Project Manager

Cookfood; Sittingbourne; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food company in Sittingbourne is seeking a Project Manager to lead major projects, including infrastructure transformation. You will manage multi-disciplinary teams and ensure projects are delivered on time and on budget. Ideal candidates will have proven experience in project management, excellent communication skills, and a strong understanding of health and sustainability principles. This role offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits.

Benefits

Paid breaks

Paid leave for special occasions

Staff profit share

Free Lunch

Wellbeing program

30% staff discount

Access to Smart Spending discounts

Team meals, events & away days

Qualifications

• Proven Project Management experience in infrastructure, manufacturing, or FMCG.
• Skilled at leading multi-disciplinary teams and juggling competing priorities.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.
• Confident developing project scopes, budgets, and delivery plans.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex, high-impact projects from idea to handover.
• Align different teams using RACI matrixes.
• Manage contractors and partners focused on quality and safety.
• Champion sustainability in all projects.

Skills

Project Management experience

Leading multi-disciplinary teams

Communication and facilitation skills

Understanding of health & safety

Sustainability principles

Tools

Monday.com or similar

Job description

Project Manager

Location: Sittingbourne, Kent

Salary: £60,000 - £70,000

Hours: Mon–Fri, 40 hrs (8am–4pm) — with flexibility around project commitments and 3 days per week in Sittingbourne required.

We’re looking for a Project Manager to lead one of our most exciting and important transformation projects at our largest site. This is a big role — shaping how we work today and how we’ll grow tomorrow.

The Purpose

You’ll take the project management lead for a major infrastructure transformation project at our Sittingbourne site — installing a new refrigeration system, opening up production space to boost capacity, and a new wastewater treatment solution.

You’ll work with brilliant people across engineering, operations, safety, and food quality to deliver projects that make us more efficient, more sustainable, and ready for the future — all while keeping our culture front and centre.

And it won’t stop there. You’ll also play a key role in other major projects, including our logistics centre build and improvement programmes across our four manufacturing sites, helping us to reduce waste, save energy, and improve how we work.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead complex, high-impact projects from the first idea to the final handover.
• Bring people together — aligning different teams and priorities using RACI matrixes, clear timelines and deliverables to make things happen.
• Shape project scopes and strategies that deliver efficiency, sustainability, and value for money.
• Manage contractors and partners — keeping everyone focused on quality, safety, and environmental standards.
• Champion sustainability and smart design — making every investment work harder for the planet and for our people.
• Spot opportunities to cut waste, improve energy use, and future-proof our Kitchens.
• Share your expertise across our wider projects, helping us build better, safer, faster, and greener.

What Success Looks Like

• Our Sittingbourne transformation project delivered on time, on budget, and successfully executed.
• More capacity, less waste, and smarter use of energy.
• Teams that feel informed, involved, and proud of what we’ve built together.
• You’re living COOK’s Values — being remarkable, caring deeply, having fun, and being part of the family.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven Project Management experience in infrastructure, manufacturing, or FMCG.
• Skilled at leading multi-disciplinary teams and juggling competing priorities.
• Someone who can get things done, whilst making sure everyone is kept in the loop and aware of what is happening.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, able to bring clarity and momentum.
• Solid understanding of health & safety, food safety, and sustainability principles.
• Confident developing project scopes, budgets, and delivery plans that drive efficiency and reduce waste.
• Hands‑on, practical, and motivated by making a real difference.
• Experience of managing multi‑million pound project budgets with control and diligence.
• Experience with Monday.com or similar project management platforms would be ideal.

If you tick most of these boxes but not all—don’t stress. We’re all about potential.

Excellent Benefits including

• Paid breaks
• Paid leave on your birthdays, moving house, become grandparent or your child starts school for the first time
• Staff profit share
• Fee Lunch
• Wellbeing program
• 30% staff discount
• Access to CookieJar Smart Spending discounts and free food perks.
• Team meals , events & away days
• Be part of a B-Corp‑certified business that values sustainability, people, and the community.

And many more ‿.

What Cook is About

We’re a proudly independent, family‑owned B Corp, which basically means we care. A lot. About our food. About our people. And about doing the right thing—even when it’s not the easy thing.

Our vision for COOK has always been that we are a place where EVERYONE is welcome. We want everyone to feel like they belong at COOK. We all have different roles, different abilities and different personalities. By collaborating we can do remarkable things. Whatever your story, if you would like to grow with COOK please apply.