R&D Project Manager

Location: Sydney, NS
Term: Permanent, Full-Time
Anticipated Start Date: As Soon As Possible
Type: In-Office Only

Full transparency: we work a little differently around here.

This isn’t just another job where you punch in and punch out. We come to work every day because we strive to earn a living in a meaningful way. Too many people exist without finding joy or purpose in their work, and we believe that’s just wrong. After all, we spend at least a third of our lives working—so why not create workplaces where people want to come to work in the morning and feel good when they leave at the end of the day?

At Protocase, your ideas don’t just matter—they shape our future. We thrive on collaboration and innovation, where every voice is heard, valued, and makes a real impact. Does this sound like something you’d want to be a part of and help grow?

Protocase specializes in custom sheet metal enclosures, panels, and parts for engineers and innovators worldwide, built with unmatched speed and quality. We take the impossible and make it possible for some of the brightest minds on the planet.

Learn more about us here: https://workdifferently.info/

About the Opportunity

Great projects are built by great teams. We're looking for someone who can lead both.

As the Project Manager for our Research & Development Team, your primary responsibility is to help people do their best work. You'll provide clarity, remove obstacles, and assist team members achieve targets. Success in this role isn't measured simply by projects completed—it's measured by the strength of the team you build and the results you achieve together.

In this role, you will:

• Lead and support members of the R&D team by setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, and helping them grow and succeed.
• Build a culture of accountability where commitments are kept, challenges are addressed early, and successes are celebrated together.
• Foster collaboration across departments, ensuring everyone is aligned around shared goals and priorities.
• Remove roadblocks, resolve conflicts, and empower your team to do their best work.
• Build and manage project plans with clear goals, timelines, deliverables, and accountability.
• Establish and maintain project management processes that keep work organized, transparent, and moving forward.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks early, and adapt plans as priorities evolve.
• Capture project outcomes and lessons learned to continuously improve how the team delivers results.

About You

You're a leader who builds clarity, alignment, and accountability. You know how to motivate people, solve problems, and deliver results while keeping projects moving forward. Most importantly, you bring proven experience leading projects and helping teams achieve results. While experience in a technology environment is an asset, we're equally interested in candidates from engineering, manufacturing, operations, or other fast-paced industries who are excited to apply their leadership skills in an innovative environment.

Here’s what you’ll bring:

• Education: A degree or diploma in business, engineering, project management, or a related field (check Canadian equivalency here).
• Experience: 2–5 years of hands-on project management experience, ideally in a technical, manufacturing, engineering, or other fast-paced environment.
• Asset: Experience with Agile and/or Scrum project management methodologies

Skills:

• A genuine passion for developing people and building high-performing teams.
• Strong project planning, prioritization, and organizational skills.
• Confidence making decisions, setting expectations, and holding teams accountable.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across multiple disciplines.
• Strong problem-solving abilities, with the initiative to identify issues early and keep work moving.
• A continuous improvement mindset and the ability to inspire others to embrace change.

Why Us?

At Protocase, we believe in recognizing and rewarding hard work and dedication. Our starting annual total compensation package—including base salary and performance incentives—ranges from $65,000 to $95,000 CAD, depending on experience.

In addition, you can look forward to:

🏆 Training and Growth: Leadership Training and skills development opportunities, as well as regular coaching and opportunity for growth.

👩‍⚕️ Comprehensive Health Care Plan and Company RRSP: Medical, Dental, Life Insurance, and Group Insurance benefits as well as a Registered Retirement Savings Plan at 6 months of full-time employment.

🏡 Community Discounts: Enjoy discounts at local shops and restaurants.

🏋️ YMCA Membership: Access a cost-shared YMCA membership and a Pension Plan after three months of employment.

🏖️ Vacation: Two weeks of vacation, increasing to three weeks after three years, and four weeks after five years.

🎉 Social Events: Regular social events, including seasonal parties and monthly lunches.

🌄 Lifestyle of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia: Live in a community with quick commutes, affordable homes on generous plots of land, beautiful scenery, and friendly people—a lifestyle that marries nature with a vibrant culture.

Ready to Join Us?

If you’re excited about the opportunity to make a real impact in the world of custom manufacturing, we want to hear from you. Apply today and let’s start this journey of innovation together! 🚀