Capital Engineering Project Manager

Capital Engineer / Project Manager – Food Manufacturing

Location: North West / UK-wide project travel

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

Package: Competitive

Sector: Food Manufacturing | FMCG | Process Engineering | Industrial

Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

We are working with a rapidly growing engineering and project delivery business that specialises in delivering capital projects across the food manufacturing, food processing and wider industrial sectors .

As part of their continued growth, we are currently supporting the appointment of a Capital Engineer / Project Manager to join their expanding project delivery team.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced engineer or project professional with a background in manufacturing, food processing or industrial projects to take ownership of technically complex projects from initial concept through to design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover.

The role would suit someone who enjoys being involved in the technical detail, commercial management and practical delivery of projects, rather than simply managing programmes from a distance.

About the Business

Our client delivers end-to-end engineering and construction solutions , supporting clients through the complete project lifecycle.

Their work includes feasibility and concept development, engineering and design, procurement, construction, installation, commissioning and project handover.

The majority of their projects sit within operational manufacturing environments, where engineering solutions need to be carefully integrated with existing production processes, utilities, equipment and site infrastructure .

With a growing project pipeline, this appointment will play an important role in supporting the delivery of new and existing capital projects across the food and process manufacturing market.

The Role

As a Capital Engineer / Project Manager , you will take responsibility for managing capital investment projects from initial concept through to completion.

You will work closely with clients to understand their operational and production requirements before developing and delivering practical engineering solutions.

Projects will range from smaller plant and infrastructure improvements through to significant capital investment programmes involving new production areas, process equipment, factory extensions, utilities, MEP infrastructure and production line installations .

You will be expected to manage the full project lifecycle, coordinating engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning activities while maintaining control of scope, cost, programme, quality and risk .

This is a client-facing role with considerable autonomy and would suit someone who is comfortable taking ownership of projects and making decisions in a fast-paced engineering environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage capital projects from initial concept and feasibility through to commissioning and handover.
• Develop project scopes, budgets, programmes and delivery strategies.
• Work directly with clients to understand production, operational and business requirements.
• Develop CAPEX estimates and project business cases where required.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering and design activities.
• Manage project design reviews and ensure designs are practical, buildable and fit for purpose.
• Coordinate procurement of equipment, materials and specialist services.
• Manage contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and specialist engineering partners.
• Coordinate construction and installation activities on client sites.
• Manage projects within live food manufacturing and processing facilities .
• Plan around production schedules, shutdowns and operational constraints.
• Coordinate process equipment installation and integration with existing plant.
• Manage MEP, utilities and infrastructure interfaces.
• Monitor project costs, budgets and forecasts throughout the project lifecycle.
• Manage project variations, change control and commercial issues.
• Develop and maintain detailed project programmes.
• Identify project risks and implement effective mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate FAT, SAT, installation, commissioning and handover activities.
• Ensure appropriate documentation is produced throughout the project.
• Maintain strong communication with clients and project stakeholders.
• Provide regular project reporting to senior management and clients.
• Ensure projects comply with relevant health, safety, quality and environmental requirements.

Food Manufacturing & Process Environment

A key part of this position will be delivering projects within food manufacturing and processing environments .

We are therefore particularly interested in candidates with experience of:

• Food manufacturing
• Food processing
• FMCG
• Food & beverage
• Dairy
• Meat and protein processing
• Bakery
• Packaging
• Cold storage
• Process manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical or other highly regulated manufacturing environments

You will understand the additional challenges associated with delivering capital projects where production cannot simply stop .

Experience working around live production lines, hygienic areas, food safety requirements, process equipment and critical utilities would be highly advantageous.

You may be managing projects involving:

• Production lines
• Process equipment
• Conveyors and automated systems
• Packaging equipment
• Steam and hot water systems
• Compressed air
• Refrigeration
• Electrical infrastructure
• HVAC
• Process drainage
• Effluent systems
• Building services
• Factory extensions
• Production area upgrades
• Warehouse and distribution facilities

Capital Project Lifecycle

A major attraction of this position is the opportunity to take ownership of projects across the complete capital lifecycle .

You could be involved from:

Concept → Feasibility → Business Case → Design → Procurement → Installation → Construction → Commissioning → Handover

You will therefore need to be comfortable moving between strategic project planning and practical engineering delivery.

We are looking for someone who can challenge a design, understand a technical problem, discuss the solution with an engineer, negotiate with a contractor and then walk onto site and understand exactly what is happening.

The Person

We are looking for an experienced engineer or project manager with a proven background in delivering capital investment projects within manufacturing or industrial environments .

You may currently be working as a:

Capital Projects Engineer | Capital Project Manager | Project Engineer | Project Manager | Engineering Project Manager | Project Manager | Manufacturing Project Manager | Engineering Manager

Your job title is less important than your experience of successfully delivering capital projects.

Ideally, you will have:

• Experience delivering projects within a manufacturing environment.
• A strong engineering background.
• Experience within food, FMCG, process, pharmaceutical or industrial manufacturing.
• Experience managing projects from concept through to commissioning.
• Strong understanding of project management principles.
• Experience managing project budgets.
• Experience managing engineering contractors and suppliers.
• Strong technical and commercial awareness.
• Experience working within live operational facilities.
• Strong programme and project controls experience.
• Excellent stakeholder and client management skills.
• The ability to manage multiple projects or workstreams simultaneously.
• A practical, hands‑on approach to project delivery.

Engineering Background

Candidates may come from a range of engineering disciplines, including:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Process Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Building Services / MEP
• Automation & Controls
• Industrial Engineering

What Will Set You Apart?

We are particularly interested in individuals who have worked within an EPC, engineering consultancy, principal contractor, manufacturing business or specialist project delivery environment .

Experience of delivering projects on behalf of multiple clients would be highly advantageous.

You'll also stand out if you have experience with:

• Large-scale CAPEX programmes.
• Food production or process facilities.
• Brownfield projects.
• Live-site construction.
• Production shutdowns.
• Process equipment installation.
• MEP and utility upgrades.
• Commissioning and start-up.
• Contractor management.
• Multidisciplinary engineering projects.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join a growing project delivery business at an exciting stage of its development.

You will have the opportunity to work on technically interesting capital projects within some of the UK's most demanding manufacturing environments , while having genuine ownership of the projects you manage.

The role offers the opportunity to:

• Take ownership of complete capital projects.
• Work directly with clients.
• Deliver projects across the food and manufacturing sectors.
• Develop your technical and project leadership skills.
• Work across engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning.
• Be involved in a wide variety of project types.
• Join a growing business with an ambitious project pipeline.
• Progress your career as the organisation continues to expand.

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