Interim Project Director

Interim Project Director – Coldstore Warehouse

Are you a passionate change agent who thrives on unlocking efficiencies and empowering teams?

We’re seeking a results-driven Project Director to lead the delivery of a fully automated coldstore warehouse facility near Bristol from design through commissioning and handover.

This senior role combines programme leadership, board-level stakeholder management, rigorous financial control, risk governance, and tight cross-functional integration with enterprise programmes such as S4/Hana and our new food manufacturing facility.

You’ll be experienced in managing large scale warehouse projects and have a proven track record of working to budgets and meeting deadlines.

Key Performance Indicators

• Budget variance: Final project cost within agreed tolerance.
• Schedule adherence: Achievement of critical milestones and on-time commissioning.
• Safety and compliance: Zero major HSE incidents; successful regulatory approvals and validation.
• Integration success: S4/Hana and WMS interfaces delivered and stable at go-live.
• Stakeholder satisfaction: Positive Board and operational sponsor feedback; timely executive decisions.

Responsibilities

Day-to-day

• End-to-end project leadership: Own the project lifecycle — scope, design, procurement, construction, automation integration, commissioning, validation, and handover to operations.
• Programme planning and delivery: Develop and maintain integrated master schedules, critical path analysis, and milestone plans; drive on-time delivery.
• Contract and supplier management: Lead procurement strategy, negotiate major contracts (EPC, automation vendors, integrators), manage contractor performance and change control.
• Quality, HSE and compliance: Ensure design and build meet food safety, cold-chain, regulatory and HSE standards; lead FAT/SAT and validation activities.
• Commissioning and operational readiness: Oversee testing, training, SOPs, and transition to operations including spares, maintenance plans and warranty management.
• Benefits realisation: Define and track operational KPIs and financial benefits; ensure the facility delivers expected throughput, efficiency and cost savings
• Ability to train the leadership team in basic skills and understanding of lean principles, 5 Whys and problem solving

Stakeholder Management and Governance

• Board-level engagement: Prepare and present concise, data-driven updates to UK Executive and Group Board sponsors; translate technical progress into strategic impact and decisions required.
• Governance and reporting: Establish and chair governance forums (Steering Committee, Change Control Board); produce monthly Board packs, highlight reports and decision papers.
• Senior stakeholder relationships: Build trusted relationships with internal stakeholders (Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, IT, Legal, HR) and external stakeholders (local authorities, utilities, major suppliers).
• Escalation and decision facilitation: Proactively surface issues, propose options with commercial and risk implications, and secure timely executive decisions.

Financial Management and Risk Management

• Budget ownership: Own project budget and cost control processes; produce rolling forecasts, cashflow profiles and variance analysis.
• Financial tracking and controls: Implement robust cost tracking, change order governance, and approval thresholds; coordinate with Group Finance for capital accounting and audit readiness.
• Commercial oversight: Manage commercial risk, claims, retention, and contract close-out; ensure value for money and protect company interests.
• Risk governance: Maintain and drive an active risk register with quantified impacts and mitigations; lead risk workshops and ensure Board-level visibility of top risks and mitigations.
• Contingency and scenario planning: Model downside scenarios, contingency drawdown plans and recovery strategies for schedule or cost overruns.

Cross-Functional Integration and Systems Interfaces

• ERP and IT integration: Act as the primary project liaison with the S4/Hana implementation team to ensure seamless integration of WMS, inventory, finance and operational master data; coordinate cutover and data migration activities.
• Coordination with Trowbridge manufacturing facility: Align timelines, utilities, logistics and operational interfaces with the new food manufacturing facility; manage shared resources, site access and commissioning windows.
• OT/IT convergence: Oversee integration of automation control systems, SCADA, WMS, and cyber security requirements with IT and OT teams.
• Change management and training: Work with HR and Operations to design training, organisational change plans and go-live support to secure adoption and operational stability.

Qualifications/Personal Qualities

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, or related discipline.
• Prince2 Practitioner, PMP, or equivalent
• Proven track record of delivering large industrial automation or cold-chain projects (capital value typically £20m+)
• Significant experience in senior project leadership roles
• ERP integration experience: Direct experience working with S4/Hana or major ERP/WMS integrations during capital projects

Essential Skills

• Board-level communication: Exceptional ability to present complex issues succinctly to senior executives and Boards.
• Financial acumen: Strong budgeting, forecasting and commercial negotiation skills.
• Risk and governance: Expert in risk quantification, mitigation planning and governance frameworks.
• Technical understanding: Knowledge of automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), robotics, refrigeration engineering and controls.
• Leadership and influence: Strong stakeholder management, cross-functional collaboration and people leadership.
• Tools: Proficient with MS Project/Primavera, cost control systems, and reporting tools; comfortable with data-driven dashboards.

Formal training in financial/project controls is desirable.

Due to the location, a full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle are essential.

Company Benefits

• Free on-site parking
• Competitive day rate

Job Details

Location: UK-Portbury, Avonmouth

Department: Distribution

Job ID: 2026-8177

Number of Openings: 1

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