Manufacturing Project Manager

Job Description

Manufacturing Project Manager Manufacturing Engineering Project Management Our client is looking for an experienced, commercially minded and highly organised Manufacturing Project Manager to join their established engineering and manufacturing business. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys bringing people, processes and production together, building strong customer relationships and taking ownership of complex manufacturing programmes. The successful candidate will play a key role in managing a strategically important customer portfolio, ensuring projects are delivered to the highest standards of quality, service, cost and delivery. The Opportunity Reporting directly to the General Manager, you will take end-to-end ownership of a key customer manufacturing programme, acting as the principal operational point of contact and ensuring customer requirements are translated into effective manufacturing plans and successful delivery. Working closely with teams across Engineering, Production, Planning, Procurement, Quality and Logistics, you will coordinate the entire manufacturing value stream, proactively managing priorities, resolving challenges and driving continuous improvement. This is a hands-on, influential role where your ability to bring departments together, challenge performance and take ownership will make a real difference. Key Responsibilities Customer & Programme Management: Build strong customer relationships, lead programme reviews and ensure commitments, milestones and expectations are consistently managed. Manufacturing Operations: Coordinate the end-to-end manufacturing process, from materials and engineering through production, specialist finishing, assembly, quality and dispatch. Planning & Delivery: Monitor production schedules, capacity, material availability and order progression, identifying potential delays and implementing recovery plans. Quality & Engineering: Ensure customer specifications and quality standards are achieved, coordinating non-conformances, corrective actions, new product introductions and engineering changes. Commercial Performance: Monitor programme costs, identify cost-saving opportunities and support improvements in productivity and profitability. Project Governance: Maintain programme plans, performance reports, action trackers and risk registers, ensuring clear accountability and timely escalation. Continuous Improvement: Identify operational inefficiencies and drive improvements in delivery performance, quality, lead times and manufacturing processes. About You Our client is seeking an experienced manufacturing or engineering professional with a proven track record of managing complex projects or programmes within a fast-paced production environment. You will ideally have: At least 5 years' relevant project or programme management experience within manufacturing or engineering. A strong understanding of end-to-end manufacturing operations, production planning, materials management and quality assurance. Experience managing demanding customer relationships and delivering against quality, cost and delivery expectations. Good working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and the ability to interpret production schedules, bills of materials, routings and work-in-progress data. The ability to understand engineering drawings, product specifications and manufacturing requirements. Experience coordinating cross-functional teams, managing competing priorities and influencing stakeholders. Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of manufacturing costs, budgets and profitability. Excellent organisational, communication, analytical and problem-solving skills. Confident IT skills, including Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint. Desirable Experience Experience in any of the following would be advantageous: Automotive manufacturing, ideally within an OEM, Tier 1 or Tier 2 supply chain. Precision engineering, specialist metal products or bespoke engineered assemblies. Automotive quality and programme management tools such as APQP, PPAP, FMEA and 8D. Lean manufacturing, value stream mapping and continuous improvement. ERP/MRP systems and outsourced manufacturing or specialist finishing processes. A recognised project management qualification such as APM, PRINCE2 or PMP. The Person Our client is looking for someone who takes ownership, builds relationships and gets things done. You will be: Proactive, organised and exceptionally good at managing multiple priorities. Confident communicating with customers and stakeholders at all levels. Comfortable working on the shop floor as well as presenting performance information to senior management. A natural problem-solver who takes responsibility for seeing issues through to resolution. Commercially aware, with the ability to balance customer expectations against operational realities. Resilient, adaptable and able to remain focused when working under pressure. Someone who can build credibility, influence others and bring teams together to achieve a common goal. What Does Success Look Like? You will play a key role in improving customer satisfaction and operational performance, with success measured through: Consistent on-time delivery. Achievement of programme milestones. Improved quality and reduced customer complaints. Effective cost control and reduced rework. Accurate production planning and delivery forecasting. Timely resolution of operational issues. Measurable improvements in manufacturing efficiency and performance. Interested? If you are an experienced Manufacturing Project Manager looking for an opportunity to take real ownership, influence operational performance and make a tangible difference within an established manufacturing business, our client would love to hear from you. Hit "Apply Now" TPBN1_UKTJ