Engineering Leader

About the role

This role is accountable for the end-to-end project management and execution of major capital investment projects (>€15M, high complexity) at the Chonburi (CHB) site, encompassing both Royal Canin (RC) and Pet Nutrition (PN) pouch technologies. The role leads cross-functional and multi-disciplinary teams to evaluate, design, procure, and commission technical solutions while ensuring strict adherence to Mars global engineering standards, safety, quality, and statutory legislation. It refines the long-term site master plan and drives technical synergies, standard deployment, and asset strategy across both business units.

Key responsibilities

• Champion safety culture across project teams, direct reports, suppliers, and third-party contractors, ensuring a zero-incident mindset during all project phases
• Take full responsibility for project delivery adhering to Mars Global Safety Standards, local Thai statutory laws, environmental regulations, and corporate HSE policies
• Embed Mars Q&FS asset design standards, hygienic engineering practices, and safety & quality standards into the design, installation, and commissioning of all process and packaging equipment
• Directly manage Capital Allocation Budget (CAB) projects and major workstreams (>€15M) from initiation through FEED, design, detail, procurement, installation, commissioning, and handover
• Lead project steering committee discussions, manage timeline milestones, track critical paths, and deliver projects on time and within budget
• Lead Value Engineering discussions in early project initiation with Global and Regional Engineering teams (RC & PN)
• Coordinate and integrate technical and operational interfaces across multiple departments (Maintenance, Controls, Production, Q&FS, R&D, HSE, Logistics, Site Engineering, and 3rd-party engineering partners)
• Maintain strong partnerships with Global and Regional Engineering (PN and RC) to implement global specifications and refine long-term site master plans
• Partner closely with Commercial/Procurement to source equipment, negotiate technical packages, and manage relationships with strategic OEM equipment vendors
• Direct and coach project team members (2 to 7 reports during execution), defining clear development priorities in alignment with functional line managers

Qualifications

• University Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial, or Mechatronics)
• Minimum 10+ years of progressive engineering and capital project management experience within FMCG, food manufacturing, or pharmaceutical industries
• Proven track record in managing complex capital projects (>€10M–€15M) and deep expertise in wet pouch packaging and retort/processing technologies
• Proven ability to lead steering committees, influence multi-disciplinary teams, and deliver results in a matrix environment
• Strong presentation, organizational, and scenario-planning capabilities
• Fluent in English (written and verbal)
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent formal PM credential (preferred)
• Experience navigating dual-brand/dual-culture operations (preferred)