Project Lead – New Factory Setup (Metal/Steel Manufacturing)
Al Watania For Industries | Full-time | Saudi Arabia
About the Role:
Al Watania For Industries is looking for an experienced Project Lead to own the end-to-end setup of a new manufacturing facility — from planning through construction, equipment installation, commissioning, and first production run. This is a greenfield project: you will be building a factory from the ground up, not managing an existing operation.
This role is ideal for someone who has done this before in a metal or steel manufacturing environment and knows exactly what it takes to turn an empty site into a fully operating plant.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the factory setup project across all phases: site readiness, civil works coordination, equipment procurement, installation, commissioning, and ramp-up to full production.
- Develop and manage the project plan, budget, and timeline, ensuring milestones are met and risks are proactively managed.
- Manage relationships with equipment vendors, EPC contractors, and government/regulatory bodies (municipality, civil defense, environmental permits, etc.).
- Build and lead the project team, including hiring and onboarding staff ahead of production start-up.
- Coordinate across procurement, engineering, quality, and operations to keep the project on schedule.
- Ensure the new facility meets all relevant safety, quality, and regulatory standards before handover to operations.
- Report progress and key decisions to executive leadership.
Required Qualifications:
- Minimum 4+ years of hands-on experience setting up a factory or production facility from scratch — from site/groundwork through equipment installation, commissioning, and start of production.
- Prior experience specifically in metal or steel manufacturing is required.
- Proven experience managing project budgets, timelines, and vendor/contractor relationships for capital projects.
- Strong understanding of industrial equipment procurement, installation, and commissioning processes.
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, or related field).
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills; comfortable operating with significant ambiguity in a fast-moving, ground-up project environment.
- Fluent in Arabic and/or English.
Preferred Qualifications:
- PMP or equivalent project management certification.
- Familiarity with Saudi regulatory and licensing requirements for industrial facilities.
- Experience in the metal packaging, steel processing, or related heavy manufacturing sectors.
Location:
Saudi Arabia (on-site during construction and commissioning phases).
