Head of Projects

Holiferm; Birkenhead; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A sustainable biosurfactant company is looking for an experienced Head of Projects to oversee capital project delivery and manage a high-performing team. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in project delivery within manufacturing industries and possess strong leadership skills. This role offers a flexible and hybrid working environment, with a mix of responsibilities in project management and team leadership.

Benefits

Share Options

Flexible and Hybrid Working

Health, Dental and Mental Health Care

Income Protection

Electric and Plug-In Hybrid car scheme

Company reward & discount platform

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in project delivery, particularly in manufacturing or process industries.
• Strong track record in delivering complex projects on brownfield sites.
• Ability to manage multidisciplinary teams and external contractors.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of capital projects, aligning with business goals.
• Manage a high-performing project team and oversee project controls.
• Monitor project progress and drive resolution of risks.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Risk management

Collaboration

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

MS Project

Job description

Title: Head of Projects

Location:Wallasey, Merseyside or Manchester, Trafford Park. Regular attendance at both sites is expected, with flexibility to accommodate individual circumstances where possible.

Salary:£55,000 to £70,000 depending on experience

Share OptionsFlexible and Hybrid Working Health, Dental and Mental Health Care Income Protection Electric and Plug-In Hybrid car scheme Company reward & discount platform

More!

About Us:

Holiferm is facilitating the transition of the $42 billion surfactant market away from harmful, fossil fuel-based chemicals to biodegradable, sustainable biosurfactants. We are spearheading research and production into this innovative technology and, as such, are offering the opportunity to make an impact towards a more sustainable future. Our patented fermentation process with integrated gravity separation technology enables us to produce competitively priced biosurfactants at a commercial scale.

At Holiferm, you will have the platform to broaden your skills by working with field leaders within a dynamic, collaborative, and inclusive working environment. Whether you are based in our research and development laboratory in Manchester or our commercial plant in Wallasey, you will have the freedom and autonomy to drive innovation and change.

Our mission is to eliminate the need for petrochemicals in the production process and provide our customers with 100% biobased formulations.

We’re seeking an agile, results-driven Head of Projects to lead the design and delivery of capital projects at Holiferm. You’ll manage a growing team, oversee a diverse project portfolio, and play a key role in shaping our long-term capex strategy. This is a hands-on leadership role that combines strategic thinking with disciplined project execution.

Role Responsibilities:

As Head of Projects, you will:

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of capital projects, ensuring alignment with budget, timeline, safety, and business goals
• Manage and develop a high-performing project team, fostering collaboration across functions
• Oversee project controls, CDM compliance, and ISO-aligned processes
• Define project scopes, manage critical paths, and lead smooth commissioning and handover
• Monitor project progress using tools like MS Project and drive the resolution of risks and issues
• Support the development of long-term capital investment plans and project standards
• Lead procurement activities and manage commercial terms with third-party suppliers
• Report on key KPIs (budget, schedule, quality, safety) and drive continuous improvement
• Contribute to business-wide cost reduction and operational efficiency initiatives
  
  

This role is ideal for a strategic yet hands-on project leader who thrives in a fast-moving environment, can manage competing priorities, and delivers with discipline, adaptability, and commercial awareness.

Qualifications & Experience

We are open to recruiting an experienced Engineer who is looking to take a step into project leadership but has not previously held any formal project management roles.

• Strong track record of holding critical roles in delivering large, complex projects—particularly on brownfield sites within manufacturing or process industries
• Extensive experience (10+ years) within the project delivery space, with a deep understanding of process, mechanical, electrical, and E&I engineering disciplines
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage external contractors in high-stakes environments
• Skilled at communicating complex ideas clearly across technical and nontechnical stakeholders, enabling alignment and timely decision-making
• Demonstrated success in inclusive, collaborative leadership, supporting diverse teams through change
• Proficient in project management tools (e.g. MS Project) and familiar with ISO compliant systems and processes
  
  

Keywords: Senior Project Manager, Head of Projects, Project Engineer, CDM Management, Capex, ISO9001 quality management, Project Delivery Lead, Capital Projects, Project Governance, Programme Manager, Engineering Project Manager, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Project Planning, Cross-functional Leadership, Risk Management, Construction Project Manager