Job Description

Project Manager – FMCG Manufacturing
Location: Kildare, Ireland
Contract Type: Permanent 
85k-95k, bonus 10% pension, healthcare

An exciting opportunity for an experienced Project Engineer to support the planning, coordination, and execution of engineering projects within a leading FMCG manufacturing organisation. This role offers the opportunity to drive process improvements, manufacturing expansion initiatives, capital projects, and continuous improvement programmes across a multi-technology food manufacturing environment while working closely with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, R&D, and Senior Leadership teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work closely with Manufacturing, R&D, and Maintenance teams to design sustainable manufacturing processes aligned with future business needs.
  • Lead initiatives to expand manufacturing capability, including the design and development of new manufacturing facilities to support business scalability.
  • Plan and execute process and equipment projects across FMCG manufacturing plants, ensuring compliance with regulatory, safety, and food quality standards.
  • Lead the design, specification, procurement, installation, commissioning, and validation of new equipment and production lines.
  • Conduct detailed analysis of existing production processes to identify capacity constraints, inefficiencies, and bottlenecks.
  • Drive process optimisation initiatives through Lean Manufacturing principles, improving plant capacity utilisation and reducing resource consumption.
  • Develop process maps, document operational inefficiencies, and implement solutions to improve manufacturing performance.
  • Promote and support continuous improvement programmes across Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, S&T, and C&I functions.
  • Coordinate cross-functional project teams from initiation through implementation, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget.
  • Develop and manage project timelines, budgets, resources, and stakeholder communications.
  • Support training and development activities related to new equipment, processes, and operational procedures.
  • Manage engineering project budgets and ensure compliance with approved capital expenditure policies.

Requirements:

• Minimum 5–7 years' experience in a Process Engineering, Project Engineering, or Project Management role within a manufacturing environment.
  • Experience within FMCG or food manufacturing environments is highly desirable.
  • Third-level qualification in Engineering or a related discipline is desirable.
  • Proven experience delivering equipment installation, manufacturing expansion, process improvement, and capital projects.
  • Strong understanding of food safety, health & safety, environmental compliance, and customer code requirements.
  • Demonstrated experience implementing Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
  • Experience with process optimisation, capacity improvement, and manufacturing efficiency initiatives.
  • Strong project management skills, including budget, timeline, resource, and stakeholder management.
  • Experience working with automation technologies, digital manufacturing, and data-driven process optimisation is highly desirable.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate technical concepts across all levels of the organisation.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to challenge existing processes and drive meaningful change.
  • Proactive, strategic mindset with strong business acumen and a continuous improvement focus.

The Next Step for You

Should this position be of interest to you, please forward your CV to Andile Sibanda at Next Generation Recruitment or alternatively call +353 1 960 9773 for a confidential discussion.

Next Generation are specialists in Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, Quality, Scientific, Technical and Operations (permanent, contract and temporary) positions.

Applications are strictly confidential.