Project Manager - Jellycat Labs (AI and Robotics)

Location: London, UK; hybrid model with a minimum of three office days per week. The role includes occasional travel to UK universities and research institutes, with potential travel to Europe and Asia.

Company

hirify.global Labs is hirify.global's innovation division, working with factories, mills and research partners on automation, AI quality control and process innovation for toy manufacturing.

What you will do

• Deliver projects from initiation through closure across automation and robotics, AI vision quality control, process innovation and enabling technologies.
• Manage feasibility studies, prototypes, proof-of-concept work, pilots, factory trials and handover to Production.
• Develop project plans, schedules, budgets, RAID logs, business cases, benefits tracking and stage-gate materials.
• Coordinate business, technical, production, sourcing, quality, operations, product, technology and third-party teams.
• Manage risks, issues, dependencies, testing, validation, quality, product safety, regulatory compliance and operational readiness.
• Maintain the Labs project and partner trackers, prepare Steerco and CEO sprint-review content, and manage partner contracts, IP, onboarding, tenders, purchase orders and spend tracking.

Requirements

• Proven experience delivering projects end to end in a fast-paced, multi-project environment.
• Experience managing projects in at least two of research and development, manufacturing, innovation, technology and software, with an understanding of delivery considerations across all five areas.
• Experience with feasibility, prototyping, testing and validation; suppliers and factories; proof-of-concept, pilot and stage-gate delivery; automation, robotics, machine vision or digital projects; or software requirements, testing/UAT, cut-over and go-live, as applicable.
• Working knowledge of predictive and agile project methodologies such as PRINCE2, PMI/PMBOK, Stage-Gate and Scrum/Agile, with judgement to select the appropriate approach.
• Strong organisational, planning, communication and stakeholder-management skills, including the ability to bridge technical, operational, creative and commercial audiences.
• Experience with project plans, RAID logs, budgets and reporting tools, with strong attention to accuracy and detail.
• A proactive, hands-on approach; comfort with ambiguity and pressure; and sound judgement on resolving or escalating issues.
• Proficiency in project-management software, ideally Monday.com, as well as MS Project or Smartsheet.
• Collaborative approach and commitment to delivering reliable, well-run projects.

Nice to have

• Formal project-management qualification.
• Experience working with suppliers or partners in Korea, Vietnam or China.
• Experience in consumer products, textiles or manufacturing, or with universities, research institutes and technology partners.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid working with at least three days per week in the office.
• 25 days of paid holiday, premium Vitality medical cover including optical and dental cover, and life insurance at four times basic salary.
• Discretionary annual bonus based on company and individual performance.
• Health Assured confidential wellbeing support, salary-sacrifice pension with 5% company and employee contributions, and subsidised breakfasts and lunches on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• Active social committee and opportunities to attend trade shows and visit factory partners in Europe and Asia.