Project Manager

Zotefoams plc is a world leader in cellular material technology, with facilities in Croydon, UK; Walton, Kentucky and Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; Brzeg, Poland; and Jiangsu Province, China (T-FIT).

We produce lightweight foams for a wide range of markets including sports and leisure, aviation, automotive, and healthcare. Zotefoams also owns and licenses patented technology and supplies advanced insulation systems.

The Company is on a strong growth trajectory, with significant revenue and profitability increases in recent years and ambitious plans for the future.

About the Role:

The Project Manager will ensure end-to-end project execution for all capital, modernization, safety, and process improvement initiatives across ZFI (Walton) and ZMW (Tulsa). This role is being established to take ownership of project management activities including capital business cases, planning, scheduling, budgeting, vendor coordination, and implementation.

The Project Manager ensures that all assigned projects are delivered safely, on time, within scope, and within budget, while maintaining strict alignment with Zotefoams operational strategy, safety expectations, and operational excellence standards.

Role Responsibilities:

Capital Project Management:

• Develop full capital business cases, including financial justification, ROI analysis, risk assessment, and project scope.

• Validate objectives, deliverables, and means with sponsor.

• Define strategy to obtain deliverables with project team together with associated deadlines (Roadmap).

• Lead timing in all phases of capital projects from conceptual design through installation, commissioning, and close-out.

• Estimate resources necessary for the success of each stage of the project.

• Proactively identify and manage crises which may impact the success of project/study.

• Manage RFPs, quotes, vendor evaluations, equipment specifications, and procurement.

• Coordinate with Maintenance, Process Engineering, Operations, and external contractors to execute projects efficiently and safely.

• Applies recognized project management methodology to manage scope, resources, time, costs, quality, risks, and communications.

• Monitor capital spend and report on budget performance, timeline adherence, and key risks.

Contractor Sourcing & Quotation Management:

•  Lead the end-to-end process for obtaining competitive quotes for equipment, services, and construction work.

•  Develop clear scopes of work to ensure accurate, comparable vendor proposals.

•  Identify, evaluate, and pre-qualify contractors and suppliers based on capability, safety performance, technical expertise, cost, and past performance.

•  Coordinate site visits, bid walkthroughs, and technical discussions with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

•  Conduct structured bid evaluations, comparing pricing, schedules, and risk factors.

•  Maintain a preferred vendor list and build strong working relationships with key suppliers.

•  Ensure alignment of contractor sourcing with safety standards, quality expectations, and corporate procurement policies.

• Oversee onboarding and orientation of contractors to ensure compliance with site rules, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

Project Planning, Execution & Control:

• Translate high-level modernization or expansion concepts into actionable project plans.

• Establish timelines, milestones, resource plans, and deliverables.

• Track progress, maintain project dashboards, and report to leadership.

• Drive problem-solving to remove roadblocks and mitigate risks.

Cost Control & Budget Management:

•  Adhere to project budgets, ensuring alignment with capital plans and financial guidelines.

•  Create cost estimates during conceptual, design, and procurement phases to support investment decisions and business case development.

•  Track spending throughout the project lifecycle, reconciling actuals vs. forecast and identifying variances early.

• Implement cost-control mechanisms including change management, purchase-order tracking, and contingency governance.

• Review vendor proposals for commercial accuracy, completeness, and cost competitiveness.

• Identify valueengineering opportunities to reduce project cost without compromising safety, quality, or performance.

• Prepare periodic capital spend reports for leadership, highlighting budget status, risks, and corrective actions.

• Ensure timely submission of capital expenditure requests, purchase orders, and financial close‑out documentation.

•  Partner with Finance to maintain transparency, support audits, and ensure adherence to company accounting and procurement policies.

Safety-Driven Project Delivery:

• Integrate safety principles into all design and implementation activities.

• Conduct and support safety risk assessments where required.

• Ensure contractors comply with Zotefoams safety procedures and regulatory requirements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, and Global teams.

• Support alignment of project activities with broader digital transformation and automation goals.

• Communicate progress, risks, and opportunities to leadership, ensuring transparency and alignment.

• Travel up to 5% to support vendor visits, project execution, cross‑site coordination, or commissioning activities.

Equipment, Process, & Technology Integration:

• Support specification, procurement, and installation of new production equipment and modernization technologies.

• Collaborate with Process Engineering to ensure equipment meets operational performance requirements.

• Facilitate training plans for operators and maintenance teams.

Documentation, Standards & Continuous Improvement:

• Create and maintain documentation including schedules, risk logs, financial tracking, and commissioning reports.

• Standardize project management workflows and tools.

• Identify lessons learned and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
  

What you'll need:

Education:

•Associate’s/Certificate in mechanical engineering, manufacturing, project management, or related field/equivalent industry experience.

•Additional certifications/experience in Lean Six Sigma, PMP, or Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a plus.

Experience:

•5+ years of project management experience in manufacturing or engineering environments.

•Experience managing capital projects, equipment installations, or modernization initiatives.

•Ability to build cost-justified business cases and manage full project lifecycle.

What we're looking for?

•Strong project planning, scheduling, and organizational skills.

•Understanding of mechanical/electrical systems and process equipment.

•Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership abilities.

•Proficiency with project management tools and dashboards.

•Commitment to safety and regulatory compliance.

•Must be team-oriented and collaborative.

•Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.

•Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.

•Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

•Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software and experience with Microsoft Project.

•    Must be able to traverse the facility.

• Must be able to lift 50 pounds at a time.

Why Join Us?

At Zotefoams, we believe in fostering a supportive and innovative environment where everybody can thrive. By joining us, you will be part of a dynamic team that values collaboration, continuous improvement, and opportunities for professional growth and development.

Our Values

Courage - The courage to take bold action to ensure that we succeed in tackling our challenges and opportunities.

Impact – Dedicated to making a significant and positive impact in everything we do.

Respect - Cultivate a respectful and inclusive environment where everyone is valued and collaboration is encouraged.

Zotefoams is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees