Reporting into the Chief Technology Officer, the Project Manager will be responsible for the overall project management and successful delivery of our food robotic products.

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The Project Manager will lead the project team to a successful project outcome, overseeing risk assessment, timelines, procurement, resources, delivery and effective, clear communication between teams.

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Key Responsibilities

Responsibilities will include, but will not limited to:

 

• Ensuring multiple projects are delivered on time and to an agreed level of functionality and quality by managing the full project lifecycle, giving a ‘hands on’ approach as appropriate.

• Work with Matrix Managers to resource and assemble project teams to deliver projects

• Risk management - identify, quantify and track existing and emerging risks to a project. Help managers and stakeholders manage and mitigate these risks.

• Provide planning support to the electronics, mechanical and software teams to understand and optimise timelines, resource requirements and specification.

• Scheduling tasks to keep the project on schedule and on budget.

• Proactively Identify and resolve resource conflicts that arise

• Internal and external stakeholder management

• Regular verbal and written status updates to internal and external stakeholders

• Develop a programme framework to ensure delivery of your projects is aligned to Karakuri business objectives.

• Drive a culture of continuous improvement of project management processes and practices.

• Work collaboratively and proactively across the business to ensure smooth running of project teams, joint problem solving of issues where appropriate

• Work as part of the management team to develop and instil a culture of openness, transparency, high trust and grow highly productive team-working throughout the business.

• Build, develop, inspire, engage and nurture project team members to grow and fulfil their potential, coaching, mentoring and challenging appropriately.

• Maximising engagement of the project team, throughout the project

 

Key Skills and Experience

• Previous experience in a project management role ideally within a start-up small volume Deep-Tech manufacturing environment

• Evidence of effectively managing, engaging, building and nurturing high performing project teams

• Strong organisation, communication and motivational skills

• Experience of using Wrike to manage projects

• Flexible Agile approach-able to plan and effectively manage through periods of change

• Big picture’ thinker with excellent planning and organisational skills

• Able to translate plans and make them happen operationally, communicating them and engaging the whole team, developing ownership and accountability.

• Ability to read a situation, context or person and adapt their approach appropriately and naturally.

• Excellent problem-solving skills.

• Good understanding of project budgets and procurement.

• Working in an early-stage product development or start-up environment is key.

 

Knowledge and Understanding

• Strong technical understanding

• Understanding of differing development practices within engineering disciplines (e.g., Agile in software vs waterfall in mechanical & electronics) and how to coordinate these to deliver projects on schedule.

• Good understanding of modern Agile development practices and how these can be effectively applied to a wide technology set.

• Appreciation of low-level and embedded software and the different project challenges

• Familiarity with small volume specialist supply-chains, manufacturing and approvals.

• Appreciation of low-level and embedded software and the different project challenges

 

Qualifications and Training

• Project management, computer science or engineering related degree

• Project Management qualification (PMP / PRINCE II) desirable

• Experience of working with PM software Wrike

 

Personal Qualities

• The ability to inspire, motivate staff, and engage their active commitment to plans, team and individual goals and approaches.

• Enthusiasm, passion and energy

• Open, honest and authentic

• High degree of integrity

• Curious, creative and innovative

• Highly organised, conscientious with good attention to detail

• Team-player / ready to share in the demands of a small business

• Able to work on own initiative and with others

• Excellent problem-solving skills

• Able to grow with the role

• A genuine enthusiasm for, and commitment to high performance teamwork

• Resilient and persistent in goals, but adaptable to context and people.

• Self-aware and emotionally intelligent

• Proactive, adaptable approach