Project Manager

Description:

Project Manager – ERP Implementation

Wolverhampton / Hybrid Working

£60-70,000 + 10% Bonus + 10% Pension + 25 days Holiday

Introduction

Seymour John have been exclusively retained by Fortress Safety, part of the Halma plc family of companies, to secure the services of an experienced Project Manager.

Fortress is a purpose-driven organisation. “Saving lives by providing the best safety solutions” is at the heart of decision-making and the strategic direction of the organisation. With offices and manufacturing around the world, Fortress is a truly global organisation with a proven track record of growth and ambitions to accelerate that growth even further!

Fortress Safety designs and manufactures interlocks and access control systems, which protect employees working in hazardous environments. We are a life safety company and what we do truly makes a difference to people returning home safely. Our team of approachable experts guide our customers in developing the right solutions, over half of which are unique configurations.

Culture

Fortress is working hard to continue to drive cultural change to provide a positive working environment where employees feel valued, trusted and have the opportunity for personal growth. We are part of Halma plc where autonomy and the entrepreneurial spirit are key factors to the group's continued success.

Key Challenge and Our Vacancy

The current ERP system (2017 version of NAV) has some structural challenges, is unsupported from Jan 2027, and needs upgrading. We’ve opted for MS Dynamics 365 which underpins our strategic goals, enables us to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and enhance customer service. The project is based on these principles:

* Keep it simple: Not trying to fix everything in one go, focusing on a Minimal Viable Product, with follow-up projects to support additional Functionality.

* Out of the box: Change our processes to match the system.

* One version of the Truth: Consistent data across the business.

There is an overall technical Project Lead, but this person has a wider set of responsibilities and so we need a focused Project Manager (you!) to run the project on a day-to-day basis.

We are anticipating the project commencing in July and lasting about one year, with some post implementation support required. We are looking for our new Project Manager to start by mid-June and commit for 18 months.

Once the project is complete there will be a high likelihood of future projects as there will be 3 years work required to create the optimal solution for the business. This means there is a strong probability of extension and/or permanent job offer following on from the initial 18-month commitment. Beyond the ERP programme it’s worth being aware that the business is expected to double it’s revenues in the next 2 years. There’s a lot to do and the Project Management Office team is going to be expanded as the business develops.

Responsibilities include:

1. Project Planning and Management:

* Planning, execution, and delivery of the ERP implementation project, ensuring adherence to the project scope, timeline, and budget.

* Develop detailed project plans, schedules, and milestones and effectively communicate project status, progress, and risks to stakeholders.

2. Change Management:

* Develop and implement change management strategies, including training, communication plans, and organisational readiness assessments, to facilitate user adoption of the new ERP system.

* Identify and mitigate resistance to change, proactively addressing challenges and barriers to successful implementation.

3. Vendor Management:

* Key point of contact with ERP vendor Project Manager

* Co-ordinate all vendor management activities

4. Stakeholder Engagement:

* Engage with key stakeholders across departments and levels of the organisation to gather requirements, solicit feedback, and facilitate alignment on project goals and priorities.

* Serve as the primary point of contact for stakeholders, addressing concerns, managing expectations, and fostering effective communication throughout the project lifecycle.

5. Risk Management:

* Identify potential risks, issues, and dependencies associated with the ERP implementation project and develop mitigation strategies to minimise impact on project delivery.

* Monitor and track project risks, escalating issues as needed and implementing corrective actions to ensure project success.

6. Quality Assurance:

* Establish and enforce quality assurance processes and standards for the ERP implementation, conducting regular reviews, audits, and testing to validate system functionality and data integrity.

* Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and best practices for ERP implementation and project management.

We are looking for an experienced Project Manager who has handled a large-scale project (something of 6-12 months scope), ideally with some experience supporting an ERP implementation. Also key for your success will be:

* Skill in planning, organising, driving delivery of tasks.

* Selfmotivation and working on your own initiative rather than being told what to do and how to do it. Enjoy being empowered to make choices.

* Enjoying communication and relationship building with others – a naturally proactive communicator who can listen to concerns respectfully (however they are raised) and handle maturely, whilst being able to influence outcomes for the overall good of the business.

* Operating with a low ego to allow for open and inclusive conversations and collaborations where people can challenge without offense.

* Curiosity combined with a continuous improvement mindset.

Please note there may be some travel to the US to info gather and support go-live as the US operation will be used as the pilot site. In terms of hybrid working you will have the flexibility to work from home one to two days per week, and you will also be afforded the flexibility to fit the hours you work around your personal life within reason