Head of Projects in Birmingham

Purpose of the Role

The Head of Projects will have overall responsibility for the leadership, performance and continuous improvement of the Central Projects function. The role will ensure the successful delivery of customer projects from order handover through to installation, commissioning and final acceptance.

Leading a team of Project Managers and Project Engineers, the role is accountable for project profitability, customer satisfaction, resource planning, risk management and operational excellence. Working collaboratively across Sales, Engineering, Service, Supply Chain and Finance, the Head of Projects will ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget and to the highest quality standards.

The Head of Projects will work collaboratively with the Proposals Department to ensure Solution quotes are Technically deliverable.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and develop the Central Projects function, whilst supporting key EMEA projects and accounts.
• Create a high-performance culture focused on accountability, customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement project delivery strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Act as the senior escalation point for project-related issues and risks.
• Provide regular performance reporting, forecasting and project updates to the leadership team.
• Contribute to wider business planning and operational improvement initiatives.

Team Management

• Lead, coach and develop a team of Project Managers and Project Engineers.
• Set clear objectives and performance expectations.
• Drive employee engagement, capability development and succession planning.
• Ensure teams are appropriately structured and resourced to meet business demands.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, safety and professional development.

Project Delivery & Operational Excellence

• Oversee the delivery of customer projects across the UK and designated EMEA territories.
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on time, within budget and in line with contractual requirements.
• Establish and maintain robust project governance, reporting and change control processes.
• Manage project risks and ensure effective mitigation plans are in place.
• Drive consistency and best practice across project delivery activities.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance project performance and customer outcomes.
• Develop the Project Engineering capability within the team to enable design, specification and supplier selection as part of function.
• Ensure Team skills and experience match projected growth plans and shifts in solutions and sectors.

Resource Planning & Stakeholder Management

• Own resource planning, utilisation and workforce capacity across the Projects function.
• Ensure Project Managers and Project Engineers are allocated effectively to support project demands.
• Build strong relationships with customers, internal stakeholders and key suppliers.
• Work closely with Sales teams to ensure effective project handovers and customer engagement.
• Support strategic customer relationships and participate in executive-level project reviews where required.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Own project profitability, budget control and financial performance.
• Ensure accurate revenue forecasting and resource planning.
• Monitor project costs, margins and commercial risks.
• Identify opportunities to improve project efficiency and profitability.
• Support annual budget planning and business forecasting activities.

Quality, Compliance & Health & Safety

• Ensure compliance with company policies, customer requirements and industry standards.
• Promote a strong health and safety culture across all project activities.
• Ensure all projects meet agreed quality standards and deliverables.
• Support audits, risk assessments and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Measures of Success

The role will be measured against:

• Project profitability and financial performance.
• Customer satisfaction and retention.
• Project delivery against time, cost and quality targets.
• Accuracy of revenue and resource forecasting.
• Effective management of technical and commercial risk.
• Resource utilisation and team productivity.
• Health, Safety and Quality performance.
• Employee engagement and team development.

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Significant experience leading project delivery teams within an engineering, automation, manufacturing or capital equipment environment.
• Proven experience managing Project Managers and Project Engineers.
• Strong track record of delivering complex, customer-facing projects.
• Experience of managing project budgets, forecasting and profitability.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed teams and working across international markets.
• Strong stakeholder management and customer relationship skills.
• Demonstrable success in driving operational improvement and project governance.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree, HND or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Project Management, Business Management or a related discipline.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

Desirable

• PRINCE2, PMP, APMP or equivalent Project Management qualification.
• Lean Six Sigma qualification.
• IOSH or NEBOSH certification.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong leadership and people management capability.
• Commercially astute with strong financial awareness.
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Strong planning, organisational and problem-solving abilities.
• Customer-focused with a commitment to service excellence.
• Results-driven, resilient and adaptable.
• Able to work effectively within a complex international matrix environment.

Should you want to speak to the hiring manager, please contact Guy Dix for more information.

**Before applying, please make your manager aware of your intentions to apply**