Group Automation Project Manager

The Post; Chester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK food manufacturing group seeks a Group Automation Project Manager to oversee complex automation initiatives across multiple sites. This senior role requires hands-on delivery and strategic thinking, making a significant operational impact. Ideal candidates will have experience in the food industry, strong stakeholder management skills, and the ability to solve complex operational challenges. The position offers competitive salary and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary with performance-based incentives

Professional development opportunities

High-profile role with visibility to senior leadership

Qualifications

• Experience in automation projects within food manufacturing.
• Proficiency in managing multi-site projects.
• Ability to influence at all levels within an organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation projects from concept to delivery.
• Coordinate across sites and translate challenges into solutions.
• Manage budgets, timelines, and operational expectations.
• Maintain a pipeline for continuous improvement.

Skills

Automation project delivery

Stakeholder management

Operational problem solving

Strategic thinking

Safety compliance understanding

Job description

Group Automation Project Manager

Job Description

Group Automation Project Manager - Food Manufacturing

If you've got an automation background within the food industry and have managed multi-site projects, this is one not to be missed! A leading UK food manufacturing group is looking for a Group Automation Project Manager to take ownership of complex automation initiatives across multiple sites. This is a senior, hands‑on role, delivering projects that improve efficiency, optimise capacity, and make a real operational impact.

What you'll be doing

• Lead automation projects from concept through to delivery, ensuring solutions are effective, scalable, and deliver measurable results
• Coordinate across multiple sites, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to translate operational challenges into actionable solutions
• Manage budgets, timelines, and expectations while navigating complex operational environments
• Maintain a pipeline of initiatives to drive continuous improvement across the business
• Ensure smooth handover to operational teams so automation solutions run reliably post‑implementation
• Travel across the UK as required to support delivery and stakeholder engagement

Who this role is for

• This role isn't for someone who wants to sit behind a desk. It's for someone who:
• Has experience delivering automation projects in food manufacturing, ideally across multiple sites
• Can combine strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery
• Thrives on solving operational problems and influencing people at all levels
• Can manage multiple projects and stakeholders simultaneously
• Understands the realities of production environments, safety compliance, and operational constraints

Why this role matters

Automation initiatives only succeed when people, processes, and technology work together. In this role, you'll make that happen – across multiple sites, at scale, and with measurable impact. Your work will improve efficiency, reduce bottlenecks, and ensure that automation delivers tangible results for the business.

What you get in return

• A high‑profile role leading automation transformation across multiple sites
• Strategic, hands‑on responsibility with visibility to senior leadership
• Competitive salary with performance‑based incentives
• Professional development and training opportunities
• The satisfaction of seeing complex projects succeed in real time