Role: Project Manager
Location: Burton on Trent, Staffordshire
Salary: Up to £60,000 per annum (depending on experience)
Permanent, Full Time

About the Role

This role sits at the heart of the UK freight industry, where reliability, safety and operational performance are everything. Our teams work collaboratively to improve how freight assets are maintained, managed, and delivered — and we are looking for someone who wants to be part of that journey.

As Project Manager, you will oversee engineering and operational projects linked to freight wagons, fleet upgrades, maintenance programmes and new product introduction. You will play a key role in supporting wagon exams, overhaul schedules and maintenance activities, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time and within budget. You will be central to coordinating teams, managing stakeholders and driving continuous improvement across freight operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Delivery: Manage engineering and maintenance projects across freight wagons and associated assets, ensuring delivery aligns with customer requirements and industry standards.
• Support Wagon Exams & Maintenance: Coordinate activities linked to freight wagon exams, periodic maintenance, overhaul programmes and compliance-driven engineering work.
• Project Documentation & Compliance: Prepare and manage project documentation packs, including scope of works, engineering instructions, RAMS, maintenance requirements and approval documentation, ensuring all work is delivered safely and compliantly.
• Customer & Stakeholder Liaison: Act as the main point of contact for freight operators, suppliers and internal teams.
• Cost Control: Monitor project costs and ensure delivery remains within tendered budgets.
• Team Leadership: Lead cross-functional teams across engineering, operations, supply chain and commercial functions.
• Reporting: Produce clear project updates and performance reports for the Executive Team.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to enhance processes, maintenance efficiency and project outcomes across the freight operation.

What We are Looking For

• Experience in a manufacturing, engineering, rail, or freight-related environment.
• A recognised Project Management qualification (PRINCE2, APM, PMP) or equivalent experience.
• Proven ability to manage engineering or fleet-based projects experience with freight wagons, rolling stock or heavy engineering is highly desirable.
• Strong organisational and communication skills, with experience leading multi-site or multi-discipline teams.
• Confident with financial and data analysis, including budget management and forecasting.
• Understanding of maintenance regimes, exam cycles or compliance requirements within freight or similar regulated industries.

About Ford & Stanley Group

Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group are in the business of people and performance. Our mission is to create one million better workdays through facilitating great recruitment, leadership, and occupational mental fitness. We support our clients in their most challenging business areas – recruiting, developing, and retaining the best talent from shop floor to boardroom.

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Ford & Stanley Talent Services Group Ltd is a Disability Confident employer that is committed to a policy of equal opportunities for all opportunity seekers. We shall always adhere to such a policy and will review on an on-going basis all aspects of recruitment to avoid unlawful or undesirable discrimination. We will treat everyone equally irrespective sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief or political beliefs and we place an obligation upon all staff to respect and act in accordance with the policy.