Project Manager

CAPEX Project Manager

DS Smith | Ely | Retail Marketing

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced CAPEX Project Manager to join our Retail Marketing team at our Ely site.

This is a key role responsible for turning investment plans into successful, tangible projects that improve our operations, infrastructure and customer experience. From initial concept and business case through to installation, commissioning and final handover, you will take ownership of delivering a portfolio of CAPEX projects safely, efficiently and to the highest standards.

Working closely with colleagues across Retail Marketing, Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Finance and other key functions, you’ll bring structure, pace and accountability to projects from start to finish. You’ll also work closely with suppliers, contractors and external partners, ensuring investment is delivered on time, within budget and in line with agreed objectives.

With the opportunity to manage multiple projects and significant investment, this role will suit a confident project professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, can influence stakeholders at all levels and has a strong track record of turning plans into results.

Role Responsibilities

• Take end-to-end ownership of CAPEX projects, from initial concept, scope and business case through to completion, commissioning and handover.
• Define project objectives, scope, budgets, timelines, resources and success measures, developing robust project plans to deliver against them.
• Manage CAPEX budgets, forecasts, expenditure and approvals, ensuring projects remain commercially controlled and provide value for money.
• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders across Retail Marketing, Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Finance and other relevant teams.
• Manage procurement activity, contractors, suppliers and external partners, ensuring performance, quality, cost and delivery expectations are achieved.
• Develop and maintain project risk registers, proactively identifying risks and implementing effective mitigation plans.
• Ensure all projects comply with health and safety requirements, statutory regulations, company standards and CAPEX governance processes.
• Monitor project progress and performance, resolving issues, managing change control and ensuring key milestones are achieved.
• Oversee site activities including installation, commissioning, snagging and final project handover, ensuring a smooth transition into business-as-usual operations.
• Provide clear and regular reporting on project status, expenditure, timelines, risks, issues and key performance indicators to relevant stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, suppliers and contractors, ensuring effective communication throughout the project lifecycle.
• Conduct post-project reviews to ensure lessons are captured, benefits are realised and investment objectives have been achieved.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to improve project delivery, processes and return on investment.

Person Specification

• Proven experience successfully delivering CAPEX or capital investment projects, ideally within a manufacturing, engineering, retail or similarly complex environment.
• Strong project management skills, with experience managing projects from concept through to implementation and handover.
• Strong understanding of project budgeting, forecasting, scheduling, risk management and change control.
• Experience managing procurement, contractors, suppliers and external partners.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across different functions and levels of an organisation.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects, priorities and competing deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving project risks and issues.
• Commercially aware, with a clear understanding of cost control, value for money and delivering measurable project benefits.
• Confident working in a live operational environment and able to balance project delivery with operational requirements.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to bring people together around a common objective and maintain momentum through challenging projects.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to provide clear and concise project reporting.
• Proficiency with project management, planning and reporting tools.
• A relevant project management qualification such as PRINCE2, APM, PMP or equivalent would be desirable, but relevant experience will be considered.

What we can offer you:

• Competitive salary
• Qualifying Sick Pay scheme
• Pension scheme & Life insurance
• Share Save scheme
• Income Protection
• 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Virtual GP, Occupational Health & free Flu vaccine
• Cycle to Work and shopping discounts

We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!    Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.

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