Project Director - Greenfield Food Manufacturing

Summary:

Lead the development of a new food manufacturing facility from the ground up.

An established global food company is seeking an experienced Project Director to oversee a major greenfield manufacturing project in Georgia. This is an opportunity to guide a significant capital investment from planning and design through construction, commissioning, and delivery of an operational facility.

The position will be based at the company’s existing plant in Newnan, Georgia, with responsibility for the new facility in LaGrange, Georgia. The project is targeting a late 2028 opening.

This is a team-of-1 leadership role for a self-directed project executive who can coordinate internal stakeholders, design-build partners, contractors, consultants, and international leadership. The position includes weekly phone communication with headquarters contacts in Beijing, China, requiring flexibility across a significant time difference.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the greenfield project from development and planning through construction, completion, and operational handover.
• Develop and manage project scope, budgets, schedules, milestones, resource plans, and deliverables.
• Oversee the design-build firm, general contractor, engineers, consultants, and other project partners.
• Monitor the project’s critical path, identify risks, and implement solutions to maintain progress.
• Manage changes to scope, schedule, and costs, including change orders and related negotiations.
• Coordinate with operations, engineering, procurement, quality, finance, and other stakeholders.
• Guide project partners through permitting, local authority requirements, and regulatory approvals.
• Promote a strong safety culture and oversee compliance with applicable construction safety standards.
• Provide senior leadership with regular updates on project progress, financial performance, risks, and decisions.
• Participate in weekly calls with international leadership and coordinate across time zones.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a closely related field.
• 10+ years of experience managing construction projects and budgets.
• 5+ years managing large-scale construction projects to include Greenfield and budgets.
• Experience delivering at least 5 industrial projects, including 1 project valued at more than $100 million.
• Greenfield project experience in food or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience managing design-build firms, contractors, consultants, project schedules, and capital budgets.
• Strong knowledge of construction management, safety, permitting, risk assessment, and change control.
• Ability to work independently, communicate clearly, and coordinate multiple stakeholders.
• Willingness to work from the Newnan area, travel to LaGrange as needed, and participate in weekly calls with Beijing.
• Experience managing a greenfield project with an investment exceeding $300 million is highly preferred.
• PMP or equivalent certification is preferred.

Salary & Benefits:

• $160,000–$200,000 annual base salary
• 20% performance bonus
• Medical, dental, and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid time off
• 10 paid holidays
• 5 sick days
• 1 paid birthday day off