Senior Project Manager

Leaft Foods is at the forefront of sustainable food innovation, dedicated to transforming the way we produce and consume protein. Our mission is to harness the power of leaf proteins to create nutritious, environmentally friendly food products. By focusing on cutting-edge research and development, we aim to reduce the environmental impact of food production and provide healthier alternatives for consumers.
Leaft Foods is backed by high-quality investors, including Khosla Ventures, ACC, Ngāi Tahu, Steven Adams, Sir Stephen Tindall, ICEHOUSE Ventures and Dan Carter. Our backers allow us to push the boundaries of innovation and make significant strides in the food production industry.
The Opportunity
We are searching for an experienced engineering Senior Project Manager to take on a transformative challenge. In this newly created role, you’ll be responsible for overseeing the entire lifecycle of a pioneering project: the construction of a commercial high tech production facility dedicated to producing the world’s first leaf protein products.
As Senior Project Manager, you will work in collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders, guiding talented engineers and coordinating contractors and consultants to bring this innovative vision to life. Your project management expertise will be vital in navigating the complexities of this unique project, ensuring that all commercial and technical aspects are executed successfully and with high cadence.
About Your Role
At a high level this position will be responsible for

• Oversight of the entire project lifecycle, from concept to completion.
• Management of the project scope, budget, and timeline to ensure successful delivery.
• Provide technical leadership and direction to a team of engineers.
• Coordinating with contractors, consultants and other stakeholders (e.g. local Council) to achieve project milestones.

• Preferably be a degree qualified engineer in Mechanical, Chemical, or Process engineering disciplines
• Have a minimum of 8+ years of experience in the following areas-
• Proven technical leadership in the design and delivery of capital engineering projects
• Demonstrated experience of managing CAPEX projects within the manufacturing sector, e.g. dairy, food/beverage, liquid processing, chemical processing
• Expertise in the negotiation and management of commercial contracts
• Thrive in complex and highly collaborative environments
• Be a natural problem solver with the ability to work at pace
• Available to take start a new position ‘onsite’ in Canterbury in early 2025