Project Manager

Actalent; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking an experienced Project Manager with a strong engineering background to support the deployment of automated material-handling and warehouse automation across a large UK and Ireland logistics network.

You will act as the primary on-site point of contact for Field Engineering, coordinating complex installations, upgrades, retrofit projects and new-site launches. This hands-on role requires collaboration with engineering, operations, HSE, maintenance, IT and external vendors.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or equivalent technical qualification.
• Proven project management capability across large-scale engineering/technology projects.
• Lean or Six Sigma certification or practical experience applying continuous improvement.
• Strong stakeholder and vendor-management skills.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• End-to-end project management experience in warehouse, logistics or automated manufacturing environments.
• Proficiency with MS Office and data analysis tools.
• Ability to travel extensively across the UK and Ireland.
• PM certification such as PMP or PRINCE2.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate engineering deployment projects from site prep to handover.
• Review drawings on site and identify clashes with existing equipment.
• Coordinate project approvals and stakeholder concerns before work begins.
• Manage day-to-day execution aligning with scope, schedule, quality.
• Lead daily vendor and operations coordination calls.
• Prepare daily progress reports for the PM team.
• Conduct site visits to assess progress and resolve issues.
• Escalate risks, delays or technical concerns as needed.
• Coordinate receipt, inventory, movement and installation of materials.
• Work with IT teams during data-cabling and validate installations.
• Support site acceptance testing and close-out activities.
• Collect vendor docs and verify against deliverables.
• Complete compliance checks and handover documentation.

Skills

Project management

Vendor management

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Financial modelling

MS Office

English communication

AutoCAD

Travel readiness

Conveyor projects

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

PMP/PRINCE2 certification

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

Location: UK and Ireland, with extensive site travel

Travel requirement: Approximately 75%-100% during active project deployments

Contract position

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager with a strong engineering background to support the deployment of automated material-handling and engineering solutions across a large UK and Ireland logistics network.

Acting as the primary on-site point of contact for the Field Engineering team, you will coordinate complex installations, equipment upgrades, retrofit projects and new-site launches. This is a hands-on, site-based position requiring close collaboration with engineering teams, operational stakeholders, health and safety representatives, maintenance teams, IT departments and external vendors.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate engineering deployment projects from site preparation through to final handover.
• Review and verify technical drawings on site, identifying potential clashes or interference with existing and newly installed equipment.
• Coordinate project approvals and address concerns raised by relevant stakeholder groups before work begins.
• Manage day-to-day project execution, ensuring activities remain aligned with the agreed scope, schedule and quality requirements.
• Lead daily coordination calls with vendors, operations, health and safety, engineering maintenance and other project stakeholders.
• Prepare clear daily progress reports for the wider project management team.
• Conduct regular site visits to assess progress, gather stakeholder feedback and proactively resolve issues.
• Escalate project risks, delays or technical concerns when required.
• Coordinate the receipt, inventory, movement and installation of project materials, including signage and racking.
• Work with operational and maintenance teams to arrange the movement of materials within active facilities.
• Liaise with IT teams during data-cabling activities, monitor secure equipment areas and support the validation of cable installation and functionality.
• Support site acceptance testing, including periods of continuous on-site presence.
• Manage project close-out activities and help resolve outstanding defects or snagging items.
• Collect vendor documentation and validate it against agreed project deliverables.
• Complete basic checks of compliance and handover documentation before transferring records to the appropriate storage system.

Proven experience working with material-handling equipment, such as:

• High-speed packaging lines
• Automated manufacturing or production lines
• An engineering degree or equivalent technical qualification.
• Demonstrated project management capability across large-scale, complex engineering or technology projects.
• Lean or Six Sigma certification, or strong practical experience applying continuous-improvement methodologies.
• Strong stakeholder and vendor-management skills.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Flexibility and willingness to travel extensively across the UK and Ireland.
• End-to-end project management experience within warehouse, logistics, distribution or automated manufacturing environments.
• A recognised project management certification, such as PMP, PRINCE2 or equivalent.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, technology-led environment.
• Previous involvement in large-scale e-commerce, logistics or distribution-centre projects.
• Strong data analysis and financial-modelling capability.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD.

What We’re Looking For

You will be a practical, delivery-focused Project Manager who is comfortable working directly on operational sites. You should be confident coordinating multiple contractors and stakeholder groups, resolving issues quickly and maintaining clear reporting throughout each stage of a project.

This position would particularly suit someone with experience delivering conveyor, sortation, warehouse automation, MHE or systems-integration projects across multiple sites.