Sr Regional Project Engineer

About the role:

Reporting directly to the Cluster Project Execution Director, the Senior Engineering Manager serves as the strategic bridge between Engineering and Business for the South LATAM region. Based in Extrema, MG, this role orchestrates the CAPEX portfolio for 2 to 4 manufacturing sites across Brazil and Chile, overseeing complex projects typically exceeding 500K CHF.

The position is a senior leadership figure responsible for the direct management of Project Managers and Project Engineers, ensuring a high level of execution discipline and resource optimization. Furthermore, the Senior Engineering Manager acts as a vital coach to Factory Technical Managers, guiding them in the technical memory and local execution of plant-specific projects to ensure they meet global standards.

Main stakeholders for this position include South LATAM Plant Managers, as well as regional leaders in Finance, Sourcing, HSE, and Quality. The core mission is to translate business growth needs into actionable engineering Master Plans, pursued through the rigorous application of the Front-End Loading (FEL) methodology and the BC Engineering staged-gate process. Success is achieved by balancing financial control, risk management, and stakeholder orchestration to deliver assets that are safe, efficient, and sustainable.

Why this role is attractive:

This role offers high-visibility leadership within a world-leading multinational organization. It provides a unique opportunity to manage cross-border operations between Brazil and Chile, driving large-scale industrial transformations and asset development. For an experienced leader, this position adds significant value by combining strategic portfolio management with the ability to mentor and develop a high-performing technical team in a complex, matrix environment.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead and oversee the work of Project Managers and Project Engineers within the South LATAM organizational unit, exercising high-level technical and administrative oversight to ensure portfolio alignment.
• Act as a senior mentor and coach to Factory Technical Managers regarding site-specific project execution, ensuring the maintenance of local technical memory and compliance with global engineering standards.
• Improve existing frameworks and create new validated standards, internal work instructions, and methodologies for the regional engineering department to drive operational excellence.
• Serve as the senior orchestrator for the South LATAM CAPEX portfolio; establish regional priorities, track multi-site budgets and schedules, and direct the work of internal staff and external consultants.
• Create and promote an equitable, high-engagement workplace that respects and leverages the multicultural society and diverse work environments across Brazil and Chile.
• Oversee the preparation and maintenance of critical project documentation, ensuring that engineering studies, technical reports, and design specifications meet the rigorous requirements of the Barry Callebaut staged-gate process.
• Establish and revise technical, quality assurance, and quality control standards for the cluster; perform high-level design reviews to ensure conformance with operational standards, securing formal approval from key stakeholders.
• Obtain and integrate input from South LATAM Plant Managers on projects during planning and design phases; participate in regional steering committees and represent Project Engineering in critical operational decisions.
• Collaborate with the Cluster Project Execution Director and regional management to plan and direct resources, ensuring projects exceeding 500K CHF are completed within defined budgets and schedules.
• Partner with the Procurement team to manage strategic sourcing, including the selection and management of major EPC contractors and vendors, ensuring cost-effective and efficient procurement for the region.
• Lead Risk Management for the regional portfolio, identifying potential technical or financial impediments and developing proactive mitigation strategies and contingency plans to manage uncertainties.
• Lead the budget estimation and strategic validation for the project CapEx 2-year Mid-Term Plan for the South LATAM cluster, reporting directly to the Cluster Project Execution Director.
• Performs other related strategic and technical work as required to support the regional Master Plan and asset development.

Scope:

• All the scope of work will be primarily based in Extrema, MG, with a regional focus on the South LATAM cluster.
• This role contributes to and supervises the entire CapEx portfolio for 2 to 4 manufacturing sites located across Brazil and Chile, playing a critical role in regional business growth.
• All Project Managers, Project Engineers, and regional execution teams (internal or outsourced) within the South LATAM scope will report directly to this position.
• This position has a crucial accountability for creating and ensuring a robust communication plan across borders, using adequate tools to guarantee that all stakeholders—from Plant Managers to the execution team—have their technical and project needs met.

About you:

• A bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or Control & Automation) is required. A master's degree (MS or MBA) is considered a significant asset for this leadership position.
• 10+ years of progressive engineering experience within the FMCG or food process industry, with a solid and proven track record of leading multidisciplinary teams and managing project portfolios of high complexity.
• Full proficiency in business and technical English is mandatory; advanced or fluent Spanish is essential for the management of operations in Chile.
• Expert-level knowledge of Microsoft Project and advanced proficiency in project management methodologies (FEL, PMBOK) is required.
• Proficient in engineering software (e.g., AutoCAD) and familiarity with ERP systems (SAP) for budget tracking and financial reporting.
• Proven technical experience in managing large-scale capital investments (>500K CHF) and leading cross-functional teams (Quality, HSE, Sourcing, and Finance).
• Exceptional communication, orchestration, and negotiation skills, with the ability to present strategic Master Plans to senior leadership and non-technical stakeholders.
• Substantial exposure to international manufacturing environments and experience navigating matrix organizations is required.
• Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification and/or specialized training in Process Automation or Utilities are highly desirable.

Additional Considerations or Comments:

• Travel requirements: 30% - 50% travel between manufacturing sites in Brazil (South) and Chile, depending on the project portfolio and commissioning phases.
• Location: Based in Extrema, MG. Ability to work in a hybrid environment with frequent presence at the industrial site.
• Physical/Environmental: Ability to conduct outdoor work and navigate industrial environments (climbing stairs/ladders, exposure to warm or dusty areas during site assessments).
• Others: Valid driver’s license (Category B) and flexibility to coordinate with stakeholders across different time zones.

Location: Extrema- MG