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Interim Project Director – Coldstore Warehouse
Are you a passionate change agent who thrives on unlocking efficiencies and empowering teams?
We’re seeking a results-driven Project Director to lead the delivery of a fully automated coldstore warehouse facility near Bristol, from design through commissioning and handover.
About the Role
This senior role combines:
- Programme leadership
- Board-level stakeholder management
- Rigorous financial control
- Risk governance
- Cross-functional integration with major enterprise programmes (e.g., S/4HANA and new food manufacturing facility)
You’ll be experienced in:
- Managing large-scale warehouse projects
- Delivering within budgets and deadlines
- Ensuring safety, compliance, and operational readiness
Key Performance Indicators
- Budget variance: Final project cost within agreed tolerance
- Schedule adherence: Achievement of critical milestones and on-time commissioning
- Safety and compliance: Zero major HSE incidents; successful regulatory approvals and validation
- Integration success: S/4HANA and WMS interfaces delivered and stable at go-live
- Stakeholder satisfaction: Positive feedback from Executive and Operational Sponsors; timely executive decisions
apetito Overview
apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to health and social care sectors, serving 1,300+ care homes and healthcare settings. Our meals are crafted by dieticians and chefs, then frozen to preserve their nutritional value.
Our sister company, Wiltshire Farm Foods, supplies 330+ delicious ready meals across the UK.
Key Responsibilities
Day-to-Day
- End-to-end project leadership: Own the project lifecycle (scope, design, procurement, construction, automation, commissioning, validation, and handover)
- Programme planning: Develop and maintain integrated master schedules, critical path analysis, and milestone plans
- Contract & supplier management: Negotiate major contracts, manage contractor performance, and enforce change control
- Quality, HSE & compliance: Ensure adherence to food safety, cold-chain, and regulatory standards; lead FAT/SAT and validation activities
- Commissioning & handover: Oversee testing, training, SOPs, and transition to operations (spare parts, maintenance plans, warranty management)
- Benefits realisation: Define and track operational KPIs and financial savings post-completion
- Train leadership team in lean principles, 5 Whys, and problem-solving
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Stakeholder Management & Governance
- Board engagement: Present strategic updates to UK Executive & Group Board; translate technical progress into clear decisions
- Governance forums: Chair Steering Committee and Change Control Board; produce monthly Board packs
- Senior stakeholder relationships: Build trust with Internal (Operations, Finance, IT) and External (local authorities, utilities, suppliers) stakeholders
- Issue escalation: Surface risks, propose solutions, and secure executive decisions
Financial & Risk Management
- Budget ownership: Own cost control processes, rolling forecasts, and variance analysis
- Financial controls: Implement robust tracking and change management; coordinate with Group Finance
- Commercial oversight: Manage claims, retrans, and contract closeout; ensure value for money
- Risk governance: Maintain active risk registers with quantified impacts and mitigations
Cross-Functional Integration
- ERP/WMS integration: Liaise with S4/HANA team for seamless inventory, finance, and operational data integration
- Trowbridge coordination: Align with new manufacturing facility on logistics, utilities, and shared resources
- OT/IT convergence: Oversee automation, SCADA, cybersecurity, and system interfaces
- Change management: Lead training, organisational changes, and go-live support
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Essential Qualifications & Experience
- Degree in Engineering, Project Management, Construction, or related discipline
- Prince2 Practitioner, PMP, or equivalent
- Proven track record in delivering £20m+ large industrial automation or cold-chain projects
- Senior project leadership experience
- ERP integration experience (specifically S4/HANA)
Key Skills
- Board-level communication: Ability to distil complex issues for senior executives
- Financial acumen: Strong budgeting, forecasting, and commercial negotiation
- Risk expertise: Proficient in risk quantification, mitigation, and governance frameworks
- Technical knowledge: Automated storage/retrieval system (AS/RS), robotics, refrigeration engineering
- Stakeholder influence: Cross-functional collaboration and people leadership
- Tools: MS Project/Primavera, cost tracking, and data-driven dashboards
Tangible Benefits
- Free on-site parking
- Competitive day rate
- Own vehicle required (UK driving licence essential)
Our Values
apetito is a family-owned business with a deep commitment to:
- Ethical food: Using British, ethically sourced ingredients
- Sustainability: Targeting Net Zero by 2040
- Inclusivity: Employer of Living Wage; diverse, empowering workplace
We’re driven by passion for care, service, and authentic ‘food with heart’.
Apetito proudly supports Britain’s food production and the well-being of the nation’s most vulnerable.
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Jessica, London
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