Project Manager - Warehouse Automation

Description

The company runs a software-as-a-service, robotics and operations platform for global ecommerce, built on more than twenty years of running ecommerce and retail operations at scale.

The platform covers the shopping journey from browsing and checkout through AI inventory management and forecasting, automated fulfilment, carrier control and customer experience.

One product is a fulfilment operating system sold as software plus robotics-as-a-service. Another is a UK creative studio producing content, experiences and IP from in-house facilities. A third is a cloud-native stack for AI-powered shopping, marketplace and social commerce.

This role leads warehouse automation projects from start to finish: concept, solution design, procurement, installation, commissioning, testing and handover to operations.

You will run several projects at once, keeping each on schedule, within budget and to quality standards, while keeping health and safety, stakeholder engagement and technical compliance in order.

You will work with the company's engineering, IT, operations, procurement and commercial teams, as well as external technology providers, integrators and principal contractors.

Responsibilities

• Take projects from start through final handover and close-out.
• Build and maintain detailed plans, programmes, milestones and resource forecasts.
• Control scope, budget, spend, risk, dependencies and change requests.
• Coordinate parallel workstreams so deadlines and commercial commitments are met.
• Spot delays and delivery risks, put corrective actions in place and escalate where needed.
• Run regular project meetings, write progress reports and brief key stakeholders on status.
• Confirm delivery matches agreed specifications, contract terms and business goals.
• Lead the rollout of automated storage and retrieval, including AutoStore robotic systems, AMRs, AGVs and goods-to-person robotics.
• Oversee conveyors, sortation, material handling, automated packing, carton handling and labelling equipment.
• Manage warehouse control systems (WCS), warehouse management systems (WMS) and system integrations.
• Coordinate suppliers and integrators through design, manufacture, installation and commissioning.
• Review drawings, layouts, equipment specifications and installation methods.
• Make sure equipment and software work with the existing warehouse infrastructure and processes.
• Support technical reviews, design approvals, factory acceptance testing (FAT) and site acceptance testing (SAT).
• Coordinate site mobilisation, construction work, equipment installation and commissioning schedules.
• Manage the interfaces between automation suppliers, building, electrical and mechanical contractors, IT and operations.
• Check that installation follows approved designs, relevant standards and manufacturer requirements.
• Build and run test plans covering system integration, end-to-end testing and operational readiness.
• Manage defects, snagging, performance testing and final acceptance.
• Lead go-live planning, operational handover and hypercare support.
• Make sure documentation, operating manuals, training materials and maintenance requirements are finished before handover.
• Manage budgets, purchase orders, supplier costs and spend forecasts.
• Track costs against approved business cases and identify savings.
• Review supplier quotes, variations, change requests and claims.
• Hold suppliers to their contractual obligations and challenge poor performance.
• Report committed spend, forecast final cost and financial risk accurately.
• Support procurement and commercial teams on supplier selection, tender evaluation and contract negotiation.
• Build working relationships with customers, internal teams, technology partners and contractors.
• Act as the main project contact for assigned projects.
• Manage supplier performance on programme, quality, safety and cost.
• Coordinate engineering, operations, IT, procurement, facilities and health and safety teams.
• Explain risks, decisions and progress clearly to senior management and customers.
• Chair project review meetings and make sure actions close on time.
• Build health and safety into every stage of delivery.
• Work with principal contractors and site managers on safe working practices and legal compliance.
• Review risk assessments, method statements, permits to work and construction phase requirements where they apply.
• Check site standards, housekeeping, installation quality and contractor compliance.
• Make sure testing, inspections, certificates and technical records are complete.
• Find and fix safety, quality and compliance problems early.
• Find ways to improve delivery methods, installation efficiency and commissioning processes.
• Record lessons learned and apply them to future projects.
• Help operations meet throughput, productivity, availability and reliability targets.
• Work with engineering and software teams to resolve technical issues and tune system performance.
• Promote standard methods, best practice and knowledge sharing across the project portfolio.

Requirements

• Essential: proven experience delivering automation, engineering, material handling or capital equipment projects.
• Essential: strong project management, including programme planning, budgeting, risk management and change control.
• Essential: experience managing external suppliers, contractors and multidisciplinary teams.
• Essential: a good working understanding of mechanical, electrical and controls engineering interfaces.
• Essential: experience with equipment installation, commissioning, testing and operational handover.
• Essential: strong commercial awareness and the ability to manage project costs and supplier performance.
• Essential: excellent communication, organisation, stakeholder management and problem-solving skills.
• Essential: ability to balance competing priorities and deliver within tight timescales.
• Essential: willingness to travel to UK project sites as required.
• Desirable: experience with AutoStore, AMRs, AGVs, conveyor systems, sortation or goods-to-person technologies.
• Desirable: knowledge of warehouse management and warehouse control systems, including WMS and WCS integrations.
• Desirable: experience in e-commerce, retail distribution, third-party logistics or automated fulfilment centres.
• Desirable: project management qualifications such as PRINCE2, APM or PMP.
• Desirable: knowledge of CDM Regulations, construction site coordination and contractor management.
• Desirable: experience with FAT, SAT, systems integration testing and high-volume operational go-lives.

Conditions

The company is a Disability Confident Committed employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

If invited to interview, tell the team about any reasonable adjustments that would help you perform at your best.

The company aims to respond to every application within 14 days.