Project Manager

Advance designs, builds, tests and installs bespoke conveyor and automation systems in-house from our Newton Aycliffe sites, delivering for customers across warehousing, logistics, food and beverage, automotive and manufacturing.

We're looking for a robust, experienced Project Manager to take full ownership of projects from order handover through design, procurement, manufacture, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), installation, commissioning and customer sign-off - working hand in hand with our Design team and Project Engineers throughout. This is a hands-on role for someone who is comfortable leading from the front - keeping programmes on track, protecting margin, and being the trusted point of contact for our customers throughout delivery.

The role joins our existing Projects team, currently supported by a Project Co-ordinator. As the team grows, a key part of the role will be supporting the development of the Project Co-ordinator role and helping build project management capability within the team.

This is an office-based position at our Newton Aycliffe facility, with regular site travel across the UK and Europe, reporting to the Head of Commercial & Client Experience.

Project Delivery

Take full ownership of the whole project lifecycle - from contract award, procurement and budget management through to site delivery, handover and everything in between - ensuring delivery on time, to budget and to specification

Run internal kick-off and handover meetings with Sales, ensuring scope, commercial terms and customer expectations are fully understood from day one

Build and manage project programmes, milestones and resource plans, tracking progress and acting early on risks or slippage

Liaise closely with the Design team for support on initial designs and ongoing technical assistance throughout the lifecycle of the project

Work alongside our Project Engineers, who oversee manufacture, allowing them to feed in on manufacturing progress, build decisions and any issues affecting the programme

Coordinate assembly and FAT with our Assembly and Installation teams, ensuring systems are fully tested and ready before leaving site

Plan and oversee installation and commissioning on customer sites, including Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) and final sign-off

Work to and help continually improve Advance's standard project process, keeping trackers and documentation accurate and current

Commercial & Financial Control

Manage project budgets, monitoring costs against forecast and protecting margin throughout delivery

Identify, price and agree variations and change requests with customers, ensuring they are captured and recovered

Own project procurement, managing purchasing and supplier performance to programme and budget, supported by the Project Co-ordinator

Manage subcontractors and partners, ensuring quality, safety and programme requirements are met

Contribute to invoicing milestones and project close-out, including final account reconciliation

Customer Management

Act as the main point of contact for customers throughout delivery, building strong, trusted relationships

Lead progress meetings and provide clear, timely reporting to customers and internal stakeholders

Handle difficult conversations with confidence, resolving issues quickly and professionally

Ensure a smooth handover into our aftercare and service team, identifying opportunities for service agreements, spares and future work

Team Development

Work day to day with the Project Co-ordinator, delegating purchasing, order chasing and project administration effectively

Support the development of the Project Co-ordinator role, sharing knowledge of the project process and helping grow future project management capability within the team

Help build a consistent way of working across the Projects team, sharing best practice and supporting a standard project process

Health, Safety & Quality

Ensure all site works are planned and delivered safely, with suitable RAMS in place and compliance with CDM responsibilities

Work to Advance's quality processes, ensuring documentation, technical files, O&M manuals and UKCA/CE requirements are completed

Coordinate site inductions, permits and contractor requirements with customers and site teams

Skills & Experience

Essential

Proven experience managing engineering projects end to end within a manufacturing or engineering environment

Strong track record of delivering projects to programme and budget, with confident commercial awareness

Robust, resilient approach - comfortable taking ownership, making decisions and holding others to account

Excellent communication and customer-facing skills, including managing expectations and difficult conversations

Good working knowledge of site health and safety, RAMS and CDM

Well organised, able to manage multiple projects and priorities at once

Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Project or similar)

Full UK driving licence and valid passport, with willingness to travel and stay away as required

Desirable

Experience in conveyor systems, materials handling, intralogistics or automation

Experience managing installation and commissioning on live customer sites

Experience mentoring or developing junior team members

Formal project management qualification (e.g. APM, PRINCE2 or similar)

SMSTS, SSSTS or equivalent site safety qualification

Experience working with European customers or on international sites

Mechanical or electrical engineering background

Location & Working Pattern

Based at our Newton Aycliffe site, County Durham

Reports to the Head of Commercial & Client Experience

Office-based role

Regular site travel across the UK and Europe, including overnight stays when required