Project Manager

We’re Hiring: Technical Project Lead & Project Manager - Food Processing Equipment

That feeling when you work with machines others can only read about..

Location: Boxmeer

Employment Type: Full-Time, Hybrid

Department: Prepared Foods - Further Processing

Lead the Future of Work at JBT Marel

About the Role

As our new Technical Project Lead & Project Manager within the Prepared Foods - Further Processing department, you are responsible for planning, coordinating, and delivering multiple technical projects in parallel within our portfolio of forming, coating, frying, and heating solutions. Unlike a traditional project management role, this position requires a strong engineering foundation combined with structured project leadership. You will work closely with Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Manufacturing, Product Management, and Service teams to drive machine development from concept through industrialization and market introduction.

You will be part of an international organization of approximately 70 colleagues spread across Denmark, Germany, Scotland, and the Netherlands, and you will work closely with a multidisciplinary core team of engineers, specialists, and stakeholders based in the Netherlands. Your role is highly hands-on and operational, focused on day-to-day project execution, coordination, and decision-making in a complex machine-building environment.

This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys leading projects and influencing technical decisions while staying close to machine design and product development.

What You Will Do, Day-to-Day

Technical Leadership

• Lead the development and optimization of food processing equipment and machine modules
• Drive engineering decisions related to machine performance, reliability, hygiene, safety, and manufacturability
• Challenge design choices and facilitate technical trade-off decisions
• Support architecture and integration decisions across mechanical, electrical, controls, and software systems
• Ensure designs align with customer requirements and operational realities in food production environments

Project Leadership

• Lead multiple machine development and product improvement projects simultaneously
• Define project scope, deliverables, milestones, budgets, and resource requirements
• Manage project risks, dependencies, and technical challenges
• Coordinate activities across engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and service teams
• Ensure timely and successful project execution

Product & Machine Integration

• Oversee machine validation, testing, industrialization, and implementation activities
• Ensure smooth integration within complete food processing lines
• Support factory acceptance testing, performance validation, and customer-specific adaptations
• Drive lessons learned and continuous product improvements

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the key interface between Engineering, Product Management, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Service, and Commercial teams
• Provide clear updates on technical progress, risks, and decision points
• Collaborate with colleagues across Denmark, Germany, Scotland, and the Netherlands

What kind of person are you?

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline
• 5+ years of experience in machine design, machine development, or equipment engineering
• Experience leading engineering projects in machine building, food processing equipment, packaging machinery, automation, or industrial systems
• Strong understanding of multidisciplinary engineering environments
• Experience with machine integration and industrialization
• Ability to read and understand technical drawings, mechanical designs, and system architectures
• Experience working with international engineering teams and suppliers Project Management certification (PMP, IPMA, PRINCE2) is a plus, but practical project leadership experience is more important
• Strong ownership mentality with the ability to drive progress without formal authority

• Excellent planning and prioritization skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Clear, concise, and confident communication across technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Decisive and pragmatic, with the ability to balance technical depth, time, cost, and risk
• Collaborative team player who builds trust and transparency across the organization

Nice to Have

Experience in: Food Processing Equipment, Industrial Machinery, Automation Systems, Packaging Equipment, Poultry Processing, Meat Processing, Food Manufacturing, Production Line Integration

Travel

The role requires occasional travel (estimated 5-10%) to support project alignment, stakeholders, or manufacturing locations.

Who We Are

At JBT Marel, what we do matters. Our people make the difference, and their contribution drives our success.

Our purpose is to transform the future of food, guiding our vision to be the leading partner in sustainable food industry solutions. Partnership is at the heart of everything we do, enabling us to deliver exceptional, end-to-end solutions that build long-term customer trust.

Our values reflect who we are at our best:

• Serve with integrity
• Create with collaboration
• Grow with excellence
• Advance with innovation

We are committed to your development and offer opportunities that help you grow professionally and personally. You will work in an inclusive, international team culture where collaboration and innovation are key.

Why Join Us?

This is more than a leadership role. It's a unique opportunity to build and shape a newly established global function that will define how we develop, manage, and scale our products worldwide.

At JBT Marel, you'll have the freedom to create, improve, and drive real change in a global technology organization. You'll work with talented colleagues across multiple countries while making a visible impact on our products, processes, and future growth.

What Makes This Opportunity Different?

Shape and define your role within a growing global organization

Make a direct impact on how products are developed and managed across the business

Work in an international, collaborative environment where your ideas matter

Enjoy the freedom to take initiative, challenge the status quo, and drive meaningful change

Be part of a culture built on trust, respect, innovation, and continuous improvement

What We Offer

42 days off per year (including ADV days)

Flexible working hours and hybrid working options

Competitive salary and bonus opportunity

Excellent pension scheme and collective health insurance

Fully equipped home office, laptop, and iPhone

Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning and Busuu language learning

Extensive opportunities for internal growth and international career development

A healthy work-life balance in a people-focused organization

Our Culture

At our best, we:

• Serve with Integrity
• Create with Collaboration
• Grow with Excellence
• Advance with Innovation

We believe careers are built through trust, ownership, learning, and the freedom to explore new ideas. Here, you'll have the opportunity to build a career, not just fill a role.

If you're looking for the chance to shape an organization, leave a lasting impact, and grow your career in an international technology leader, we'd love to hear from you.

How to Apply

We’re excited to learn how you can contribute to our mission of smarter, safer food inspection. Apply now and join a team transforming the future of food processing.

Questions? Contact: Maarten Krepel - [email protected]

Learn more at: jbtmarel.com

Follow us on LinkedIn

Connect with Talent Acquisition Specialist: www.linkedin.com/in/maartenkrepel

Marel is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in the workplace. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

Join us - and be the driving force behind smarter, leaner food production.

JBT Marel is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in the workplace. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

Use of Technology in Our Hiring Process

JBT Marel uses technology-assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to support the review of applications.

These tools help our recruiting teams identify skills and experience relevant to the role based on job-related criteria.

All applications are reviewed by people, and AI is not used to make hiring decisions independently. We are committed to fair, consistent and inclusive hiring practices globally.

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