Group Automation Project Manager

The Sterling Choice; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK food manufacturing group is seeking a Group Automation Project Manager to oversee complex automation projects across multiple sites. This senior, hands-on role will lead initiatives that improve operational efficiency and capacity. The ideal candidate will have experience in food manufacturing automation, strong strategic thinking, and the ability to manage various stakeholders. Benefits include a competitive salary, performance incentives, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary with performance-based incentives

Professional development and training opportunities

High-profile role with visibility to senior leadership

Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing focusing on automation projects.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Understanding of safety compliance and operational constraints.

Responsibilities

• Lead automation projects from concept to delivery.
• Coordinate with sites, suppliers, and stakeholders.
• Manage budgets and timelines effectively.
• Ensure smooth handover to operational teams post-implementation.

Skills

Experience delivering automation projects

Strategic thinking

Problem-solving

Stakeholder management

Job description

Group Automation Project Manager - Food Manufacturing

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’re 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

• 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