Sr Project Engineering Manager

Kerry Group; Beloit (KS); On-site; USD 88,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Equity stock purchase program

Retirement contribution

Incentive and recognition programs

Job summary

Kerry is seeking a Senior Project Engineer Manager to own high-impact capital projects from idea to start-up across its Taste manufacturing network in North America. This hands-on, high-visibility role modernizes process systems including sanitary processing, aseptic systems, automation, and packaging to turn concepts into reliable plant-floor performance.

This role can be located in Beloit, WI or Bethlehem, PA with significant travel. Requires a B.S.

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited B.S. in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering.
• 4+ years leading capital projects ($100K+) in a manufacturing environment.
• Project management training or certification (e.g., PMP) is a plus.
• Clear, confident communicator with strong technical writing and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience as a process engineer or plant engineer at a manufacturing site.
• Manufacturing experience in food, beverages, consumer goods, chemical, or pharmaceutical environments preferred.
• Exposure to aseptic bulk packing equipment preferred.
• Familiarity with CAD software.
• Proficiency with MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Project; AI tools familiarity a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own capital projects end-to-end—from concept through design, installation, commissioning, and handoff to Operations.
• Collaborate with multiple plants across North America to deliver projects.
• Coordinate across Manufacturing, R&D, Finance, HSE, Quality, and Maintenance to define needs and plans.
• Build scope, budget, and schedule while managing risk and accelerating decisions.
• Create charters, estimates,Justifications, specifications to set projects up for success.
• Lead vendors and internal teams from procurement to installation for right-first-time execution.
• Proactively spot risk and ensure safe, compliant execution per Kerry standards.
• Maintain stakeholder alignment with clear updates and escalation as needed.
• Lead start-up and equipment management for a stable ramp-up.

Skills

Clear communicator

Technical writing

Stakeholder management

Process/Plant engineer

Manufacturing experience

Aseptic packaging

CAD software

Microsoft Office

AI tools awareness

Education

ABET-accredited B.S. in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CAD software

Microsoft Word

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Project

Job description

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

About the role

As a Senior Project Engineer Manager, you’ll own high-impact capital projects from idea to start-up ($50K-$15M) across Kerry’s Taste manufacturing network in North America. This is a hands-on, high-visibility role where you’ll modernize process manufacturing systems -spanning sanitary processing, aseptic systems, automation, bulk packing, facilities, utilities, and safety improvements -and help turn great concepts into reliable, day-one performance. If you’re energized by building what’s next and seeing your work come to life on the plant floor, you’ll thrive here.

This role can be located in or near the Beloit, WI area OR near out facility in Bethlehem, PA. There will also be significant travel associated with this position.

Key responsibilities

• Own capital projects end-to-end—from concept and scope through design, installation, commissioning, and seamless handoff to Operations.
• Collaborate with up to 5 manufacturing plants across North America (4 in the eastern time zone and 1 in the pacific time zone) to deliver projects to address the critical priorities of the manufacturing network.
• Bring people together across Manufacturing, R&D, Finance, HSE, Quality, and Maintenance to define the need, align on priorities, and turn it into an executable plan.
• Build and drive scope, budget, and schedule - balancing speed, cost, and quality while clearing roadblocks and accelerating decisions.
• Create crisp engineering and capital-approval deliverables (charters, estimates, justifications, specifications) that set projects up for success.
• Lead vendors, contractors, and internal experts - coordinating procurement, construction, and installation to deliver right-first-time execution. Collaborate with partner engineering firms to develop and deliver project scope.
• Spot risk early and manage it proactively - ensuring safe execution and compliance with Kerry standards, OSHA/HSE requirements, and GMPs.
• Keep stakeholders aligned with clear updates, smart escalation, and change management that protects schedule, cost, and outcomes.
• Lead start-up and early equipment management to deliver stable, repeatable performance - and a confident ramp-up for the manufacturing teams.

Qualifications and skills

Qualifications and skills

• B.S. in Engineering (Chemical or Mechanical) from an ABET-accredited university.
• 4+ years leading capital projects ($100K+) in a manufacturing environment - project engineering and/or project management.
• Project management training or certification (e.g., PMP) is a plus.
• Clear, confident communicator with strong technical writing and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience as a process engineer or plant engineer based at a manufacturing site.
• Manufacturing experience in food, beverages, consumer goods, chemical, or pharmaceutical environments preferred.
• Exposure to aseptic bulk packing equipment preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Project; familiarity with AI tools (Copilot, ChatGPT, or similar) is a plus.
• Familiarity with CAD software preferred.
• Technologies in use at these sites include spray drying, powder blending, liquids mixing, coffee roasting, distillation, reverse osmosis, clean-in-place systems, sanitary piping, valve clusters and more.

The typical base salary hiring range for this role is $88,100 to $144,800 annually and is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, location, etc. In addition to your pay, Kerry offers benefits such as a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and retirement contribution (all benefits and incentives are subject to eligibility requirements).

Kerry is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. Kerry will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditional upon the successful completion of a background investigation and drug screen. Additional information can be found at: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (dol.gov).

We may use artificial intelligence tools to support the review and assessment of applications and assist with scheduling interviews. We do not use AI to make decisions during the interview process. All candidate assessments and hiring decisions are made by our recruitment and leadership teams

Beware of scams online or from individuals claiming to represent us. A Kerry employee will not solicit candidates through a non-Kerry email address or phone number. In addition, Kerry does not currently utilise video chat rooms (e.g., Google Hangouts) to conduct interviews. Refuse any request that asks you to provide payment to participate in the hiring process (e.g., purchasing a "starter kit," investing in training, or something similar). Kerry will not ask you to pay any money at any point in the hiring process with the exception of reimbursable travel expenses. In addition, any payments made by Kerry will be from official firm accounts bearing the Kerry name.