Project Manager - Special-Purpose Assembly & Test Systems
As a Project Manager, you will lead the delivery of customer-specific, special-purpose assembly and test systems from project conception through to final customer handover. You will be responsible for the project scope, schedule, budget, and stakeholder engagement across all phases of the project lifecycle.
Working in a dynamic, engineering-led environment, you will ensure the successful execution of technically complex and time-critical customer projects by driving clear communication, strong planning, and a right-first-time culture.
Principal Responsibilities
You will be accountable for the following key responsibilities:
1. Lead assigned projects from order kick-off through to final customer sign-off, owning the project's scope, cost, quality, and timeline.
2. Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, tracking milestones, dependencies, and resources across departments.
3. Serve as the primary customer interface, managing expectations, clarifying scope, resolving technical/commercial issues, and ensuring high satisfaction throughout.
4. Coordinate cross-functional internal teams-including design, procurement, assembly, test, logistics, and commissioning-to meet delivery objectives.
5. Lead structured project reviews, including risk assessments and decision-making forums to align stakeholders and maintain project momentum.
6. Proactively monitor project performance, managing risks, controlling costs, handling change, and maintaining delivery focus.
7. Ensure project documentation, test protocols, and formal sign-off procedures meet contract, regulatory, and quality standards.
8. Oversee critical on-site activities, such as Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), shipping logistics, Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), and final system handover.
9. Promote a culture of accountability and continuous improvement through structured lessons-learned and project close-out activities.
Knowledge & Skills
Education and Experience
* Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent experience delivering engineered-to-order systems).
Essential Skills
* Demonstrable success in managing complex, multi-disciplinary engineering projects-ideally within automation, automotive, or capital equipment sectors.
* Strong grasp of project delivery frameworks including planning, scheduling, risk management, change control, and commercial awareness.
* Skilled in customer relationship management and experienced in interfacing with internal teams, suppliers, and third-party contractors under time-critical conditions.
* Capable of navigating varying levels of technical detail and leading activities across design, production, and commissioning functions.
* Proficient in project planning and collaboration tools such as MS Project, Wrike, Excel, and SharePoint.
* Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making capabilities.
* Resilient and solutions-oriented under pressure, with a firm commitment to delivering successful outcomes.
Desirable / Advantageous Skills
* Formal project management certification (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, APM).
* Experience with automated test equipment, production machinery, or capital delivery projects.
* Knowledge of regulatory and customer-specific standards, including CE/UKCA compliance or equivalent.
* Willingness to travel for customer visits, site installations, and project acceptance activities (UK and internationally).
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