Senior Project Manager, Tooling & Composites - UK Based

DFS Composites Limited; Lee-on-the-Solent; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Supportive work culture

Key leadership role in advanced business

Job summary

DFS Composites Limited is seeking a Senior Project Manager specializing in Tooling & Composite Manufacturing. Located in Lee-on-the-Solent, this full-time role involves delivering high-value tooling projects while leading cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities include successful project delivery, stakeholder management, and continuous improvement of processes. Candidates should have at least 5 years of project management experience and knowledge of tooling and composites.

Competitive salary and a collaborative work culture are offered.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of project management experience in manufacturing, tooling, or complex engineering environments.
• Proven leadership experience managing and developing cross-functional teams.
• Strong understanding of tooling, composites, or precision engineering processes.

Responsibilities

• Ensure successful delivery of multiple tooling projects from concept to delivery.
• Manage stakeholder & vendor relationships, acting as the primary liaison.
• Provide regular reporting, metrics, and insights to the Program Manager.

Skills

Project management experience in manufacturing

Leadership

Communication and interpersonal skills

Project planning and governance

Risk mitigation

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

PMP, PRINCE2, Agile certification

Tools

Jira

MS Project

Job description

Senior Project Manager– Tooling & Composite Manufacturing

Location: Lee-on-the-Solent, United Kingdom
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Reports To: Program Manager
Work Location: In person
Pay: £45,000.00-£52,000.00 per year

About Us

DFS Composites Ltd designs and manufactures cutting-edge composite tooling solutions for a global customer base across the wind energy and aerospace sectors. With a strong focus on sustainability and innovation, we pride ourselves on delivering high-performance engineering solutions that support the future of clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

The Role

We’re seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to successfully deliver tooling and fixture projects. In this senior role, you will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery of complex, high-value projects while overseeing cross functional teams. You will be expected to proactively anticipate risks and develop strategic mitigation plans before they become blockers. You’ll report directly to the Program Manager and play a critical role in delivery of multiple projects within the UK portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Successful delivery of multiple tooling projects from concept to delivery, ensuring they meet quality, timeline, and budget requirements.
• Stakeholder & Vendor Management, act as primary liaison with stakeholders, external suppliers, and cross-functional teams to align project deliverables.
• Act as a senior escalation point for internal and client-facing project issues.
• Ensure adherence to best practices in program governance, risk management, and stakeholder engagement are consistently applied across all projects.
• Drive standardisation and continuous improvement of project management processes and tools.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain functions to ensure seamless project execution.
• Deliver regular reporting, metrics, and insights to the Program Manager.
• Facilitating discussions with senior stakeholders to drive decision-making and manage expectations within the project.
• Mentoring and supervising mid and junior level Project Managers, fostering professional growth, and sharing best practices across the organisation.
• Manage substantial budgets and providing accurate financial reporting throughout the project life cycle.
• Mentoring of Junior level staff as required.

Requirements

• 5+ years of project management experience in manufacturing, tooling, or complex engineering environments
• Proven leadership experience managing and developing remote or multinational cross functional teams
• Strong understanding of tooling, composites, or precision engineering processes
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to lead across cultures and disciplines
• Highly organised with expertise in project planning, cost control, project governance and risk mitigation
• Comfortable working across multiple time zones and adapting to shifting client needs
• Expert with various project management software & tools i.e. Jira and MSP

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, or related technical field.
• PMP, PRINCE2, Agile or other formal project management certification.
• Familiarity with CAD/CAM, CNC processes, and composite tooling techniques.
• Experience in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, renewables or industrial composites.
• Hands-on experience working with global suppliers and manufacturing teams.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary (based on experience)
• A key leadership role in a technically advanced and growing business
• This is a UK role with a UK right to work required
• Supportive and collaborative work culture focused on innovation and performance