Manager Projects - Consumer Foods Sector
CEYLON COLD STORES PLC
MANAGER PROJECTS - CONSUMER FOODS SECTOR
Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS), manufacturer of Elephant House Soft Drinks and Ice Creams is a leading consumer food company in Sri Lanka. CCS is a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings, PLC.
The company is seeking a suitable candidate to fill the position of Manager Projects - Consumer Foods Sector. The position is responsible for managing the Supply Chain Project Management Office (PMO) for CCS, ensuring the effective delivery of strategic and operational initiatives across planning, manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and route-to-market. The role supports prioritization, funding coordination, governance, and structured execution to deliver measurable value in cost efficiency, service performance, agility, sustainability, and risk management.
It facilitates cross-functional coordination, supports stakeholder engagement, and ensures smooth execution of projects across the business. The role also contributes to strengthening PMO practices and maintains a disciplined delivery approach, ensuring alignment with the overall supply chain transformation agenda in a fast-paced, multi-channel FMCG environment.
Job Responsibilities
- Build and manage the sector-wide supply chain project portfolio, ensuring alignment with business priorities and annual operating plans; Translate performance objectives (service levels/OTIF, cost-to-serve, inventory health, responsiveness) into clear project charters, KPIs, and value cases; Partner with cross-functional leaders to ensure the portfolio supports growth, operational excellence, and end-to-end supply chain maturity.
- Establish and enforce project governance including stage gates, RACI models, risk registers, and benefits realization plans; Lead regular portfolio review forums with senior leadership, ensuring visibility of progress, risks, and interventions; Standardize PMO methodologies, tools, reporting cadence, and learning repositories to drive consistent delivery excellence.
- Collaborate with Finance to structure project funding, business cases, and benefit-tracking mechanisms; Ensure compliance with internal controls, procurement standards, contracting norms, and audit requirements; Maintain strong commercial and CapEx governance practices, ensuring all project spend delivers intended value.
- Lead transformation initiatives spanning demand and supply planning, capacity optimization, manufacturing efficiency, warehousing productivity, logistics performance, and route-to-market effectiveness; Drive analytics-enabled projects leveraging advanced planning systems, WMS/TMS, network models, automation, and digital dashboards; Advance S&OP/IBP maturity by aligning planning processes, capacity planning, and service/inventory strategies with project outcomes.
- Manage RFP/RFQ processes, commercial evaluations, and contract negotiations for technology, equipment, and consulting services; Govern external partners (consultants, OEMs, systems integrators) to ensure on-time, on-budget, value-accretive delivery; Oversee implementation of technology solutions such as automation, cold-chain assets, planning tools, and digital visibility platforms.
- Align plant, logistics, sales, and finance stakeholders on project requirements, readiness, training, and SOP/process changes; Ensure effective communication of progress, benefits, and impacts to senior leadership through structured dashboards and reviews; Anchor change adoption using clear leading indicators, capability building, and continuous reinforcement of new ways of working.
- Ensure all projects adhere to FMCG regulatory, quality, food safety, and EHS standards; Integrate sustainability principles, including waste reduction, energy efficiency, and responsible sourcing, into project design and delivery; Embed compliance practices throughout the project lifecycle in line with sector standards.
Person Specifications
- BSc in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or related fields.
- A postgraduate degree is preferred with 05–08 years of progressive experience in FMCG or manufacturing supply chain roles, including at least 3–5 years in PMO, program management, or cross-functional project leadership.
- Exposure to ERP, APS, WMS, TMS, and analytics platforms; ability to lead technology-enabled transformation.
- Business understanding in Supply Chain Operations and End-to-End Value Chain Integration in FMCG Industry.
- Sound knowledge in End-to-End FMCG Supply Chain (Planning, Manufacturing, Warehousing, Logistics, Route-to-Market), ERP, APS, WMS, TMS, and analytics platforms ability to lead technology-enabled transformation, Total Quality Management, Total Productive Maintenance, Food Standards and related regulatory requirements, Industrial Relations Legislation Environment, Health and Safety legislation.
- Business Acumen; Leadership and Building High Performance Teams; Analytical Skills; Innovative; Communication; Adaptability; Negotiation; Decision making and problem solving; Organization; Attention to detail Excellent communication skills.
If you are confident that you possess the above requirement, please send your cv, which includes the names of two non-related referees. Click on the advert now to join our team via the Elephant House Careers site.