Automation Delivery Manager

Samworth Brothers; Leicester; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company in Leicester seeks an Automation Delivery Manager/Project Manager. The successful candidate will lead automation projects from R&D to deployment, ensuring they are delivered safely, on time, and within budget. This role requires a degree in Engineering/Automation and expertise in industrial automation technologies. You will collaborate with various teams to achieve significant productivity and efficiency improvements, making a meaningful impact in a vibrant work culture.

Benefits

Company pension scheme

Health and well-being support

Annual pay review

Profit related pay

Free on-site parking

Colleague discounts

Refer-a-friend scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering industrial automation and digital manufacturing projects.
• Strong technical knowledge of robotics, material handling, PLCs, vision and safety systems.
• Experience with system integrators and robotics suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Leading delivery of automation projects across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Translating strategic automation roadmaps into executable project portfolios.
• Line-managing and developing Automation Project Engineers.

Skills

Industrial automation delivery

Project management

Technical knowledge of robotics

Collaboration skills

Education

Degree in Engineering, Automation, Robotics or similar

Job description

About The Role

Join the Samworth Brothers Team and become part of our dynamic family!

At Samworth Brothers, we genuinely care about our colleagues and strive to create an engaging environment that values your unique contributions. We are committed to your success and offer a range of exceptional benefits that we believe supports your life and personal aspirations:

• Company pension scheme
• Access to health and well-being support, such as healthcare, optical and dental discounts
• Annual pay review
• Profit related pay
• Free on-site parking
• Colleague discounts on selected shopping, cinema, restaurants, travel and more
• A refer-a-friend scheme (that gives you money for successfully recommending people to join us)

The Opportunity

As Automation Delivery Manager/Project Manager you’ll take ownership of automation projects from R&D and Proof of Concept (PoC) through to scaled deployment, ensuring delivery is safe, on time and within budget.

By owning the full automation lifecycle, you will reduce technology risk, accelerate payback and ensure capital is invested only in solutions that are technically viable, operationally ready and financially justified. You’ll act as the bridge between automation strategy and factory execution, working closely with Engineering, Operations, Transformation and Project teams to deliver productivity, labour reduction and capacity outcomes aligned to the 5-year FTG Automation & Digitalisation Strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading delivery of automation projects across multiple Food-to-Go manufacturing sites
• Translating strategic automation roadmaps into executable, prioritised project portfolios
• Owning the full project lifecycle delivery
• Delivering R&D, PoC and pilot projects for new and emerging automation technologies
• Ensuring automation investments deliver clear business outcomes (labour reduction, productivity, capacity and ROI)
• Line-managing and developing Automation Project Engineers

This role requires travel to our Food-to-Go sites in Leicester, Melton Mowbray and Worksop.

The Ideal Candidate

We believe that success is built upon collaboration and diverse perspectives. At Samworth Brothers, we welcome candidates who are passionate about working together to achieve greatness. As a valued member of our team, you will bring the following skills and experience:

• A degree in Engineering, Automation, Robotics, Mechatronics or similar
• Proven experience delivering industrial automation and digital manufacturing projects
• A proven track record of taking projects from concept and PoC through to full production deployment
• Experience working with system integrators, OEMs and robotics suppliers
• Strong technical knowledge of robotics, material handling, PLCs, vision and safety systems
• Understanding of OT/IT integration and digital manufacturing architectures

We also want you to thrive in an engaging and inclusive work culture where you will have the opportunity to take on personal accountability and take pride in your work. We encourage positive communication, and the building of strong collaborative relationships is essential to every role. Join us at Samworth Brothers, where you'll be more than just a team member – you'll be an integral part of our thriving family. Apply today and embark on an exciting journey with us!

About Us

We are a fourth-generation family business producing high quality own-label products for many of the UK’s best-known retailers along with our own brands including Ginsters, Soreen, Higgidy, Dickinson & Morris and Walker & Son. We employ over 10,000 people in well-invested modern food manufacturing sites around the country.

At Samworth Brothers we take pride in our family feel within our businesses and work together to make things happen. We can offer you the stability of a wider group as well as the opportunities that that offers if you wish to progress your career with us. We are family and we would like to invite you to be part of that and support our teams in delivering great products to all of our customers.

Samworth Brothers do not engage with unlicensed gangmasters or third parties. Samworth Brothers will NEVER ask you for money in order to provide you with employment. If you are in any doubt, please contact an official Samworth Brothers representative.