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Project Director – Food Manufacturing
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QLM is partnered with a leading pet food business to identify their Project Director to lead all major projects across their European manufacturing network.
This is a senior leadership role working directly with the CEO and UK Executive Team to lead major projects and business-critical initiatives across a European pet food manufacturing network.
We are looking for an experienced Project Director with a strong manufacturing background and genuine site-level credibility. The role combines planned strategic projects with reactive operational delivery. Therefore, the successful candidate must be comfortable moving from strategy and business case development into hands-on execution. They will work closely with Site Directors and functional leaders, ensuring projects and operational priorities are delivered rather than simply recommended.
Regular travel across UK and European sites will be required.
The candidate will have developed their career through Manufacturing, Operations or Supply Chain, giving them the operational knowledge and credibility to work effectively within live manufacturing sites.
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Key Responsibilities
- Lead major manufacturing projects and business-critical initiatives across a multi-site European network.
- Take ownership of urgent operational or site-based issues, quickly establishing the root cause, required actions and route to resolution.
- Translate strategic priorities and business cases into practical delivery plans and measurable outcomes.
- Lead projects from initial concept through to execution, commissioning, operational handover and benefit delivery.
- Work directly with Site Directors, Operations, Engineering, Technical, Supply Chain, Commercial and Finance to resolve cross-functional challenges.
- Lead CAPEX, capacity, automation, site improvement, operational recovery and network change projects.
- Step into projects that are off-track, establish what needs to change and drive recovery through to completion.
- Maintain clear control of project costs, risks, resources, timescales and delivery.
- Provide the CEO and Executive Team with clear, factual reporting on progress, risks and areas requiring decisions.
- Support site or business integration following acquisitions and wider organisational change.
- Ensure projects deliver measurable improvements in cost, capacity, service, efficiency or manufacturing performance.
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Candidate Profile
- Strong knowledge of food manufacturing and factory operations.
- Experience delivering major manufacturing and operational improvement projects.
- Experience stepping into operational challenges or underperforming projects and driving them through to resolution.
- The ability to quickly understand complex problems, establish priorities and mobilise the right people around a solution.
- Experience working directly with Site Directors and senior operational leadership.
- Experience of acquisition integration, site consolidation or network transformation would be advantageous.
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