Furnace Project Engineering Manager Visé Plant in St Helens

Knauf stands for opportunity. We know that opportunity looks different to each person and we are proud that we see opportunity in everyone. This exciting role within Knauf Insulation could be the perfect next opportunity for you to build a unique career, in a values‑led culture with a clear purpose of making tomorrow a home for all of us. Knauf Insulation is proud to be part of the Knauf Group, a global manufacturer of construction materials. Our division is approaching 50 years of heritage in manufacturing insulation, with a growing global reach in 40 countries and ambitious goals for the future. We are looking for passionate, ambitious people to join our 6,000‑strong team and help us achieve these goals. We are all led by the same core values and believe in the powerful potential of large companies to have a positive impact on the world.

The expansion of Engineering Department means we are now looking to recruit new Furnace Project Engineering Manager in our office of Visé, Belgium or St‑Helen, UK, and reporting to the GMW Technology Manager.

As Furnace Project Engineering Manager, you would be responsible to lead your projects and oversee all aspects from feasibility studies to execution and coordinate the activities of installation and commissioning. You would also be responsible for asset management of existing furnace equipment across KI plants. As well, you would be expected to provide on‑site and remote operational support to the local team for emergency issues, ensuring swift resolution and minimal downtime while ensuring safety.

What you’ll be doing:

• Design and implement plant specific furnace projects for brownfield or greenfield.
• Manage furnace projects of 1M€ to 25M€ value.
• Establish clear written customer expectations and measurements of the objectives at the beginning of each project.
• Prepare scopes and estimates with options/alternatives as appropriate to allow the customer to make business decisions and obtain appropriation approval.
• Prepare a project implementation plan complete with schedule, project organization, and contract strategy.
• Communicate well through periodic reports and reviews with the project team, engineering management, and the customer.
• Analyze various options for all phases of project execution, cost savings, schedule improvement.
• Manage engineering, planning, control, procurement and construction personnel in a matrix organization to accomplish project objectives.
• Motivate project team members and work with the project team members to ensure adequate and timely work to accomplish objectives.
• Advise and support civil engineers with the detailed civil design (equipment/building interface).
• Advise and support Electrical & Control engineers to define and commission control systems.
• Support process and drafting engineers with design calculations, P&ID’s, layouts.
• Manage project changes to minimize cost, timing and performance impacts and obtain management approval of changes when required.
• Resolve issues and coordinate activities by serving as the focal point between the customer, project team and contractors.
• Negotiate issues with contractors/suppliers to the best interest of the project.
• Deliver the objectives of the project on time, within budget tolerance, and meeting the fitness for use.
• Maintain competency and state‑of‑art knowledge in pertinent aspects of engineering disciplines.
• Control and issue technical files to plant team, work out maintenance task lists, give recommendations for spare parts for pre‑listed machines.
• Participate in network meetings.
• Lead the asset management program for your equipment, audit each year several plants, recommend improvements to the process and equipment, troubleshoot/modify/improve their equipment.
• Train and mentor other engineers.

What we’d love for you to have:

• An engineer (Master level) with good knowledge of mechanical, thermal, process and glass systems.
• Experience in glass furnace process.
• At least 5 years of experience in the management of technical projects.
• A strong experience in an Industrial sector.
• Experience with multi‑cultural, international and matrix organizations.
• Good understanding of control systems (nice to have).
• A good knowledge of computer software tools (AutoCAD, 3D modeling, Navisworks, MS office, etc).
• Excellent communication skills in English. Any other language is a plus (French, German, etc).
• Internationally mobile (up to 30% of the time).
• Autonomous, organized, proactive skills.
• The ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a team with engineering and project managers, work within deadlines.
• The capacity to be a team leader, and be as comfortable with the theory as well as with the practice.
• The ability to create and maintain a positive relationship.
• To be assertive and have self‑confidence in presenting and supporting conclusions, having communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to be a creative thinker; search solutions and simplify the situation.
• Multi‑task skills and can prioritize work (different projects and technologies).

We will provide:

As this is a central, international position, the package and associated benefits will be those of the contract's host country. Our common criterion was to build a comprehensive salary package that stands out in the market. On top of that, a dedicated time for personal development and potential for leadership training will be provided.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I) reinforces our Knauf Insulation values of Making Tomorrow a Home for all of us. We are committed to creating a workplace where we all can thrive, whoever we are, and inspiring a culture of inclusion and innovation that will drive future business success. We do our best to make sure being at work feels like home.