DS Smith
Project Engineering Manager

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Hybrid role with travel across UK site
We’re looking for a Project Engineering Manager to join our high performing team in the UK & Ireland Packaging Division. As our Project Engineering Manager, you will manage the engineering and technical elements of the design, execution and commissioning of significant change programmes and continuous improvement projects across the division, ensuring the technical aspects of each project are delivered within scope, to standard, on time, in budget and within our agreed parameters.
Supporting our Head of Engineering and the UK&I Senior Leadership Team you will be a key player in delivering identified projects and overseeing a project portfolio that drives significant operational improvement and increased efficiencies to current processes, in order to implement world class industry working practises.
For each project in your portfolio, you will ensure a robust technical design and implementation plan that leads to accurate cost and complexity estimation. You will identify project workstreams, technical specification development, support the tendering process, supplier selection, project planning, supplier/contractor management and daily project execution activities. You will ensure data analysis is used and produced in a meaningful and appropriate way, to help support the successful delivery of each project.
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I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
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StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Working with our Project Managers, you will ensure that critical path activities and timelines are known, escalating any potential targets or milestones that may be missed. Together, you will carry out risk analysis, involve key stakeholders and ensure that each potential risk factor is evaluated, fully understood, with action plans put in place to mitigate against any risks. You will ensure that all new investments are aligned with our Group Policies, and conduct reference visits and pre & post installation assessments to verify.
Location
We can offer remote working with this position, with frequent UK-wide travel required.
About You
- Formal training in an engineering discipline (e.g. Mechanical, Design, Electrical, Civil, Systems)
- Experience in Project Engineering Management, delivering significant organisational change and process improvement
- Experience managing key stakeholders, approval processes, complex technical solutions, and multiple contractors/suppliers at one time
- Ability to manage multiple projects, on time and on budget
- Ability to use data analysis to aid business decision making with sound knowledge of technology and support systems
- A strong communicator and motivator, highly personable, excellent at building relationships


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What We Can Offer You
- Competitive salary
- Qualifying Sick Pay scheme
- Pension scheme & Life insurance
- Share Save scheme
- Income Protection
- 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Virtual GP, Occupational Health & free Flu vaccine
- Cycle to Work and shopping discounts
About Us
We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!
Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.
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