Location: Ringaskiddy, Cork
Contract Type: Hourly Rate Contract
Duration: Minimum 12 Months
Hours: 45 Hours per Week
About the Opportunity
Ward Personnel is recruiting on behalf of a leading pharmaceutical client for an experienced Project Lead – Mechanical to join their established project delivery team based in Ringaskiddy, Cork.
This is an excellent opportunity to work directly with the end client as part of an experienced and collaborative team of eight project professionals, supporting the delivery of an ongoing capital investment programme within a world-class manufacturing facility.
The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering a diverse portfolio of mechanical projects, with typical project values ranging from €500,000 up to €40 million, ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient execution from concept through to commissioning and handover.
The Role
The Construction Project Lead – Mechanical will form part of the client team, leading the delivery of predominantly mechanical construction scopes while ensuring all works are executed safely, compliantly, and in accordance with project requirements.
You will be responsible for managing mechanical construction activities from design coordination through installation, testing, commissioning, and handover, while coordinating contractors, engineering teams, vendors, and operational stakeholders within a live manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead mechanical construction delivery across systems including piping, HVAC, utilities, process equipment installation, testing, and turnover.
- Lead engineering and design activities in collaboration with external design houses and project stakeholders.
- Coordinate contractors and vendors while managing interfaces with live plant operations.
- Ensure all construction activities are executed in compliance with drawings, specifications, standards, permits, RAMS, and site procedures.
- Monitor project progress, productivity, manpower, contractor performance, safety, quality, and schedule.
- Identify project risks and implement mitigation and recovery plans where required.
- Support material readiness, change control processes, technical query resolution, walkdowns, punch list management, and project handover activities.
- Ensure mechanical installations meet quality requirements and commissioning readiness milestones.
- Drive a strong culture of safety, compliance, and right-first-time delivery across all project activities.
Required Experience
- Significant mechanical construction experience within:
- Pharmaceutical
- Biopharmaceutical
- Life Sciences
- Industrial Manufacturing
- Other highly regulated project environments
- Demonstrable experience delivering capital projects ranging from €500k to multi-million euro investments, ideally within complex operating facilities.
- Strong working knowledge of:
- Mechanical systems
- P&IDs
- Isometric drawings
- Mechanical specifications
- Construction work packs
- Inspection and testing requirements
- Turnover and handover documentation
- Proven experience leading contractors and multidisciplinary project teams on small and medium-sized capital projects.
- Demonstrated ability to manage safety, quality, schedule, cost, and commissioning milestones effectively.
- Experience operating within live production environments is highly desirable.
Qualifications & Certifications
- Degree, trade qualification, or equivalent experience in:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Building Services Engineering
- Construction Management
- Related technical discipline
Desirable
- Project Management qualification.
- Construction Safety certification.
- Additional training or experience in:
- Lifting Operations
- Permit-to-Work Systems
- Pressure Systems
- Welding Quality Management
Core Competencies
Safety & Quality Leadership
Leads safe, compliant, and right-first-time mechanical construction activities with a strong focus on quality, inspection readiness, and regulatory compliance.
Mechanical Delivery Expertise
Strong understanding of mechanical systems, installation methodologies, construction sequencing, project constraints, and commissioning dependencies.
Project Execution
Applies structured planning, progress tracking, risk management, commercial awareness, and issue resolution to ensure successful project delivery.
Stakeholder Management
Builds effective working relationships with contractors, engineering teams, commissioning personnel, operations, quality, safety, and senior leadership.
Reporting & Interfaces
The role will typically report to the Construction Manager and/or Project Director and will work closely with:
- Engineering Teams
- Procurement
- Quality Assurance
- Safety Teams
- Operations Personnel
- Contractors
- Vendors
- Commissioning Teams
What’s on Offer?
- Attractive hourly rate contract.
- Minimum 12-month duration with strong potential for extension.
- 45-hour working week.
- Direct client engagement.
- Join an established team of eight experienced project professionals.
- Work on an ongoing capital investment programme.
- Exposure to projects ranging from €500,000 to €40 million.
- Opportunity to lead a diverse portfolio of mechanical and process-related projects within a world-class pharmaceutical manufacturing facility.
- Collaborative, high-performing, and safety-focused project environment.
