Industrial Project Manager

I am Sara , an Executive Consultant , with over 10 years of experience in executive recruitment and consulting for top-tier companies. Projekts is proud to collaborate with over 600 clients, including (Fortune 500 companies), operating in more than 20 countries worldwide. We are currently seeking a Industrial Project Senior Manager for GreenField My client, an automotive OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) veyr well knowed and established in EV markets, has just entered a phase of external growth that will profoundly reshape its industrial footprint over the coming years. Several acquisitions are already under review, and executive management has made a clear choice. Position OverviewThe Industrial Project Manager leads the integrated industrialization and project execution of the four EV Powertrain manufacturing lines: Stator & Rotor, Inverter & Battery, Powertrain Assembly, and Dyno Technology & Testing. The role owns the industrial project plan from equipment readiness and supplier follow-up through FAT/SAT, installation, commissioning, line acceptance, first-part production, SOP and ramp-up. Working closely with the NMI Director, Manufacturing Manager, Process Engineering, Automation, Maintenance and suppliers, the Industrial Project Manager ensures timing, technical readiness, Capex, risks and open points are controlled through objective evidence and disciplined closure.Key ResponsibilitiesIndustrial Project Planning & GovernanceOwn the integrated industrial project master plan covering all four Powertrain manufacturing lines.Define project milestones, critical path, readiness gates, deliverables and ownership from equipment build through SOP.Establish project governance, review cadence, escalation routines and action tracking.Maintain executive visibility of timing, risks, constraints, recovery actions and required decisions.Equipment, Installation & Line AcceptanceCoordinate equipment suppliers, machine builders and internal technical functions through design, build, delivery, installation and acceptance.Govern FAT, SAT, I/O validation, safety validation, commissioning and technical line acceptance.Ensure punch-list items are prioritized, tracked and closed with objective evidence.Confirm facility, utilities, equipment, controls and process readiness before each launch gate.Launch, First-Part Production & SOP ReadinessCoordinate industrial readiness from commissioning through first-part production, Safe Launch, SOP and volume ramp.Ensure Process Engineering, Automation, Maintenance and Production readiness are synchronized across all four lines.Drive run-at-rate, capacity verification, process validation and launch-open-point closure.Lead recovery planning where technical, supplier or timing issues threaten launch milestones.Capex, Supplier & Risk ManagementTrack project Capex, forecast, investment status and major cost deviations within assigned scope.Manage supplier performance against timing, technical, quality and commissioning commitments.Maintain project risk registers and ensure mitigation plans have clear owners and deadlines.Escalate commercial and technical issues where supplier performance threatens project delivery.Change Control & Cross-Functional IntegrationCoordinate Manufacturing, Process Engineering, Automation, Maintenance, Quality, EHS, IT/OT, Facilities and supplier interfaces.Control equipment, process, software and test changes through documented risk assessment, approval and validation.Resolve cross-functional ownership gaps and ensure technical decisions are implemented without compromising timing or readiness.Local Team Readiness & Capability TransferSupport local hiring timing so local engineers and technicians are onboarded before production ownership transfer.Integrate local teams into commissioning, line acceptance, first-part production and ramp-up activities.Ensure international experts and suppliers deliver structured OJT, technical documentation and troubleshooting standards.Track capability-transfer readiness and progressive handover to the local organization.Project KPIsProject milestone and critical-path adherence.FAT/SAT and commissioning completion versus plan.Punch-list / open-point closure rate.Line acceptance and production-readiness status.Capex performance and forecast accuracy.Supplier timing and technical-performance status.First-part production and SOP readiness.Local-team onboarding and capability-transfer progress.SkillsStrong industrial project management and greenfield launch discipline.Deep understanding of automotive manufacturing equipment, commissioning and industrial readiness.Strong supplier, machine-builder and cross-functional coordination capability.Data-driven project governance, critical-path management and fact-based escalation.Strong Capex, risk, change-control and recovery-planning capability.Ability to operate effectively under launch pressure in a multicultural environment.Minimum QualificationsBachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Manufacturing, Automation Engineering or a related technical discipline.10+ years of automotive / EV or advanced manufacturing project experience.Proven experience managing greenfield or major industrialization programs from equipment build through commissioning, SOP and ramp-up.Demonstrated experience with FAT/SAT, equipment installation, commissioning, line acceptance and production readiness.Strong experience managing OEM equipment suppliers, machine builders and technical contractors.Working knowledge of automotive launch, APQP / change control, machine safety and high-volume manufacturing requirements.EV powertrain, battery, e-motor, inverter or highly automated manufacturing experience strongly preferred.Fluent English required; Arabic is an advantage; willingness to be based onsite in Saudi Arabia.Preferred ProfileA hands-on industrial project leader who can manage multiple manufacturing lines in parallel, challenge suppliers with technical credibility, drive disciplined FAT/SAT and commissioning closure, protect the launch timing and create a controlled transition from equipment installation to stable production and local ownership. What is being offeredCompetitive compensation commensurate with the stakes, a real and openly stated path toward regional leadership, and the rare opportunity to build your own industrial footprint rather than take over someone else's. Added to that are an environment where initiative is expected and rewarded, and flexible working conditions that recognize the importance of your personal balance. Why take this step of your career with ProjektsProjekts today supports more than six hundred industrial clients across more than twenty countries, among them Fortune 500 groups. That footprint gives us a concrete reading of executive markets across three continents, and a precise understanding of what separates an appealing promise from a genuine career opportunity.Our approach rests on a simple principle: we take the time to understand in depth the challenges facing our clients and the aspirations of our candidates, because an executive placement only succeeds when both trajectories truly meet. We never present a position without having measured its solidity ourselves, and we support every candidate throughout the process, through to taking up the role and beyond.If this mandate matches what you are seeking for the next stage of your career, I would be glad to discuss it with you directly. All applications are treated in the strictest confidence