Project Manager

FlexLink , headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, is an industry leader in automated production and material flow solutions, providing customers with state-of-the-art solutions that deliver production efficiency and enable sustainable manufacturing.

FlexLink serves a broad customer base in different industries: food, beverage, tissue & hygiene, personal care, pharma & healthcare, automotive and electronics.

FlexLink is part of Coesia , a group of innovation-based industrial and packaging solutions companies operating globally, headquartered in Bologna, Italy. Coesia has operating units in 36 countries, a turnover of 2,084 million euros in 2023 and over 8,000 employees.

About the Role:

We are looking for a Senior Project Manager to join the team in Bologna and take full accountability for major projects from contract signature through to customer acceptance. The role calls for someone who has managed large industrial projects end to end, is comfortable with significant financial responsibility, and can engage with technically sophisticated customers with confidence and clarity.

The Senior Project Manager reports directly to the Business Unit Operations Director and maintains direct communication with the customer at an executive level.

Main responsibilities will include:

• Take full accountability for the delivery of assigned projects across scope, schedule, cost, quality, and risk.
• Build and maintain the integrated project plan from kick-off through to final customer acceptance, using Microsoft Project.
• Lead the project governance structure: define the reporting cadence, chair the reviews, and keep all stakeholders properly informed.
• Own change control, assess every scope change, document it, price it where applicable, and ensure it is reflected in the plan.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the customer throughout the project lifecycle, maintaining clear and consistent communication at all stages.
• Manage expectations actively, particularly when priorities shift or timelines are at risk. Address difficult conversations directly rather than deferring them.
• Prepare concise project status updates and reports for both internal management and customer stakeholders.
• Represent FlexLink credibly in formal customer meetings and senior-level reviews.
• Lead a cross-functional project team covering engineering, supply chain, installation, and commissioning, ensuring alignment across all functions throughout the project.
• Work with functional managers to secure the right resources at the right time, and flag capacity issues early.
• Manage subcontractors and external partners, monitor their performance, hold them to their commitments, and elevate where necessary.
• Own the project budget, track costs regularly, forecast to completion, and take corrective action early if the financial picture changes.
• Manage the invoicing schedule in line with contractual milestones and monitor cash flow throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate procurement decisions with supply chain to balance cost, quality, and delivery.
• Maintain an active, up-to-date risk register and use it as a working management tool throughout the project.
• Identify potential problems early and put mitigation actions in place before they escalation.
• Ensure all deliverables meet the agreed quality standards and secure formal customer acceptance before closing each phase.

What You Need to Be Successful:

• Master’s Degree in Engineering (or equivalent)
• At least 5 years of project management experience, with a significant share of that on large, complex industrial or automation projects in sectors such as special machinery, material handling, or semiconductor equipment.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects end to end, covering execution, installation, commissioning, and formal customer handover.
• Strong financial discipline: regular cost tracking, forecast-to-completion management, and a readiness to act when margins are at risk.
• Proven customer management skills, with experience handling demanding clients and senior-level stakeholders across the full project lifecycle.
• The ability to lead cross-functional teams and keep engineering, supply chain, and installation functions coordinated and working towards the same goal.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project. A formal project management qualification, such as PMP or PRINCE2, is valued.
• Fluent English, written and spoken. Italian is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel to customer sites as required by the project.
• Based in Bologna or willing to relocate.

Our Offer:

Compensation for this role includes a base salary starting from EUR 44.400, in line with experience. The actual offer may exceed this minimum based on the candidate's qualifications and fit for the role.

The compensation package also includes a variable component in the form of an annual bonus, which can reach 8% of base salary at target subject to Company policy.

A range of additional benefits (e.g., insurances, etc.) is also available in accordance with Company policy.

Coesia is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in fair, merit-based recruitment and assess all candidates exclusively on the basis of their qualifications, skills, experience and suitability for the role.