Contract Project Manager – M&A Integration & Facility Consolidation
Location: Lewisville, TX (Hybrid)
Reporting To: Horton President
Employment Type: Contract (6–12 months, with potential extension based on business needs)
Travel: Up to 30–50% during the critical facility transition phase (first ~6 months), then20–30% as required
Position Summary
Horton Automatics is seeking an experienced Contract Project Manager to lead and coordinate all aspects of business integration activities associated with an acquisition. A critical priority in the first six months is the successful consolidation and transition of an existing U.S. facility into the buyer’s network of 2–3 facilities, while advancing multiple other workstreams (supply chain, insurance, accounting, IT, products/engineering, sales/marketing, etc.).
The ideal candidate is a highly organized, results-driven professional with demonstrated experience leading merger and acquisition (M&A) integrations across multiple functions, including operations, supply chain, finance, human resources, IT, sales, customer service, and compliance. This individual will drive accountability, identify and mitigate risks, facilitate executive decision-making, and ensure a successful integration that delivers anticipated business value.
This position is based in Lewisville, Texas with a hybrid work arrangement and requires the ability to travel regularly to company facilities, acquisition locations, customer sites, and integration meetings.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Integration Planning & Execution
- Develop and maintain the overall acquisition integration roadmap, project plans, timelines, and key milestones.
- Coordinate activities across all functional workstreams to ensure alignment with integration objectives.
- Establish governance structures, project management methodologies, reporting mechanisms, and accountability processes.
- Facilitate integration planning workshops and cross-functional working sessions.
- Drive execution of integration activities while balancing business continuity requirements.
- Balance aggressive integration timelines with operational continuity requirements, with particular focus on the facility transition phase.
Facility Consolidation & Operational Transition
- Lead the detailed planning, risk assessment, and execution of the facility consolidation, including equipment and inventory relocation, site preparation and readiness at receiving facilities, production transfer, and operational startup.
- Develop and manage comprehensive move schedules, logistics plans, resource requirements, and contingency protocols to maintain business continuity and minimize disruption to customers, production, and supply chain.
- Coordinate closely with operations, supply chain, facilities/EHS, quality, finance, and HR teams on all aspects of the physical and operational transition.
- Establish clear go/no-go criteria, milestone tracking, and escalation paths for the facility integration workstream.
- Drive cross-functional alignment on workforce transition, training, and knowledge transfer to support seamless operational handover.
Program Management
- Monitor project scope, schedules, budgets, resources, and risks.
- Ensure all deliverables are completed on time, within scope, and within budget.
- Develop mitigation plans for key risks and escalate critical issues as appropriate.
- Track and report progress against milestones and synergy targets.
- Monitor facility consolidation dependencies and risks closely to protect overall program timeline.
Executive Communication & Stakeholder Management
- Prepare executive-level dashboards, updates, presentations, and status reports.
- Serve as the primary coordination point between executive leadership, business leaders, functional teams, and external stakeholders.
- Facilitate steering committee meetings and provide recommendations to support decision-making.
- Ensure transparency and alignment across all stakeholders regarding priorities and deliverables.
- Provide regular updates on facility transition progress and associated risks.
Change Management & Organizational Integration
- Partner with Human Resources and business leaders to support organizational transition activities.
- Coordinate communication plans to ensure consistent messaging throughout the integration process.
- Support change management initiatives designed to drive employee engagement and adoption.
- Support workforce transition and change management activities tied to the facility consolidation
Process Improvement & Value Creation
- Identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve operational efficiency.
- Monitor achievement of anticipated integration benefits and synergy objectives.
- Promote continuous improvement and best practices throughout the integration lifecycle.
- Identify efficiency opportunities specifically during the facility consolidation and operational transition
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Finance, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
- Minimum of 7 years of project management experience, including large-scale, cross-functional initiatives.
- Minimum of 3 years of direct merger and acquisition integration experience in products/manufacturing companies, with demonstrated success in operational integrations or facility consolidations highly preferred.
- Demonstrated success leading post-acquisition integrations involving multiple stakeholders and business functions.
- Strong understanding of project management methodologies and tools.
- Experience managing complex schedules, budgets, risks, and dependencies.
- Exceptional communication, presentation, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Project (or equivalent project management tools).
- Ability to travel extensively during critical phases of integration.
Preferred Qualifications
- MBA or advanced business degree.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
- Experience integrating manufacturing, distribution, service, or industrial businesses. Direct experience with facility consolidations, plant moves, or multi-site operational integrations strongly preferred.
- Background in operational excellence, business transformation, or organizational change management.
- Experience working in private equity-backed or acquisitive growth environments.
- Familiarity with ERP, CRM, HRIS, business systems, and e-Commerce integration.
- Lean, Six Sigma, or change management certification preferred.
Critical Competencies
Leadership
- Drives accountability across teams without direct authority.
- Builds credibility and trust with executives and operational leaders.
- Maintains focus and momentum in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
Project Management
- Exceptional planning and organizational skills.
- Strong attention to detail and execution discipline.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Strong experience managing physical operational transitions and facility-related projects
Communication
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Comfortable presenting to executive leadership teams.
- Skilled at influencing stakeholders and driving alignment.
Problem Solving
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities.
- Ability to identify risks early and develop practical solutions.
- Data-driven decision maker.
Adaptability
- Thrives in environments with ambiguity and evolving priorities.
- Demonstrates resilience and flexibility during organizational change.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to travel by air and automobile as needed.
- Ability to occasionally visit manufacturing facilities and operational sites.
Success Measures
Within the term of the engagement, the Contract Project Manager will be expected to:
- Deliver acquisition integration milestones on schedule and within approved budget.
- Establish an effective integration management office (IMO) structure.
- Minimize operational disruption during transition activities, particularly during the facility consolidation.
- Achieve targeted integration objectives, synergy goals, and business readiness milestones.
- Provide executive leadership with accurate, timely, and actionable project reporting.
- Successfully complete the facility transition with minimal disruption and on schedule.
Why Join Horton Automatics?
This role provides a unique opportunity to lead a high-visibility strategic initiative that will directly impact the future growth and success of Horton Automatics. This 6–12 month contract engagement offers the chance to drive a complex integration, including a major facility consolidation, while working closely with executive leadership. The successful candidate will work closely with executive leadership and play a critical role in ensuring the successful integration of an acquired business while driving long-term value creation for the organization.
Pay: $45.00 - $55.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
