Senior Project Manager; Manufacturing

Overview

Our client is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead, grow, and strengthen our presence in the Food & Beverage (F&B) and Manufacturing sector. This leader will oversee large-scale engineering projects, deepen key client relationships, and drive strategic market expansion. The ideal candidate has a strong mix of technical expertise, business development acumen, and operational leadership within regulated manufacturing environments.

• Lead multi-disciplinary engineering teams through all phases of project delivery—from concept and design through construction, commissioning, and closeout.
• Manage complex project schedules, budgets, scopes, and deliverables to ensure alignment with client goals and organizational standards.
• Conduct risk assessments, develop mitigation strategies, and ensure compliance with food safety, regulatory, and industry standards.
• Oversee quality control and ensure engineering solutions meet performance, reliability, and operational requirements.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for major F&B and manufacturing clients, ensuring a high-quality service experience.
• Build, maintain, and expand long-term client relationships by understanding operational challenges, strategic priorities, and capital planning needs.
• Facilitate clear communication among internal project teams, contractors, vendors, and external partners.

• Identify and pursue new market opportunities to expand the firm’s presence in the F&B/manufacturing sector.
• Partner with senior leadership to develop market strategies, service offerings, and go-to-market plans.
• Support proposal development, client presentations, and competitive bid strategies.
• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, and evolving regulatory requirements to inform strategic direction.

• Mentor and develop project engineers, project managers, and junior staff.
• Promote best practices in project management, technical excellence, and client service.
• Contribute to resource planning, team development, and capability-building initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, or related field). Master’s degree or MBA a plus.
• 10+ years of project management experience in engineering, design-build, EPC, or consulting environments.
• Proven experience delivering capital projects in the Food & Beverage, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Pharmaceutical, or Process Manufacturing sectors.
• Strong understanding of F&B plant operations, sanitary design, processing systems, utilities, packaging lines, and automation.
• PMP, PE, or related professional certification preferred.

• Ability to manage complex, multi-million-dollar projects with cross-functional engineering teams.
• Strong working knowledge of industry codes and standards (cGMP, HACCP, FDA, USDA, SQF, NFPA, ASME, etc.).
• Proficiency in project management tools and methodologies—scheduling, cost control, risk management, change management.

• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated success influencing, leading, and collaborating across internal and external teams.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to spot opportunities and drive market growth.
• High degree of organization, attention to detail, and accountability.