Project Manager (12 month FTC)

The Role

We are looking for a driven and technically minded Project Manager to lead aftermarket projects focused on the overhaul, revamp, installation, and modernisation of rotating equipment. You will take full ownership of assigned projects from initial solution development and estimating through to commercial negotiation, execution, and close out.

This is a role for someone who thrives on end to end responsibility - balancing customer engagement, technical coordination, commercial control, and delivery excellence. You will be the central link between sales, engineering, operations, suppliers, and customers, ensuring every project is delivered safely, on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.

You will manage projects typically ranging from £200K to £2M, with performance tracked weekly and monthly. Your work will directly influence customer satisfaction, repeat business, and the financial success of the business.

The role is initially being recruited on a 12 month FTC basis, however we would intend to make the position permanent. Hybrid working is available, and remote work could be offered dependent on circumstances. 

Who are we?

Howden has a range of compressors, blowers, fans, steam turbines, and rotary heat exchangers, and has been at the forefront of developing engineered solutions for the needs of industrial processes since 1854. In 2023, Howden joined forces with Chart Industries, a global leader in engineered equipment for clean energy and industrial gas markets.

Together, we operate over 64 manufacturing sites and 50+ service centres worldwide, with 11,700+ employees driving innovation in hydrogen, carbon capture, energy recovery, nuclear, water treatment, mining, and LNG. As part of the Nexus of Clean™, we are advancing a sustainable future-helping customers improve efficiency and reduce emissions across clean power, water, food, and industrial sectors.

Join us and be part of a purpose-driven team shaping the future and tackling some of the planet’s most urgent challenges, all while growing your career in a dynamic global environment.

What you will do

• Act as the primary interface for allocated projects, ensuring clear communication between sales, engineering, operations, suppliers, and customers.
• Develop accurate and well substantiated estimates to support tenders and proposals.
• Manage projects across the full lifecycle, including scope, deliverables, schedules, budgets, risks, and contractual obligations.
• Ensure the right technical and operational resources are deployed to meet project requirements.
• Maintain full financial control - monitoring costs, cash flow, and performance to maximise profitability.
• Identify and actively manage project risks, developing mitigation and contingency plans.
• Communicate project progress and scope changes to customers, securing formal approvals and preparing variation quotations.
• Oversee suppliers and subcontractors to ensure compliance with contractual, quality, and safety requirements.
• Plan and manage all products and services delivered as part of the project, including offshore activities where required.
• Expedite goods and services to ensure project milestones are achieved.
• Ensure all activities comply with company and customer HSEQ and quality standards.
• Produce and maintain project documentation, work instructions, reports, and contract records in line with governance requirements.

What do you bring?

An ideal candidate would likely have the following profile: 

• Proven end to end project management experience, from estimating and proposal development through execution and commissioning.
• Strong customer relationship management skills, ensuring clients feel supported and valued.
• Experience managing multiple customer and supplier contracts, including scope and change control.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and margin management.
• Ability to coordinate engineering, operations, subcontractors, and suppliers under time critical conditions.
• Competence in planning and scheduling detailed project activities, particularly outages or time bound works.
• Strong risk management capability across technical, commercial, schedule, and safety domains.
• Clear and confident communication skills, capable of leading meetings and producing high quality reports.
• Ability to make sound decisions under pressure in fast moving environments.
• Time served engineering background with an HNC (or equivalent) in an engineering discipline.
• Ability to lead and influence people who are not direct reports.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, MS Project and regular contract review.
  
  

We’ve put together some criteria that we think is important for this role, but don’t worry if your experience and expertise isn’t an exact match. If you feel that you can add value to our role and to Howden more broadly, we would welcome your application and be eager to learn more about you. 

Working style & travel

This role is ideally based at our Peterborough facility with hybrid working available (up to 2 days per week). Home based working could be offered depending upon circumstances. Regular travel within the UK may be required. You will work closely with internal colleagues across HTO UK and other regional Howden locations, as well as customers, suppliers, and inspection authorities.

Benefits

This is a 12 month contract position based at our office in Peterborough, which we would wish to make permanent. Our range of fantastic benefits includes:

• Generous holiday entitlement package totalling 33 days annual leave
• Howden Pension Plan with a maximum employer contribution of 7%
• Company electric vehicle scheme through salary sacrifice
• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, shared parental and adoption leave pay
• Free onsite parking
• Healthcare cash plan
• Group Life Assurance plan at 3x salary
• Access to My Howden Benefits & Wellbeing Portal - Cycle2Work programme, range of discounts across various retailers, employee assistance programme, wealth of information to support health & wellbeing
• Dedicated Spark Service - free counselling, physiotherapy, financial support, medical second opinion, remote GP, personal training, nutrition consultations etc  
• Financial planning & mortgage support 
• Opportunity to be involved in our ESG ‘Bright Future’ initiatives - STEM ambassador & volunteering

Howden is an equal opportunity employer

The Company intention in respect of recruitment, selection and promotion is to appoint the most suitable candidate for each job regardless of that person’s race, religious beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age or disability.