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- Tasks: Lead a major expansion project in energy generation, driving automation and productivity improvements.
- Company: A leading UK advanced manufacturing organisation with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Excellent salary, career growth, and the chance to shape the future of engineering.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team and mentor others while driving operational excellence.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-performance environment and lead transformational projects.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in manufacturing, strong leadership skills, and a degree in engineering.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
A major UK advanced manufacturing organisation is undertaking a significant growth programme within its critical energy generation equipment division and is hiring a Project Director to drive one of the most strategically important expansion projects in the business. This is a senior, high-impact role leading the full lifecycle of a major operational expansion programme, working closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to deliver transformational improvements across automation, productivity, and manufacturing capability.
If you’re an experienced project leader with deep manufacturing expertise and a passion for operational excellence, this is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a high-performance engineering environment.
What You’ll Lead
- Own and deliver the full expansion project for the critical energy generation equipment segment at the Exeter site.
- Develop operational plans aligned with customer expectations, business goals, and annual KPIs.
- Lead automation initiatives, departmental consolidation, and productivity improvements across multiple functions.
- Oversee daily–quarterly reporting to ensure visibility of operational performance.
- Drive improvements in labour utilisation, quality, throughput, and manufacturing efficiency.
- Manage complex manufacturing projects from concept through qualification and training.
- Meet financial objectives through effective budgeting, variance analysis, and corrective action planning.
Leadership
- Lead and mentor a project team, building a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.
- Maintain strong relationships across engineering, manufacturing, commercial, scheduling, and quality teams.
- Ensure programme goals, scope, and deliverables are clearly defined and communicated.
- Track actions, risks, and progress, providing regular updates to stakeholders.
- Resolve cross-functional disconnects and drive alignment across the organisation.
- Conduct programme reviews with internal and external stakeholders.
Skills needed
Essential
- Minimum 15 years’ experience in manufacturing, including operational leadership.
- Proven experience leading large-scale CAPEX projects.
- Strong background in aerospace, metals, or complex manufacturing environments.
- Excellent analytical capability and deep understanding of manufacturing processes.
- Strong communication, stakeholder management, and team leadership skills.
- High proficiency in Microsoft Office and data-driven tools.
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering (accredited university).
Preferred
- Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen experience.
- Demonstrated success driving automation and operational excellence.
- Experience working in matrix organisations.
- Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
- Ability to lead technical teams and influence at all levels.
Project Director in Devon employer: Green Folk
Contact Detail:
Green Folk Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Director in Devon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the manufacturing sector, especially those who have experience with project leadership. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s recent projects and challenges. This shows you’re genuinely interested and ready to contribute to their expansion goals. Plus, it gives you great talking points!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills during interviews. Share specific examples of how you've led teams through complex projects, focusing on outcomes and improvements. We want to see that you can drive results!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Director in Devon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Project Director role. Highlight your experience in manufacturing and project leadership, especially any large-scale CAPEX projects you've managed. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about operational excellence and how your background makes you the perfect fit for this role. Keep it engaging and relevant to the job description.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your impact in previous roles. Use metrics where possible to quantify your success in improving productivity, efficiency, or team performance.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Green Folk
✨Know Your Project Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the specifics of the expansion project you'll be leading. Familiarise yourself with the company's current operations, their goals, and how your experience aligns with their needs. This will help you articulate how you can drive improvements in automation and productivity.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Project Director, your leadership skills are crucial. Be prepared to discuss your approach to mentoring teams and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Share specific examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led cross-functional teams and resolved conflicts.
✨Demonstrate Analytical Skills
Given the emphasis on operational excellence, be ready to showcase your analytical capabilities. Bring examples of how you've used data-driven tools to improve manufacturing processes or meet financial objectives. Highlight any experience with budgeting and variance analysis to show your financial acumen.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions related to manufacturing processes, CAPEX projects, and automation initiatives. Brush up on relevant methodologies like Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing. Being able to discuss these concepts confidently will demonstrate your deep expertise and readiness for the role.