Senior Manager, Distribution Engineering & Projects

Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Office, Warehouse

Job Description

Senior Projects Manager – Distribution Engineering (Europe)

Location: Can be based in either the United Kingdom or France
Division: Fisher Scientific
Travel: Approximately 25% across Europe

Position Summary

At Thermo Fisher Scientific, you'll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Projects Manager – Distribution Engineering (Europe) to lead engineering, automation, and capital investment initiatives across our European distribution network. This role will drive operational excellence through facility design, capacity planning, process optimisation, warehouse automation, and project delivery while partnering closely with Operations, Finance, IT, Transportation, Safety, Procurement, and external suppliers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead engineering studies and operational analyses to improve productivity, service, safety, and cost performance across the European distribution network.
• Develop facility layouts, capacity plans, process flows, and operational models to support business growth.
• Deliver major capital projects, including facility expansions, retrofits, automation implementations, and infrastructure upgrades.
• Develop business cases, financial analyses, project budgets, and ROI justifications.
• Evaluate and optimise warehouse automation technologies, material handling equipment, storage systems, WMS, ERP, and RF technologies.
• Drive continuous improvement through workflow assessments, time studies, and data-driven recommendations.
• Manage suppliers, contractors, consultants, and system integrators throughout project lifecycles, including contract negotiation and performance management.
• Lead and develop engineering resources, providing guidance, coaching, and support to ensure high performance and capability growth.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels, from operational teams to senior leadership, ensuring alignment and clarity throughout project delivery.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships and influence decision-making across the organisation.
• Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, and company standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to support network strategy and operational excellence.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent technical qualification and experience.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in Industrial, Distribution, Logistics, or Supply Chain Engineering.
• Experience leading teams and large cross-functional projects, managing multiple stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively at all organisational levels.
• Proven experience delivering capital projects, facility design initiatives, and operational improvement programmes.
• Demonstrated negotiation skills, particularly in supplier, contractor, or project environments.
• Knowledge of safety, risk management, and applicable European regulations.
• Willingness to travel across Europe.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting multi-site distribution or logistics networks.
• Knowledge of warehouse automation, material handling systems, and distribution centre operations.
• Experience with dangerous goods storage and handling requirements.
• Lean Six Sigma or other continuous improvement certification.
• SQL knowledge and experience working with operational data.

Technical Skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Microsoft Project and Visio.
• AutoCAD.
• WMS, ERP, and warehouse automation systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

Languages

Additional European languages are advantageous, particularly French, German, or Spanish.

What We Offer

Join a global organisation where your work contributes directly to advancing science and improving lives. You'll have the opportunity to lead high-impact projects, work with innovative technologies, and help shape the future of Fisher Scientific's European distribution network.

Welcome

Thank you for your interest as you consider starting a new career journey with us. As the world leader in serving science, our colleagues develop critical solutions through innovation—and build rewarding careers. Discover their extraordinary stories and connection to our Mission to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Their work is a story of purpose. What story will you tell?

About Us

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of more than $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD.

Accessibility/Disability Access

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

EEO

Thermo Fisher Scientific is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, veteran status, age or disability status.