, and convenient for today’s consumers. The company achieves this through a team of designers and engineers who develop packaging solutions and manage end-to-end production in facilities across North America, Europe, and South America, with more than 16 billion container units produced annually. Unlike generic packaging providers, Graham focuses on tailored packaging solutions for major brands and emphasizes sustainability and performance to meet each market’s specific demands. Its goal is to continue solving customers’ packaging challenges by delivering safe, appealing, and environmentally responsible containers at scale while expanding its global footprint.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

York, Pennsylvania

Founded

1970

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • On May 4, 2026, Graham named former Bunzl North America CFO Katy Vu.
  • Graham is spending $35 million on Hammond, Louisiana expansion for February 1, 2027.
  • Graham targets a 30% absolute emissions cut by 2030 from a 2020 baseline.

What critics are saying

  • Graham faces patent fights with Ring Container Technologies in Kentucky and Delaware through 2026.
  • Amcor's July 5, 2024 patent suit reaches pretrial in Delaware by November 2026.
  • Headcount fell to 2,044 by March 2026, signaling ongoing efficiency pressure.

What makes Graham Packaging unique

  • Graham runs 60+ plants and produces 16 billion containers annually, per May 2026.
  • One-third of Graham plants sit near customer filling lines, cutting freight and coordination costs.
  • Graham sells custom recyclable bottles across food, beverage, home care, industrial, and dairy.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Wellness Program

Company News

Central Penn Business Journal
May 15th, 2026
Graham Packaging names Katy Vu as new CFO.

Graham Packaging names Katy Vu as new CFO. Rachel Curry, Contributing Writer//May 15, 2026// Graham Packaging, which manufactures rigid plastic packaging and containers, announced on May 4 the appointment of Katy Vu as the new chief financial officer. Vu previously served as CFO for Bunzl North America, a division of global distribution and services company Bunzl PLC. She managed financials for the nearly $9 billion business and helped drive more than 20 acquisitions for the company. Founded in 1970, Graham is headquartered in Lancaster with a flagship manufacturing location in York. The company produces 15 billion containers per year across more than 60 global locations. "Katy has spent more than 15 years leading global finance and business operations with a strong track record of driving performance, growth and operational excellence," Bob Pyle, president and CEO of Graham Packaging, said in a statement. "Her ability to partner across organizations, apply strong analytical insights and build high-performing teams will be instrumental as we execute our strategy and deliver value for our customers." Vu holds a bachelor of science in economics and international development from the University of Bath in the United Kingdom and an executive MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA). Vu succeeds Kris Warfel, who will transition to president of Graham's Food & Beverage business.

Intelligence360 News
Nov 20th, 2024
Graham Packaging To Spend $35 Million To Expand Into New Space In Hammond Louisiana.

Graham Packaging to spend $35 Million to expand into new space in Hammond Louisiana. Graham Packaging to spend $35 Million to expand into new space in Hammond Louisiana.Hammond, Louisiana — According to state and local development sources, Graham Packaging plans to invest $35,000,000.00 to build out new space in Hammond. The company plans to occupy the new space at 311 Pride Dr in Hammond, on or about February 1, 2027. According to the company website Graham Packaging is a leader in the design, manufacture and sale of custom, value-added and sustainable food, beverage, household and automotive containers. We work with some of the biggest brands in the world to provide them with safe, attractive and convenient packaging that meets the demands of todays consumer. Graham Packaging was founded more than 50 years ago on the idea that there had to be a better way to store and use motor oil

Louisiana Economic Development
Oct 17th, 2024
Global Packaging Manufacturer Invests $35 Million to Enhance Operations and Upskill Workforce at Hammond Facility

HAMMOND, La. - Graham Packaging, a global leader in the design and manufacturing of innovative and sustainable packaging solutions, announced it is investing $35 million to expand and modernize its production facility in Tangipahoa Parish.

Altavista Journal
Sep 19th, 2024
Incentive package for $20 million awarded to Graham Packing modernization project

Graham Packaging, a global manufacturer of sustainable, recyclable packaging, will be investing $20 million in their Altavista facility which is the largest investment made since opening.

PR Newswire
Mar 1st, 2024
Graham Packaging Company Inc. To Review 2023 Fourth Quarter And Year-End Results On March 5, 2024

LANCASTER, Pa., March 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Graham Packaging Company Inc. will host a conference call on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 9:00 AM EST / 8:00 AM CST / 14:00 UTC to review its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.The call will include prepared remarks and a question and answer session. Dial-in information and the presentation materials will be available to current investors after approximately 7:00 pm ET on March 4, 2024, through the Investors link on our website at www.grahampackaging.com via access to our investor Intralinks site.About Graham PackagingGraham Packaging is a leading provider of sustainable packaging for a range of markets: industrial, food, beverage, home care and dairy, health food & nutrition. Our 60+ facilities across North America, Europe and South America produce approximately 16 billion container units annually. Since 1970, we've employed some of the best and brightest package designers, who bring inspired, technology-driven solutions to market for essential businesses, from large consumer brands to small startups. Headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with facilities located throughout the world, we are dedicated to excellence in sustainability, innovation and creativity