At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead high-value capital projects and drive engineering excellence across multiple business units.
- Company: Join a rapidly growing group in food manufacturing and beverages.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of engineering.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on strategic investments and operational excellence.
- Qualifications: Senior engineering experience in food or beverage sectors with a track record of large-scale projects.
- Other info: Engage with C-suite executives and influence at the highest levels.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
QLM Search is partnering a highly acquisitive group with a broad portfolio spanning food manufacturing, beverages, and speciality ingredients. Following a period of significant growth, the business is looking to appoint a Group Director – Capital Projects & Engineering Excellence. Operating across multiple well-established business units and with a significant European footprint, the group continues to grow through ongoing capital investment, operational expansion, and targeted M&A activity.
Reporting directly to the COO, this high-profile role will set the vision for world-class engineering delivery, ensure robust governance across all major investments, and drive consistency, discipline, and excellence across the network. You will lead a high-value capital programme that spans greenfield development, modernisation, site optimisation, network expansion, and post-acquisition integration.
Key Executive Responsibilities- Strategic Capital Leadership: Define and lead the group-wide capital strategy, ensuring alignment with long-term growth, operational priorities, and investment plans. Govern a portfolio of major, high-value capital projects across multiple food, beverage, and ingredients businesses. Partner with the COO, CFO, and divisional Managing Directors to prioritise strategic investments and commercial returns.
- Engineering Excellence & Standards: Establish and embed world-class engineering, project management, and technical standards across all facilities. Build a consistent framework for project controls, risk management, quality assurance, and safety performance. Champion engineering innovation, sustainability, and best practice across divisions.
- Execution Oversight: Provide senior oversight of project design, feasibility, planning, execution, commissioning, and operational handover. Strengthen delivery capability across the group, ensuring capital projects are delivered on time, on cost, and to the highest technical standards. Lead engineering governance for post-merger integration, ensuring acquired assets meet group standards and capex plans.
- Leadership & Influence: Lead and develop a high-performing capital projects organisation supporting multiple business units. Engage effectively at C-suite and Board level, providing clarity on capital performance, risk exposure, and strategic impact. Build alignment and influence senior stakeholders across diverse operational and cultural environments.
Your Profile: You are a senior engineering and capital projects leader with experience in food, beverage, or a closely related manufacturing sector. You bring:
- A proven track record of delivering large-scale, high-value capital projects across multiple facilities or business units.
- Experience operating within a multi-business, decentralised or diversified group structure.
- Strong exposure to post-acquisition integration or capital-led transformation programmes.
- Deep knowledge of engineering excellence, world-class manufacturing standards, and project governance.
- Executive presence, strategic capability, and the credibility to influence at the highest levels.
- Exceptional judgement, resilience, and the ability to operate in an environment of high visibility and accountability.
Group Director - Capital Projects and Engineering Excellence in England employer: QLM Search
Contact Detail:
QLM Search Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Director - Capital Projects and Engineering Excellence in England
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Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Show them you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for their mission and how your experience aligns with their goals.
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We think you need these skills to ace Group Director - Capital Projects and Engineering Excellence in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Group Director. Highlight your experience in capital projects and engineering excellence, especially in food or beverage sectors. 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 tell us why you're the perfect fit for this high-profile role. Share specific examples of your leadership in capital projects and how you've driven engineering excellence in previous positions.
Showcase Your Strategic Vision: In your application, don’t forget to express your strategic vision for capital projects. We’re looking for someone who can define and lead a group-wide capital strategy, so let us know how you plan to align it with long-term growth and operational priorities.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at QLM Search
✨Know Your Capital Strategy
Make sure you understand the company's capital strategy inside out. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in terms of high-value projects and operational priorities. This shows that you're not just interested in the role, but also in how you can contribute to their long-term vision.
✨Showcase Engineering Excellence
Prepare examples of how you've established engineering standards and best practices in previous roles. Highlight specific projects where you championed innovation or improved processes. This will demonstrate your capability to lead engineering excellence across multiple business units.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you've influenced senior stakeholders in the past. Be ready to share stories that illustrate your ability to build alignment and engage effectively at the C-suite level. This is crucial for a role that requires strong leadership and influence across diverse environments.
✨Demonstrate Resilience and Judgement
Prepare to discuss situations where you've had to make tough decisions under pressure. Highlight your exceptional judgement and resilience, especially in high-stakes environments. This will reassure them that you can handle the visibility and accountability that comes with this high-profile position.