Senior Project Manager

GKF ENGINEERING LIMITED; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

Paid annual leave

Training and development

Career progression

Skilled team

Varied projects

Job summary

GKF Engineering in Greater Manchester is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to lead multiple commercial kitchen and stainless steel fabrication projects from contract award to handover. You will coordinate design, manufacturing and site installation, manage budgets and timelines, and build strong relationships with clients, consultants and suppliers.

This role requires sector knowledge, strong organisation, and a proactive, solutions-focused approach with travel to project sites as

Qualifications

• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Good commercial awareness and experience managing budgets, costs and variations.
• The ability to read and understand technical drawings, specifications and project information.
• Experience coordinating manufacturing, procurement and site installation.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• The confidence to deal with clients, consultants, contractors and suppliers at all levels.
• A proactive, practical and solutions-focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Manage multiple commercial kitchen and stainless steel fabrication projects from contract award through to final handover.
• Take overall responsibility for project programme, budget, procurement, quality and delivery.
• Coordinate design, technical information, manufacturing, procurement, delivery and site installation.
• Liaise confidently with clients, catering consultants, architects, designers, main contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.
• Attend site surveys, pre-start meetings, progress meetings and project reviews.
• Review drawings, specifications and project requirements and work closely with the design and manufacturing teams.
• Manage project budgets, costs, procurement, variations and commercial considerations.
• Coordinate manufacturing and installation programmes with in-house teams.
• Monitor project progress and identify potential issues before they become problems.
• Resolve technical, commercial and programme issues throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the required quality standards.
• Maintain clear project documentation, programmes and communication throughout each project.
• Build strong, long-term relationships with customers and project partners.

Skills

Senior Project Manager

Project Management

Budget management

Client liaison

Technical drawings

Manufacturing coordination

Procurement

Site installation

Driving licence

Travel willingness

Job description

Full Time | Permanent | Competitive Salary

About GKF Engineering

Full Time | Permanent | Competitive Salary

About GKF Engineering

GKF Engineering is a well-established UK specialist manufacturer of bespoke stainless steel commercial catering equipment and complete commercial kitchen solutions.

Based in Greater Manchester, we design, manufacture and install everything from individual bespoke fabrication and stainless steel counters through to complete commercial kitchen projects.

We work with commercial catering companies, catering consultants, main contractors, designers and end clients across the UK, delivering projects for sectors including hospitality, restaurants, hotels, education, healthcare, leisure and stadia.

Our work is genuinely bespoke. No two projects are quite the same, and that’s what makes working here interesting.

Due to continued growth, we’re looking for an experienced Senior Project Manager / Commercial Catering Project Manager to join our team and take ownership of projects from contract award through to successful completion and handover.

Please note: this is a specialist role and previous experience within the commercial catering equipment, foodservice or commercial kitchen industry is essential.

The Role

As Senior Project Manager, you’ll take responsibility for the successful delivery of multiple commercial kitchen, catering equipment and stainless steel fabrication projects.

You’ll be the link between the customer, consultant, main contractor, design team and our own manufacturing and installation teams — making sure everyone knows what needs to happen, when it needs to happen and what the project needs to achieve.

Projects can range from bespoke stainless steel fabrication and catering equipment through to complete commercial kitchen installations, often involving multiple trades, detailed drawings, manufacturing, procurement and site installation.

This is a hands‑on project management role. We’re looking for someone who understands the industry, can confidently deal with clients and contractors, and is comfortable getting into the detail when a project needs it.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage multiple commercial catering and commercial kitchen projects from contract award through to final handover.
• Take overall responsibility for project programme, budget, procurement, quality and delivery.
• Coordinate design, technical information, manufacturing, procurement, delivery and site installation.
• Liaise confidently with clients, catering consultants, architects, designers, main contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.
• Attend site surveys, pre-start meetings, progress meetings and project reviews.
• Review drawings, specifications and project requirements and work closely with the design and manufacturing teams.
• Manage project budgets, costs, procurement, variations and commercial considerations.
• Coordinate manufacturing and installation programmes with our in-house teams.
• Monitor project progress and identify potential issues before they become problems.
• Resolve technical, commercial and programme issues throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the required quality standards.
• Maintain clear project documentation, programmes and communication throughout each project.
• Build strong, long-term relationships with customers and project partners.
• Take projects through to successful completion, snagging and final handover.
  

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Project Manager / Project Manager who already understands the commercial catering and foodservice industry.

Previous experience within commercial catering equipment, commercial kitchens or foodservice projects is essential.

You may currently be working as a:

• Senior Project Manager
• Commercial Catering Project Manager
• Commercial Kitchen Project Manager
• Project Manager – Catering Equipment
• Foodservice Project Manager
• Contracts Manager
• Senior Contracts Manager
• Project Engineer / Project Delivery Manager within the catering equipment sector

Experience in one or more of the following would be highly advantageous:

• Commercial kitchen projects
• Commercial catering equipment
• Foodservice equipment
• Stainless steel catering fabrication
• Commercial kitchen installation
• Commercial kitchen design and manufacture
• Catering equipment manufacturing
• Bespoke stainless steel fabrication
• Commercial kitchen fit-out
• Hospitality and restaurant projects

You’ll also have:

• Proven experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Good commercial awareness and experience managing budgets, costs and variations.
• The ability to read and understand technical drawings, specifications and project information.
• Experience coordinating manufacturing, procurement and site installation.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• The confidence to deal with clients, consultants, contractors and suppliers at all levels.
• A proactive, practical and solutions-focused approach.
• The ability to manage priorities and keep projects moving when things don’t go exactly to plan.
• A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to project sites when required.

Why GKF?

We’re not a huge corporate organisation where you become a number.

We’re a specialist manufacturer, and our Project Managers work closely with the people actually designing, fabricating and installing the equipment. You’ll have a genuine opportunity to influence how projects are delivered and make a visible difference to the business.

You’ll be joining a growing company with a strong reputation for quality, bespoke manufacturing and getting the job done properly.

We work on some genuinely interesting projects, from bespoke restaurant and hospitality environments through to larger commercial kitchen installations — so there’s plenty of variety.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• Permanent, full-time position.
• Pension scheme.
• Paid annual leave.
• Ongoing training and development.
• Genuine long-term career progression.
• The opportunity to work with a skilled design, manufacturing and installation team.
• A varied workload across hospitality, education, healthcare, leisure and other commercial sectors.
• The opportunity to join an established and growing UK manufacturer with an excellent reputation in the commercial catering and foodservice industry.

Interested?

If you’re an experienced Senior Project Manager, Commercial Catering Project Manager or Commercial Kitchen Project Manager who knows the industry, understands what good project delivery looks like and enjoys being involved in projects from start to finish, we’d love to hear from you.

GKF Engineering is an equal opportunities employer.