HVAC Project Lead

Real; Cuijk; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Real is seeking an experienced HVAC & Utilities Project Manager to lead a high-value facility upgrade project in Haps, Netherlands. You will own the lifecycle from design through handover, coordinating engineering, contractors, operations, and quality to meet budget, time, and compliance targets.

You will drive commissioning planning, validate systems, support regulatory readiness, and continually optimize project performance while managing stakeholder expectations across international scopes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering, Building Services Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience managing industrial engineering or CAPEX projects.
• Experience delivering projects from design through commissioning and handover.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC systems, utilities, ventilation, and facility infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Lead the project from concept and design through construction, commissioning, qualification, and handover.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, budgets, and resource plans.
• Coordinate internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful project execution.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation plans.
• Ensure delivery of project objectives within agreed timelines and budgets.
• Provide technical leadership on HVAC and utility-related project activities.
• Oversee the design, installation, and commissioning of HVAC systems, ventilation systems, and associated utilities.
• Lead projects involving cleanrooms and high-care environments, ensuring hygiene and regulatory conformity.
• Manage engineering partners, suppliers, contractors, and commissioning teams.

Skills

Project management

HVAC systems

Utilities engineering

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Commissioning

Cleanrooms

HVAC design

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Process/Building Services Engineering

Job description

Location: Haps, Netherlands Contract: 1-year contract (extension possible) Hours: 40 hours per week Start Date: As soon as possible Employment Type: Permanent or Freelance

About the Role

For a major investment project of more than €20 million in Haps, we are looking for an experienced HVAC & Utilities Project Manager to lead the design, execution, commissioning, and handover of critical facility and utility upgrades.

This strategic project is driven by significant business growth and evolving international regulatory requirements, including compliance with Chinese market standards. The objective is to further strengthen production capabilities, centralize operations, and prepare the site for future audits and long‑term expansion.

As the HVAC & Utilities Project Manager, you will act as the technical project owner, overseeing the complete lifecycle of HVAC, cleanroom, high‑care, ventilation, and utility systems. You will work closely with engineering teams, contractors, operations, quality, and project leadership to ensure the successful delivery of the project on time, within budget, and according to required quality and compliance standards.

Main Responsibilities

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Lead the project from concept and design through construction, commissioning, qualification, and handover.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, budgets, and resource plans.
• Coordinate internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful project execution.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation plans.
• Ensure delivery of project objectives within agreed timelines and budgets.

HVAC & Utilities Engineering

• Provide technical leadership on HVAC and utility‑related project activities.
• Oversee the design, installation, and commissioning of HVAC systems, ventilation systems, and associated utilities.
• Ensure systems are designed and installed according to operational, hygienic, and regulatory requirements.
• Review technical specifications, engineering documents, and contractor deliverables.
• Support decision‑making regarding technical solutions and equipment selection.

Cleanrooms & High‑Care Facilities

• Lead projects involving cleanrooms and high‑care manufacturing environments.
• Ensure facility designs meet hygiene, contamination control, and operational requirements.
• Collaborate with quality, operations, and engineering teams to deliver fit‑for‑purpose production environments.
• Support compliance with relevant food manufacturing and international regulatory standards.

Contractor & Stakeholder Management

• Manage engineering partners, suppliers, contractors, and commissioning teams.
• Coordinate activities between project stakeholders to ensure alignment and project continuity.
• Facilitate project meetings, progress reviews, and technical discussions.
• Escalate critical issues and provide recommendations to project leadership.

Commissioning & Operational Readiness

• Lead commissioning planning and execution activities.
• Ensure systems are tested, validated, and handed over successfully to operations.
• Coordinate startup activities and ensure smooth transition into routine operation.
• Identify and resolve technical issues during commissioning and qualification phases.

Compliance & Audit Readiness

• Ensure project activities comply with applicable quality, engineering, and regulatory standards.
• Support facility readiness for future regulatory and customer audits.
• Incorporate relevant international requirements, including Chinese regulatory expectations where applicable.
• Maintain project documentation and ensure accurate technical records.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve project execution, system performance, and operational efficiency.
• Capture lessons learned and share best practices across the organization.
• Drive a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Process Engineering, Building Services Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience managing industrial engineering or CAPEX projects.
• Proven experience delivering projects from design through commissioning and handover.
• Strong knowledge of HVAC systems, utilities, ventilation, and facility infrastructure.
• Experience with cleanrooms, high‑care environments, or hygienic production facilities.
• Food, dairy, infant nutrition, pharmaceutical, or related manufacturing experience is highly preferred.
• Experience managing contractors, suppliers, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Fluent in English. Dutch is not required.

Nice to Have

• Experience with large‑scale CAPEX projects (€10M+).
• Familiarity with Chinese regulatory requirements and audit expectations.
• Experience within highly regulated production environments.
• Commissioning and startup experience.