Project Manager, Operations Management, Procurement ​/ Purchasing

Our client is a world leader in specialist technical solutions. Across qualification, testing, fabrication, and construction they deliver in complex and challenging environments to ensure that their clients achieve optimum asset protection and longevity.

The Temporary Project Manager is a newly established role focused on delivering a key project on time and to customer requirements. This position works in close partnership with the Project Controller and serves as the primary driver of execution - owning the project schedule, coordinating cross-functionally, managing procurement and supply chain timing, tracking milestones, and resolving operational issues as they arise.

While the Project Controller maintains responsibility for financial oversight, forecasting, and cost control, the Temporary Project Manager is accountable for day‑to‑day schedule ownership, customer communication, cross‑functional coordination, and hands‑on resolution of the operational issues that threaten on‑time delivery. This role provides critical visibility into project status, resource requirements, supplier performance, and manufacturing readiness for the project specifically.

The position acts as the key liaison between Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, and Operations leadership, and as the primary point of contact for customer communication on the project - ensuring it is delivered safely, on time, and in accordance with customer specifications.

Schedule Ownership:

Own and drive the project schedule from order release through final shipment and customer acceptance.

Develop, maintain, and communicate the master schedule, key milestones, and deliverables.

Monitor progress against plan and proactively identify risks, delays, or resource constraints.

Drive accountability for actions, deliverables, and deadlines through routine project reviews and status meetings.

Escalate critical schedule risks and recommend corrective action to keep the project on track.

Milestone Management:

Track fabrication, machining, assembly, testing, and packaging milestones against the project plan.

Coordinate production readiness activities and confirm required resources are in place ahead of each scheduled milestone.

Maintain a milestone tracker and issue log, with clear ownership and follow‑up on open items.

Flag milestone slippage early and drive recovery plans in partnership with Manufacturing and Engineering.

Cross‑Functional Coordination

Serve as the primary point of coordination between the project team and Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Operations.

Partner with plant leadership, planners, and supervisors to identify capacity constraints and align production priorities with project needs.

Run regular cross‑functional touchpoints to keep all functions aligned on schedule, scope, and open issues.

Ensure engineering changes and design updates are communicated to all relevant stakeholders in time to protect the schedule.

Procurement & Supply Chain Timing:

Work closely with Procurement and Supply Chain to monitor material availability and long‑lead component deliveries for the project.

Track supplier performance and proactively identify any risk to procurement timing that could impact milestones.

Drive expediting efforts for critical components when needed.

Coordinate resolution of supply chain issues affecting the project, including material substitutions and supplier updates.

Customer Communication:

Serve as the primary point of contact for customer‑facing communication on the project.

Provide regular project status updates, milestone reviews, and progress reports to the customer.

Support customer visits, project reviews, design reviews, inspections, and factory acceptance testing.

Build and maintain a strong working relationship with the customer, managing expectations and surfacing issues early.

Resolution of Operational Issues:

Identify operational issues affecting schedule, materials, manufacturing capacity, engineering changes, or supplier performance.

Drive issues to resolution directly, engaging the right stakeholders and escalating when needed to protect delivery commitments.

Maintain a risk and issue…