Project Manager - Engineering FTC

Who We Are

We are Suntory, a global leader in the beverage industry with a heritage that dates back to 1899 in Osaka, Japan. Today, we operate across more than 265 group companies worldwide, employing over 40,000 people. Our portfolio spans soft drinks, spirits, beer, wine, ready-to-drink beverages, and wellness products, combining tradition with innovation to deliver exceptional quality.

We are driven by our philosophy, “Bringing Water to Life,” which reflects our deep respect for nature and our commitment to sustainability. We strive to enrich lives and create harmony with people and nature through everything we do.

As one of the world’s leading beverage companies and the third-largest distilled spirits company globally, we continue to grow while staying true to our values of quality, craftsmanship, and responsibility to society.

About your role

As a Project Manager within the Engineering (Projects) team at SBFE, based in Coleford, you will lead and coordinate capital engineering projects ranging from £100k to £25m in an FMCG production environment. Your work will span from concept development to production-ready design, contributing directly to Suntory Beverage and Food’s ambition to be a next-generation global beverage company.

This role is a fixed term contract of 12 months to 18 months. 

What You'll Do

You will lead and deliver complex, cross-functional capital projects across the full supply chain. These projects include new product introductions and the specification and installation of new equipment, from individual machines to full production lines. You will work within the Capital Project Engineering framework and collaborate with stakeholders across Sales, Marketing, R&D, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Finance to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of safety and quality. You will provide leadership and direction to project teams, coach and develop early-career engineers, and shape project governance, risk management, and continuous improvement practices. Your role will also involve influencing strategic business functions such as Operational Excellence, Quality Control, Health & Safety, and Customer Service, while applying commercial skills to plan, challenge, execute, and review strategies that drive customer-focused and profitable outcomes.

What's in it for you

This role offers the opportunity to lead high-impact projects that shape the future of SBFE’s supply chain. You will gain exposure to strategic business areas and senior stakeholders, mentor and develop engineering talent, and contribute to a values-driven organization committed to excellence and innovation. You will work in a dynamic and collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.

What You need to be successful

To succeed in this role, you should have a degree in engineering or significant experience in project management within an FMCG environment. You must have practical knowledge of construction and civil projects in a CDM-controlled environment and be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Project, with AutoCAD and SAP experience preferred. Fluency in English and the unrestricted right to live and work in the UK are essential, along with strong communication skills, a proactive mindset, and flexibility to travel. A UK driving license is required. You should bring expertise in construction projects and ideally have knowledge specific to soft drinks production. Familiarity with stage and gate project management processes, presentation development and delivery, and a full project management toolkit is important. Strong leadership, communication, change-management, and stakeholder management skills are essential, along with experience in contract and tender processes and vendor management. Strategic thinking, commercial awareness, analytical skills, initiative, and decision-making ability will support your success.

Our DEI Commitment

At Suntory, we recognize that diverse knowledge, perspectives, and backgrounds contribute to our collective success. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all individuals can bring their whole selves to work every day, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or any other protected characteristic.

Our recruitment and selection processes are designed to highlight what Suntory offers as an employer while allowing candidates to share their unique skills and experiences. We understand that career trajectories vary, and if you believe your experience/background can benefit our team, we encourage you to apply. We endeavor to make our interview process as inclusive as possible and offer reasonable accommodations as needed. Together, we can cultivate a workplace where everyone can thrive and propel our mission of Growing for Good.