Project Manager - Warehouse Automation Engineer

Optimus Search Limited; Oost-Vlaanderen; On-site; EUR 106,000 - 177,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12-month contract

High-impact role

Visible on strategic automation

Job summary

Confidential client near Ghent seeks a seasoned Project Lead for WMS and warehouse automation. You will bridge operations, IT, system integrators, and automation suppliers to deliver a full-scale WMS project.

Responsibilities include requirements translation, testing coordination, and post-go-live support, with hands-on experience in automated warehouses. Fluent English is required; 12-month freelance engagement.

Qualifications

• Proven track record delivering WMS implementations.
• Strong stakeholder communication and leadership.
• Experience coordinating multi-disciplinary teams and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of WMS and warehouse automation.
• Translate requirements into functional/technical specs.
• Manage vendors, integrators and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Coordinate WMS-ERP-WCS/PLC integrations.
• Own project plan, budget, risks, and reporting to stakeholders.
• Plan and execute FAT/SAT/integration testing and cut-over.
• Drive optimization of inbound, storage, picking, replenishment and dispatch.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Complex integration

Education

PRINCE2 / PMP certification

Tools

SAP integration

ERP

WCS / PLC

Job description

Our client is a well-established operation in the Ghent region investing in the automation and digitalisation of its warehousing and logistics. The client's name is confidential at this stage and will be shared with shortlisted candidates.

The project covers the implementation and optimisation of a warehouse management system alongside automated warehouse equipment. You will be the client's key technical and project lead, bridging operations, IT, system integrators and automation suppliers.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of the WMS and warehouse automation project, from requirements through go-live and hypercare
• Translate operational and logistics requirements into functional and technical specifications
• Manage system integrators, WMS vendors and automation suppliers (e.g. AS/RS, conveyors, shuttles, sortation, AMRs)
• Coordinate integration between the WMS, ERP and warehouse control systems (WCS/PLC level)
• Own the project plan, budget, risks and issues, and report progress to senior stakeholders
• Plan and run testing (FAT, SAT, integration and user acceptance) and cut-over
• Optimise warehouse processes such as inbound, storage, picking, replenishment and dispatch
• Train key users and support the operations team through and after go-live
• Proven track record delivering warehouse management system (WMS) implementations, as project manager or lead engineer
• Extensive hands-on experience with automated warehouses and material handling systems
• Strong understanding of warehouse and logistics processes and how they map to WMS configuration
• Experience managing vendors, integrators and multi-disciplinary project teams
• Solid project management skills: planning, budgeting, risk management and stakeholder reporting
• Fluent English; able to work on-site near Ghent on a regular basis
• Available for a 12-month freelance engagement
• Experience integrating a WMS with SAP or another ERP
• Knowledge of warehouse control systems (WCS) and PLC-level integration
• Background in food, manufacturing or distribution environments
• Project management certification (PRINCE2, PMP or similar) or Agile delivery experience

What's on offer

• Day rate of up to €960, depending on experience
• 12-month contract with strong potential for extension
• A high-impact, visible role on a strategic automation programme