View more categories | View less categories
Sector: Manufacturing | Responsibilities: Project / Programme Management | Position/Level: Department Head | Contract Type: Permanent
Candidate Opportunity Briefing Document
Role: Head of Projects
Ford & Stanley Executive Search (Part of the Ford & Stanley Group) are a leading executive search firm serving the UK, North American, and European Rail, Defence, Technology & Heavy Manufacturing industries.
Our team of search directors, consultants, and researchers specializes in all horizontal functions across our clients' organizations, including engineering, commercial, procurement, HR, IT, finance, HSQE, sales, projects, operations, and C-suite roles.
We are trusted by over 100 leading organizations for leadership appointments, whether permanent or interim. We have been retained by our client to find a motivated, hands-on project management professional to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.
This briefing document provides a deeper insight into the role, its challenges, and the details behind the job specification, based on a scoping meeting with the client.
Key deliverables within the first 12 months include:
* Building strong relationships across the business for smooth collaboration.
* Understanding team capacity and the broader project landscape.
* Improving quality, cost management, and on-time delivery of projects.
Essential Hard Skills:
* Proven experience managing end-to-end projects within engineering or manufacturing environments.
* Experience managing a project portfolio of circa £5 million+.
* Previous experience in an SME environment.
* Strong project management skills and stakeholder relationship building.
* Candidates should be within commuting distance to North Nottinghamshire and comfortable working on-site full-time.
Desirable: Project Management qualification, Prince 2 or APM.
Essential Soft Skills:
* Autonomous work ethic and self-motivation.
* Strong leadership with the ability to challenge when necessary.
* Hands-on leader with a proactive approach.
* Problem-solving skills and resilience.
* Confident communicator internally and externally.
Working Arrangements & Location:
The role is primarily on-site in North Nottinghamshire, five days a week, with flexible working arrangements (not remote).
Interview Process:
* 1st Stage: Discovery interview to assess suitability and alignment with career goals.
* 2nd Stage: Reflection and research, followed by reporting back on fit.
Client company interviews include:
* 1st Stage: With the MD, preferably on-site.
* Final Stage: Face-to-face with the CEO and MD.
Additional information:
* The company is a heritage heavy engineering OEM in the rail sector, focusing on innovation and customer service.
* The Head of Projects role is new, reporting directly to the MD, working closely with engineering, design, and production teams.
* Current projects include three major initiatives and a recent contract with a Train Operating Company.
* An interim Project Manager supports the team, but the new Head will focus on project delivery and process improvement.
* The company aims to enhance project control and profitability, with no direct reports initially, emphasizing autonomy.
* Experience in complex engineering/manufacturing environments (Rail, Automotive, Aerospace, Infrastructure) is preferred.
Salary & Benefits:
* Competitive salary
* Car allowance: £500 PCM
* Discretionary bonus
* 25 days holiday + statutory holidays
* Standard pension scheme
Supporting Team:
* Tom Norton, Head of Executive Search
* Emma Barlow, Senior Research Associate
* Ralitsa Kuzeva, Executive Assistant
About Ford & Stanley Executive Search:
We are part of Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group, committed to creating better workdays through recruitment, leadership, and mental fitness support across various sectors, including blue and white-collar roles, and executive search globally.
Ford & Stanley is an equal opportunity employer and a Disability Confident employer, committed to diversity and inclusion.
Create a job alert to receive personalized recommendations directly in your inbox.
#J-18808-Ljbffr