Engineering Project Manager

WasteRecruit Ltd; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm is seeking an experienced Engineering Project Manager in the UK to lead cross-functional engineering projects. The role involves managing teams and contractors to deliver safe and effective engineering solutions. Candidates should have strong project management skills, a degree in engineering, and experience in a relevant industrial environment. This position offers the chance to impact significant projects and operations within the waste management industry.

Qualifications

• Experience in a processing, manufacturing or similar industrial environment.
• Proven leadership of engineering projects or initiatives with multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Understanding of safe systems of work, including isolations and safety systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex, cross-functional engineering projects from concept through completion.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant standards and regulations.
• Manage budgets, schedules, and milestones to achieve financial targets.
• Support commissioning and handover processes for project closure.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Logical, decisive problem-solving ability

Strong project planning and organisational skills

Numerate and literate

Strong commercial awareness

Education

Degree in an Engineering discipline

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Engineering Project Manager

Location: UK (with UK & EU-wide operations)

Reporting to: Head of Engineering

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Engineering Project Manager to lead complex, cross‑functional engineering projects from concept through to completion. This is a high‑impact role, responsible for delivering safe, robust and cost‑effective engineering solutions that support multi‑site development and expansion.

You will manage internal teams and external contractors, taking full ownership of delivery, governance and handover, while ensuring all projects meet technical, safety, environmental and operational requirements.

Our client is specialized in repurposing waste into sustainable resources, reducing the necessity for landfill materials, and instead upgrading them into high‑quality alternatives for fossil‑based commodities.

Key Relationships

• Head of Engineering
• Site Operational Teams
• External contractors, suppliers and engineering partners
• Health, Safety & Environment

You will have personal accountability for ensuring all reasonable steps are taken to prevent harm to people, plant and the environment, championing a strong health, safety and environmental culture across all projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of engineering project delivery, ensuring installations meet technical, safety and operational requirements
• Review and drive process optimisation across existing facilities
• Plan and execute projects to agreed timelines and budgets, reporting progress, risks and deviations
• Oversee day‑to‑day engineering activities, resolving technical and project issues promptly
• Ensure compliance with all relevant standards, procedures and regulatory requirements, including CDM
• Manage budgets, schedules and milestones to achieve financial and delivery targets
• Control project interfaces and administer change control effectively
• Lead and participate in design reviews, HAZOPs, risk assessments and safety assurance activities
• Run stakeholder reviews with internal teams and external partners to maintain alignment
• Support commissioning and handover, ensuring full project close‑out, documentation and lessons learned
• Manage commercial aspects including capital budgets, procurement, tenders, negotiations and invoice approval
• Champion continuous improvement across health, safety, environmental and engineering practices
• Collaborate across the engineering project portfolio and mentor engineers to build capability

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Knowledge

• Awareness of Environmental, Health & Safety regulations
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office
• Understanding of proactive maintenance strategies and condition monitoring
• Knowledge of CMMS systems and their functionality
• Good knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems and safety
• Understanding of safe systems of work, including isolations and safety systems

Desirable Knowledge

• Industry process knowledge (MRF / SRF / Polymers equipment)
• Root Cause Analysis techniques
• Contractor performance management

Skills

• Excellent communication skills
• Logical, decisive problem‑solving ability
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong project planning and organisational skills
• Numerate and literate, with the ability to produce technical reports and management data
• Excellent diagnostic skills
• Strong commercial awareness and cost‑focused decision making

Desirable Skills

• Ability to coordinate contractors and multiple work activities

Experience

• Proven leadership of engineering projects or initiatives with multiple concurrent workstreams
• Experience in a processing, manufacturing or similar industrial environment
• Demonstrated success in driving improvements in efficiency, safety and equipment performance

Desirable Experience

• Waste industry experience (MRF / MPT / Polymers)
• Experience working in a multi‑skilled role spanning both operations and engineering

Qualifications

• Degree in an Engineering discipline

Desirable Qualifications

• Relevant waste industry qualification (e.g. COTC Level 4 - Treatment & Transfer of Waste)

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping engineering delivery across a growing, multi‑site operation, working on challenging projects with real operational impact