At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in delivering a major chemical facility construction project.
- Company: Join Designer Group, a growing international engineering business with exciting projects.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, professional development, and a commitment to health and safety.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team focused on safety, quality, and right-first-time delivery.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on innovative projects while advancing your career in engineering.
- Qualifications: Senior project leadership experience in mechanical or process construction is essential.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
Project overview
Project Camelot involves the extension of an existing Ecolab chemical facility producing resin used in the cleaning of pharmaceutical vessels and equipment. While the facility supports the wider pharmaceutical supply chain, this is a chemical/process facility project, not a pharmaceutical project. Designer Group’s scope includes approximately 14,000m of piping, split across clean utilities and black utilities. The package includes clean utility pipework, black utility pipework, inline equipment, valve installation, minor equipment, pressure testing, flushing, chemical cleaning, passivation, testing, commissioning, insulation and cladding. The programme is aggressive and will require strong site leadership, disciplined planning, subcontractor control, commercial focus and a right-first-time approach to quality. The delivery strategy relies heavily on offsite manufacture, prefabrication, modular pipework, accurate progress tracking and early focus on system completion and turnover.
Role overview
The Project Director will take senior responsibility for the safe, commercial and operational delivery of Designer Group’s scope on Project Camelot. This is a hands-on, site-based leadership role suited to a senior project leader with strong experience in mechanical, process piping, industrial, chemical, energy, pharmaceutical construction or complex M&E environments.
Key responsibilities
- Project leadership and delivery
Take overall site leadership responsibility for Designer Group’s delivery on Project Camelot. Lead the project team across construction, engineering, planning, commercial, QA/QC, safety, commissioning and turnover. Maintain clear control of programme, cost, safety, quality, risk and stakeholder performance. Drive the planned delivery sequence of bulk zonal install, sectional test/handover, system drops and system completion. Ensure site activities are properly planned, resourced, coordinated and controlled. Identify constraints early and ensure they are resolved, escalated or commercially protected where required.
- OSM, fabrication and subcontractor management
Oversee the offsite manufacture, prefabrication and pipe spool/module strategy. Ensure OSM, fabrication, logistics and site installation are coordinated against the construction programme. Manage subcontractor performance against agreed scope, safety, quality, productivity and programme requirements. Support procurement and delivery of piping, valves, supports, inline equipment and specialist subcontract packages. Maintain visibility of fabrication progress, NDT, tagging, material readiness and delivery sequencing.
- Programme, commercial and stakeholder control
Work closely with planning to maintain a realistic and properly resourced construction programme. Track progress against installation output, manpower, milestones and system completion dates. Work with the Commercial Manager and QS team to protect Designer Group’s commercial position. Ensure variations, delays, access issues, design issues and scope changes are identified, recorded and progressed. Maintain strong project records, correspondence, meeting minutes and site evidence. Represent Designer Group with IPS, Ecolab, the PSCS, consultants, subcontractors and internal stakeholders.
Requirements
The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate:
- Senior project leadership experience within mechanical, process piping, utilities, industrial, energy, chemical, pharmaceutical construction or complex M&E contracting.
- Experience delivering large-scale, site-based construction projects with significant subcontractor and supply chain involvement.
- Strong understanding of piping installation, fabrication, testing, commissioning, system completion and turnover.
- Experience working on live operational sites, ideally chemical, process, industrial manufacturing, energy or life sciences facilities.
- Strong commercial and contractual awareness, including change control, variations, cost recovery and subcontractor management.
- Experience managing aggressive programmes, constrained sites and complex stakeholder interfaces.
- OSM, modularisation or prefabricated pipework experience would be highly advantageous.
- Mechanical Engineering, Building Services, Process Engineering, Construction Management or related qualification preferred.
- Trade background with significant senior project leadership experience will also be considered.
Person specification
The successful candidate will be:
- A strong, visible site leader with the confidence to take ownership of a high-pressure project.
- Technically credible in mechanical, piping or process-led construction environments.
- Commercially sharp and disciplined around records, notices and change control.
- Highly organised, practical and focused on programme certainty.
- Clear and confident with clients, consultants, subcontractors and internal stakeholders.
- Able to challenge poor performance while maintaining strong working relationships.
- Focused on safety, quality, commercial performance and right-first-time delivery.
Benefits
Why join Designer Group? This is an opportunity to join a growing international engineering business with a strong UK project pipeline and a clear commitment to safe delivery. You will be joining a team where health and safety has real visibility, where your input will directly influence site standards, and where you will work across varied, technically interesting M&E projects. At Designer Group, we invest in our people, support professional development and offer the opportunity to build a long-term career within a business that continues to grow across the UK and Europe.
Application process
If you are an experienced Health and Safety Advisor and are interested in supporting major M&E projects across the UK, we would welcome your application. Apply today and a member of our recruitment team will be in touch with shortlisted candidates. Designer Group is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation or background.
Project Director - Pharma Process Plant Construction project in Pontyclun employer: Designer Group
Designer Group is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where health and safety are prioritised, and your contributions can significantly impact site standards. With a strong commitment to professional development, employees have the opportunity to grow their careers within a thriving international engineering business that is expanding across the UK and Europe, working on diverse and technically challenging M&E projects.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Director - Pharma Process Plant Construction project in Pontyclun
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend events, and join relevant groups. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Project Director role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Show them you understand their work on Project Camelot and how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your leadership skills and project management experience make you the perfect fit for overseeing complex construction projects.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people at Designer Group.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Director - Pharma Process Plant Construction project in Pontyclun
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Project Director role. Highlight your experience in mechanical and process piping, as well as any leadership roles you've held in similar projects. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific projects you've led that relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Let us know what makes you tick!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this is a senior role, we’re keen to see examples of your leadership skills. Share instances where you've successfully managed teams or navigated complex stakeholder relationships. We love a good story about overcoming challenges!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about Designer Group and what we stand for.
How to prepare for a job interview at Designer Group
✨Know Your Project Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into Project Camelot and understand its scope, challenges, and objectives. Familiarise yourself with the specifics of mechanical and process piping, as well as the importance of offsite manufacture and prefabrication. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Project Director, strong leadership is key. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led teams through complex projects. Highlight how you managed subcontractors, maintained safety standards, and ensured quality delivery. This will illustrate your capability to take ownership of high-pressure projects.
✨Be Ready for Technical Questions
Expect questions related to piping installation, testing, and commissioning. Brush up on your technical knowledge and be prepared to discuss specific methodologies you've used in previous projects. This will not only showcase your technical credibility but also your ability to handle the complexities of the role.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Understanding the commercial aspects of project management is crucial. Be prepared to discuss how you've handled change control, cost recovery, and subcontractor management in the past. Showing that you can protect the company's commercial position while delivering quality work will set you apart from other candidates.