Senior Project Manager in Aylesford

LOCATION: Aylesford, Kent

WORKING HOURS: 7.30am - 4.30pm, Office based

A bit about the role.. We are looking for a highly organised, proactive Senior Project Manager to join our Product Development team, someone who can ‘Get Stuff Done!’ to lead our Product Development Projects from initial concept through to final production. This is a pivotal role within the business, central to delivering new products which is key in enabling business growth. Working closely with senior leadership, including the CEO, you will bring structure, pace and ownership to a fast-moving product development environment.

We are looking for someone with a genuine ‘I’ll sort it’ attitude, a confident, commercially aware project leader who can keep momentum & motivation high, improve the way things are done and bring the team with them on the journey. The right person will thrive on a challenge and enjoy making things happen, whilst being comfortable with changing priorities and project direction. The role will be flexible to support across our wider group of companies.

Some of your key responsibilities:

• Own and lead the day-to-day management of product development projects from concept through to production.
• Build, maintain and drive project timelines in collaboration with Heads of Department and the Board, ensuring key milestones and dependencies are clearly defined and achieved.
• Monitor project progress, proactively identifying risks, delays and issues, and taking swift corrective action to keep projects on track.
• Act as the central point of coordination across the product team and wider stakeholders (including CEO), ensuring clear communication, alignment and accountability.
• Follow up with stakeholders to ensure actions are completed on time and projects progress to schedule.
• Motivate, support and constructively challenge stakeholders, using a firm but personable approach.
• Adapt quickly to changing priorities and project direction while maintaining team focus and momentum.
• Organise and chair project meetings, ensuring actions, priorities and updates are clearly captured and followed through.
• Maintain a strong focus on cost and efficiency, ensuring commercially effective delivery.
• Plan ahead for resource and expertise requirements to avoid delays.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date project documentation, including trackers, plans and reports.
• Prepare and present clear project updates to Senior Management and the Board, highlighting progress, risks and key decisions required.
• Support development activity including product information, costing, logistics, component ordering and IP tracking.
• Track project working hours and support reporting as required.
• Liaise with internal departments to coordinate product delivery and collection in line with project needs.
• Assist with research, analysis and reporting to support decision-making.
• Promote a culture of ownership, pace and delivery across the team.
• Support with additional ad hoc duties as required.

Requirements:

• Proven project management experience, ideally within a manufacturing environment (not essential).
• Strong experience with project planning tools and methods, with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Experience using Monday.com would be advantageous.
• Excellent leadership and people development skills, with the ability to motivate, coach and empower teams.
• Proactive and confident, with a strong sense of ownership and the ability to drive projects through to completion.
• Highly organised and hands-on, with a practical approach to delivering results.
• Comfortable working closely with senior leadership in a high-visibility role.
• Able to operate effectively in a fast-paced, agile environment with shifting priorities and tight deadlines.
• Demonstrable ability to improve processes and drive more efficient ways of working.
• Strong commercial awareness, balancing pace, quality and cost.
• Forward-thinking, with the ability to anticipate risks and resource needs.
• A collaborative team player with the confidence to positively influence others.
• Strong research, reporting and presentation skills.
• Excellent problem-solving ability, with a proactive approach to identifying and addressing issues early.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, both written and verbal, across diverse teams.
• Excellent MS Office skills, particularly PowerPoint and Excel.

You embody our company people values:

• Teamwork - Collaborate effectively with humility, appreciating and integrating individual skills and perspectives to achieve collective goals.
• Committed - Dedicate yourself fully to your role, going above and beyond with self-motivation and loyalty to achieve individual, team, and company goals.
• Ownership - Take full responsibility for your work, performance, and conduct, acting with integrity, staying organised, and learning from feedback and mistakes.
• Positive - Approach tasks with optimism and innovation, viewing challenges as opportunities, and bringing energy and enthusiasm to inspire and motivate others.
• Responsive - React quickly and effectively to needs and feedback, prioritising tasks with urgency, embracing change, and maintaining a proactive approach.

Our Culture & Values:

Pineapple is a global leader in designing innovative furniture solutions for challenging environments. Founded in 1975 as a family-run business, we now operate worldwide, with headquarters in Kent (UK) and offices in France, Germany, and the USA and a team of over 200 employees. We create mindfully designed furniture that not only works effortlessly and looks great, but also fosters a calm, supportive, and inspiring environment.

Join Pineapple and be part of a team dedicated to making a real difference through quality, innovation, sustainability, and exceptional customer care. At Pineapple, we foster a positive, inclusive, and vibrant workplace where teamwork and people truly matter. Recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024 and 2025, our culture celebrates collaboration, positivity, and shared achievement.

Benefits:

What we offer you - Benefits and Perks:

• We were proudly featured in The Sunday Times as one of the Best Places to Work 2024 & 2025.
• Competitive pay.
• Pension scheme.
• A Healthcare Cash Plan – You can claim for medical expenses, dental or optical services, as well as access to 100s of deals and discounts.
• 23 days annual leave + UK bank holidays.
• An extra day’s leave for your birthday.
• All new starters, we'll plant a tree in your honour. We currently have trees planted in the UK, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and Madagascar.
• Sustainability-focused – We’re committed to reducing our environmental impact through low carbon operations, renewable energy, and recycled materials.
• Regular team socials and events, including summer and Christmas parties. As well as football and netball teams, and other ad hoc events.
• Monthly pizza Friday.
• Enjoy free fruit, snacks, hot drinks, and cold beverages.
• Employee referrals bonus scheme.
• Access to our Learning & Development platform, offering a wide range of online courses, certifications, and professional development tools to support your career growth and skill enhancement.
• High-quality office environment.
• Free onsite parking / within walking distance from the train station.

We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons. We are committed to preventing modern slavery and ensuring fair recruitment practices.