Project Manager

Lead a Major Manufacturing Transformation Programme

Join an established manufacturer in Nottinghamshire during a significant period of investment and operational transformation. As the central point of ownership for this 12-month fixed-term initiative, you will drive the successful delivery of a major manufacturing transformation project. This hands-on role offers genuine accountability, taking responsibility from initial planning and installation through to commissioning, implementation, and final operational handover.

The Opportunity

You will act as the primary escalation point for the project, enabling the Senior Leadership Team to remain focused on day-to-day performance and continued growth. This position requires a professional who can establish structure, maintain control, and drive delivery within a live manufacturing environment. You will coordinate machinery installations, factory layout changes, suppliers, contractors, and internal stakeholders, ensuring issues are identified and resolved before they impact the wider business.

Your role involves equal comfort discussing project progress with senior leadership, coordinating external suppliers, and working directly with engineering and production teams on the factory floor.

Key Responsibilities

• Take overall ownership of the 12-month machinery installation and factory transformation programme.
• Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of new machinery and production equipment installations.
• Manage changes to factory layout, equipment positioning, production flow, and associated infrastructure.
• Develop and maintain robust project plans, milestones, critical paths, and delivery timelines.
• Coordinate machinery manufacturers, equipment suppliers, engineers, contractors, and internal teams.
• Manage installation, commissioning, production trials, and final operational handover.
• Identify project risks, issues, and dependencies early and drive appropriate solutions.
• Minimise disruption to business-as-usual manufacturing and customer commitments throughout the programme.
• Work closely with Production, Engineering, Quality, HSE, Finance, and other operational functions.
• Monitor project expenditure and maintain control against agreed budgets.
• Manage contractor and supplier performance, quality, and delivery.
• Ensure appropriate risk assessments, method statements, documentation, and compliance requirements are maintained.
• Provide clear and concise project updates to senior leadership covering progress, risks, costs, and key decisions.
• Develop contingency plans where milestones or operational requirements are at risk.
• Identify opportunities to improve factory layout, workflow, manufacturing efficiency, and utilisation of space.
• Support the effective embedding of new machinery and processes into the operation.
• Ensure appropriate knowledge transfer and complete a structured project handover at the end of the assignment.

About You

We are seeking an experienced manufacturing project professional who is comfortable taking genuine ownership and accountability for delivery. You are likely to have delivered projects involving capital investment, machinery installation, factory transformation, manufacturing relocation, site development, or significant operational change. You must be capable of entering a complex project environment, quickly establishing control and structure, and driving activity through to completion.

Experience Required

• Proven experience delivering complex manufacturing or industrial projects.
• Experience overseeing the installation and commissioning of new machinery or production equipment.
• Strong understanding of factory layouts, manufacturing operations, and production flow.
• Experience managing multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong project management, planning, and organisational capability.
• Experience managing contractors, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers.
• Strong problem-solving capability and the ability to resolve project issues quickly.
• Commercial awareness, including responsibility for project budgets and expenditure.
• Good understanding of Health & Safety requirements within a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels, from shop-floor teams and engineers through to senior leadership.
• A pragmatic, hands-on approach with the confidence to make decisions and drive delivery.

What's on Offer?

• Competitive salary on either a fixed-term contract or day rate.
• True ownership of this exciting project.