Manufacturing System Project Manager

CBSbutler Holdings Limited trading as CBSbutler; Towcester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading project management firm is seeking a mid-level MES Project Manager for a 12-month contract in Towcester. You will oversee the upgrade of Manufacturing IT systems, managing a team and liaising with vendors. Essential skills include experience in IT infrastructure projects, particularly legacy migrations like OpenVMS to Red Hat Linux. This role offers a hybrid working arrangement with a competitive daily rate.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing IT infrastructure/system upgrade projects – in an MES Environment.
• Strong knowledge of legacy system migrations, particularly OpenVMS and Red Hat Linux.
• Comfortable managing small on-site teams and collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Own the full project lifecycle for the IT infrastructure upgrade (OpenVMS → Red Hat Linux).
• Lead and coordinate a team of 4-5 onsite technical staff.
• Define and drive project milestones, delivery plans, and documentation.

Skills

IT infrastructure management

Legacy system migrations

Vendor management

User Acceptance Testing

Excellent communication skills

Job description

MES Project Manager - Manufacturing Systems (12-Month Contract)

Location: Hybrid / Towcester, Northamptonshire
Rate: £400-£440 per day (Inside IR35)
Duration: 12 months

We're looking for a mid-level MES/IT Project Manager to take the reins on a Manufacturing IT system upgrade for a major site in Towcester. You will be part of the overall Project team for the transition from OpenVMS to Red Hat Linux, working closely with the system vendor PM and coordinating a small onsite team.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the full project lifecycle for the IT infrastructure upgrade (OpenVMS → Red Hat Linux).
• Lead and coordinate a team of 4-5 onsite technical staff – hold them accountable and keep them aligned.
• Act as the main point of contact with vendor PM.
• Define and drive project milestones, delivery plans, and documentation.
• Manage risk, issue tracking, and resolution.
• Deliver User Acceptance Testing (UAT) planning, coordination, and sign-off.
• Communicate progress, blockers, and dependencies clearly to stakeholders.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience managing IT infrastructure/system upgrade projects – in an MES Environment.
• Strong knowledge of legacy system migrations, particularly OpenVMS and Red Hat Linux.
• Experience working with third-party vendors and holding them to SLAs/deliverables.
• Comfortable managing small on-site teams and collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Experience delivering UAT planning and execution.
• Excellent communication and planning skills – you keep everyone on the same page.
• Background in manufacturing, semiconductors, or industrial IT environments.
• Knowledge of OpenVMS architecture or system constraints.
• Exposure to automation or MES systems.

If you'd like to discuss this role in more detail, please send your updated CV to (url removed) and I will get in touch.