Project Manager (Process)

Location: Katowice, Poland (Hybrid: 3 days onsite, 2 days WFH)

Role Overview

We are seeking a Project Manager (Process) to support the delivery of a major dairy industrial investment project in Poland. This is a large‑scale CAPEX project (~€50M), with a significant portion of the budget dedicated to hygienic process systems for dairy production.

The Project Manager (Process) will be responsible for coordinating and driving process‑related project execution on site, ensuring alignment between suppliers, process integrators, engineering leadership, and internal stakeholders across Europe.

Although this is a Project Manager role, it does not include line management responsibilities. Instead, the function is centered on technical project coordination, stakeholder management, hygienic process supervision, and hands‑on project execution.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership & Coordination

• Lead and coordinate the execution of process-related project activities across multiple dairy technology zones (milk reception, raw milk lines, separation, fermentation, CIP).
• Ensure the project progresses according to technical requirements, hygienic standards, timelines, and CAPEX governance rules.
• Work closely with regional process managers, senior engineering leadership, and global project teams.
• Provide clarity, direction, and expectations to process engineers, suppliers, and integrators.

Stakeholder & Supplier Management

• Collaborate with high-level leadership in Europe, including the Senior Process Manager and VP-level stakeholders.
• Interact with major suppliers of hygienic process installations.
• Ensure suppliers deliver according to specifications, technical scope, and hygienic design standards.
• Coordinate with local and regional cross-functional teams to ensure seamless project execution.

Technical Oversight

• Ensure alignment of technical specifications for key dairy process technologies (pasteurisation, separation, fermentation, milk treatment systems, CIP).
• Support technical decision-making, risk identification, and mitigation strategies during project phases.
• Oversee shop-floor project execution, ensuring installation follows design, quality, and hygienic engineering requirements.

Project Lifecycle Ownership

• Manage multiple phases of the projectlifecycle:
  • Concept development
  • Pre-engineering
  • Detailed design reviews
  • Construction & installation
  • Commissioning
• Track progress and escalate risks or deviations from scope.
• Ensure all deliverables align with timeline expectations toward CAPEX authorisation and final approval.

Candidate Profile

Required Experience

• Several years of experience in process engineering or process project management within the Food & Beverage sector, ideally dairy.
• Strong expertise in hygienic design installations and dairy industry processes (milk reception, pasteurisation, fermentation, separation).
• Prior exposure to large CAPEX projects, complex process installations, or multi-phase industrial expansions.
• Experience leading technical stakeholders (engineers, suppliers, site teams) in a project environment.

Capabilities & Leadership Skills

• Able to manage expectations of senior stakeholders and navigate complex cross-functional project structures.
• Strong leadership without formal line management responsibilities.
• Excellent communication skills for collaboration with European and global project teams.
• High organisational maturity, able to manage complexity, competing priorities, and evolving project conditions.

Technical Skillset

• Strong understanding of hygienic process systems used in dairy production.
• Knowledge of process drawings, specifications, P&IDs, and supplier documentation.
• Ability to oversee shop-floor installation and ensure adherence to hygiene and process standards.