IT Project Manager MES Implementation (Dutch speaking)

ABOUT US

Get on board with Damen Naval, along with more than 1,200 professionals based in The Netherlands, Romania, and Germany. We are the naval division of the family-owned Damen Shipyards Group which employs 12,000 professionals globally. Damen Naval designs and builds advanced naval vessels for customers all over the world. With a passion for technological innovation and sustainable solutions, we continue to push the boundaries in naval shipbuilding. You can be part of our team! Are you ready for duty?

THE ROLE

As the IT Project Manager MES Implementation at Damen Naval, you will spearhead the implementation of our Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for the shipbuilding industry we are operating in. Your focus will be on seamlessly integrating Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) with manufacturing operations, thereby enhancing efficiency and ensuring digital continuity across engineering, production, and logistics. You will collaborate closely with internal stakeholders to define system requirements, streamline business processes, and drive the adoption of innovative digital solutions. Additionally, you will play a crucial role in managing stakeholder awareness and adoption of business changes. Regular visits to our headquarters in Vlissingen will be required.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Deliver the successful implementation of the MES solution according to set KPIs with continuous stakeholder engagement.
• Create detailed forecasts based on necessary resources—budget, timelines, and external resources—to validate proposals and define KPIs.
• Define required capabilities over the project timeline and assign (external) project members accordingly.
• Proactively monitor and mitigate risks that threaten project success.
• Identify and manage dependencies with other projects for seamless integration and execution.
• Report key metrics to stakeholders on project status, development, risks, and issues.
• Advise and support improvements in project (portfolio) management.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

We are looking for candidates with the following qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in PLM implementation within manufacturing, ideally in shipbuilding or complex low-series production
• Experienced in leading the implementation of a MOM/MES solution from a top-tier Gartner Magic Quadrant provider (Preferred: Dassault Apriso).
• Expertise in manufacturing digitalization, including MOM/MES, PLM, ERP, and shop-floor system integration.
• Understanding of supply-chain related challenges within a MES/MOM context.
• Knowledge of Bill of Process, Bill of Information, Bill of Materials, and Assembly driven thinking.
• Strong ability to connect IT, engineering, and manufacturing, ensuring smooth cross-functional collaboration.
• Excellent references, as a security screening is part of the hiring process.
• Permanent EU citizenship and passport are both required. Candidates with EU (work) visa or with (also) a non-EU nationality and/or passport are not eligible given the requirements imposed by the military nature of our projects.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Damen Naval, we highly value our employees, and we will support your professional and personal development. We also provide our employees with:

• A competitive salary and 8% holiday pay.
• 27 holidays and 13 ADV days.
• Travel allowance of 23 cents per kilometre.
• PME-pension arrangement with an employer contribution of 60%.
• Profit sharing based on company results.
• Flexibility to work from home up to two days a week.
• Additional benefits including a bicycle plan and company fitness.

Why Damen?

Damen has 35 shipyards on five different continents and operates in more than 100 countries. We are still growing and that gives you options. You contribute to this growth while benefitting from the diverse development and career opportunities that our company offers. We will continue to challenge you. With our extensive portfolio of products and solutions you will never get bored and never stop learning. We offer you a world of possibilities. Working at Damen means contributing to the highest quality in shipbuilding, with an eye to the future and future generations. We want to make the world a better place by becoming the most sustainable maritime solution provider. For that, we need you. Become part of our family.

About Us

We are Damen. We’re a family company that has been building ships for almost 100 years. However, our focus is not on the past, however – we’re looking forward. Our ambition is to become the most sustainable and connected maritime solutions provider there is. To achieve this, we combine digital technology with our philosophy of standardised shipbuilding to offer a portfolio of services that takes care of vessels throughout the entire lifecycle. Working at Damen offers the best of several worlds. Active in more than 100 countries, with over 30 shipyards, we are internationally renowned for quality. And we are still growing, still innovating. Which means we will continue to challenge you. You will never stop learning, and you will never get bored – we promise you that. We offer you an ocean of possibilities. Join our family.