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