IFS Project Manager

A fantastic opportunity for an IFS Project Manager to join a well-established company in the manufacturing sector. THE ROLE: - Set interim strategic IFS objectives aligned with the board approved roadmap, and work with each division to translate these into actionable operational plans.- Lead the full lifecycle of IFS initiatives, including implementations, upgrades, module deployments, and system optimisation projects.- Develop and oversee detailed project plans, timelines, budgets, and resource allocations to ensure successful delivery.- Coordinate activities across Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, HR, and IT to maintain alignment and drive cross functional collaboration.- Ensure all project milestones, deliverables, and documentation meet agreed quality and governance standards.- Serve as the primary liaison between business stakeholders, internal technical teams, and external IFS partners or consultants.- Facilitate workshops to gather requirements, map current processes, and design future state workflows that support business goals.- Manage vendor relationships, including contracts, statements of work, and performance monitoring.- Analyse and refine business processes to align with IFS best practices and improve operational efficiency.- Oversee system configuration, customisation, testing cycles, and data migration activities.- Ensure seamless integration between IFS and other enterprise systems, with robust design and execution standards.- Identify project risks and issues, escalate appropriately, and implement effective mitigation strategies.- Lead change control processes and communicate impacts clearly to all relevant stakeholders.- Support organisational change initiatives, including training, adoption planning, and post go live support.- Oversee the development and execution of user acceptance testing (UAT) strategies.- Coordinate the creation and delivery of training materials, user guides, and knowledge transfer documentation.- Manage cutover planning, go live readiness activities, and early life support to ensure smooth transitions.- Partner with Finance and divisional teams on budget planning, forecasting, and financial governance.- Foster a culture of continuous improvement across the business, underpinned by high quality data and analytics.- Identify strategic risks and contribute to the development of mitigation plans.- Coordinate cross company initiatives and projects to support broader organisational objectives.- Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support collaboration and alignment.THE CANDIDATE:- The ideal candidate will bring strong experience from an asset-based organisation, ideally one with a rental, asset-pooling, or equipment-as-a-service operating model. They will have 5-10 years of hands-on experience delivering ERP implementations or major system upgrades within a comparable environment, with exposure to IFS Cloud implementations considered highly advantageous.- Possess a bachelor's degree in Information Technology or Business Management. - Demonstrated experience leading IFS Cloud or IFS Applications implementations, with at least one full project lifecycle preferred.- Strong working knowledge of key IFS modules, including Finance, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Projects, Maintenance, and HR.- Solid understanding of ERP configuration principles, system integrations, data migration methodologies, and structured testing approaches.- Strong understanding of ERP principles and IFS applications, with the ability to ensure system functionality aligns seamlessly with business processes and operational requirements.- Proven track record in ERP management, including presenting complex data in a clear, credible manner that builds confidence with senior stakeholders.- Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and influence teams to deliver high-quality outcomes.- Brings a positive, proactive, and solutions-focused mindset.- Able to integrate well into a fast-growing, dynamic organisation and contribute to a strong, collaborative culture.- Thrives in an environment that offers autonomy and the freedom to make decisions, implement ideas, and identify opportunities for improvement.- Proven ability to deliver complex ERP or technology projects on time, within scope, and within budget.- Strong project planning skills with solid experience in RAID management, governance frameworks, and structured delivery disciplines.- Familiarity with agile, waterfall, and hybrid project methodologies, and the ability to apply the right approach for each initiative.- Excellent stakeholder-management, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage confidently at all organisational levels.- Comfortable working across both technical and non-technical teams, translating requirements and ensuring alignment.- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities, with a structured approach to tackling challenges.- Able to influence senior leaders, drive change, and build consensus around key decisions.- Skilled at managing multiple workstreams simultaneously, prioritising effectively, and delivering high-quality outcomes.- Quick to learn new concepts and able to work independently with minimal supervision.- Brings a collaborative, solutions-focused mindset and a constructive approach to problem solving.- Takes pride in producing high-quality work, with a focus on clarity, usability, and actionable analysis.- Able to simplify complex issues, identify what truly matters, and communicate priorities clearly.THE CONSULTANCY:Edwards & Pearce acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. Edwards & Pearce is an Equal Opportunities Employer.