Senior Project Manager – Digital MES (two year fixed term contract)

Description

The company is hiring a Senior Project Manager to lead the rollout of a new Manufacturing Execution System (MES) at its Cheltenham site. This is the first site in a wider global upgrade programme.

You will run the full site implementation from planning through go-live, keeping the project on schedule and on budget while limiting disruption to production. You will work alongside the IT Project Manager.

Strong experience delivering MES, ERP or similar manufacturing systems in live industrial settings is expected. Experience in aerospace or another highly regulated industry is a clear advantage.

This is a two year fixed term contract.

Responsibilities

• Lead the site MES project through every stage, from requirements and design to build, testing, deployment and stabilisation.
• Build and maintain an integrated site schedule that covers process design, configuration, infrastructure, data readiness, testing, training, cutover and change management.
• Run stage-gate reviews with site and functional stakeholders, and make sure decisions, scope and priorities are recorded and understood.
• Set and manage the site schedule and budget baseline, track progress, forecast to completion, and manage how the project fits with the global programme.
• Keep a structured risk and issue log with named owners, mitigation plans and follow-up.
• Spot schedule and cost risks early, propose recovery plans, and escalate issues with recommended options.
• Plan cutovers, data migrations and system changes around key production windows and customer deliveries to protect production.
• Work with shop leadership and supervisors to define readiness activities such as trials, simulations and parallel runs where suitable.
• Coordinate training, floor support and hypercare for a stable move from legacy processes and systems to the new MES.
• Lead a cross-functional core team across operations, manufacturing engineering, quality, planning, materials, IT/OT and maintenance.
• Guide decisions on process standardisation, work instructions and configuration, balancing business needs against solution standards.
• Make sure the project meets site safety, quality, cybersecurity and regulatory requirements throughout.
• Work with Sourcing and Legal to manage MES and related service suppliers on the site deployment.
• Oversee supplier performance against scope, schedule, cost and quality commitments, including change requests and extensions.
• Hold regular supplier check-ins and governance sessions to review progress, risks and open actions.
• Work with selected vendors to build and run a communication plan for site leadership, functional stakeholders and shop-floor users.
• Give site leadership and sponsors clear, concise status updates covering milestones, risks and decisions needed.
• Support change management, including user engagement, demos and communications that explain impacts and benefits.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in engineering, IT, business or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Extensive experience running complex digital or manufacturing system projects in an industrial setting.
• Proven experience implementing MES, ERP or similar shop-floor systems in a live production environment.
• A track record of managing schedule, budget and scope with measurable results.
• Strong skills in managing risk and issues, including driving mitigation and escalation.
• Experience working with external suppliers and managing contracts, statements of work and supplier performance.
• Proficiency with project management tools for scheduling, resource planning and reporting.
• Optional: a master's degree in engineering, business or a related discipline.
• Optional: formal project management certification such as PMP, Prince2 or equivalent.
• Optional: experience in aerospace, aviation or other highly regulated manufacturing.
• Optional: direct experience with MES platforms such as IbaseT Solumina, GE Vernova Proficy, Siemens Opcenter, Rockwell FactoryTalk or similar.
• Optional: familiarity with lean manufacturing and continuous improvement.
• Optional: strong written and verbal communication, able to engage stakeholders from the shop floor to site leadership.
• Optional: a proven ability to lead and influence in a matrixed environment.

Conditions

Flexible working arrangements are supported where possible.

Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance is required and must be maintained. If it cannot be obtained, you may not be eligible for the role, and any offer may be withdrawn on national security grounds. Details are available through the BPSS guidance.

Applications from candidates who need sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and considered alongside all others. Under UK immigration rules, which may change, a candidate without the right to work in the UK may not be appointed if a suitably qualified, experienced and skilled candidate who does not need sponsorship is available. Details are on the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Relocation assistance is not provided.

Benefits

• Flexible benefits plan, FlexChoice, lets you choose how you receive your benefits and may offer savings.
• Default benefits for new joiners, which you can adjust to suit you: pension, bonus, life assurance, group income protection and private medical cover.