Project Manager

As a Projectmanager at Lely, you take ownership of innovative product development projects that contribute to the future of dairy farming. You ensure projects are brought from idea to realization: on time, within scope, and with full control over budget and quality. You connect people, expertise, and resources, and bring structure to environments where not everything has been defined yet. 

You will work on projects within the Alternatives & Regenerative Ag. department, where we build new business models and regenerative solutions for dairy farmers. Think of product development at the intersection of robotics, nature, ecology, and economics. Much of what we do is new—this requires vision, courage, and the ability to provide direction without being able to predict everything in advance. 

Within a small, multidisciplinary, and ambitious team, you work closely with the Program Manager and Senior R&D Specialist. Together, you develop innovative solutions around regenerative feeding, soil and cow health, and manure management. You continuously switch between strategy and practice: you lead projects, but are also hands-on in the execution. 

Your key responsibilities: 

• You lead innovative product development projects within Alternatives & Regenerative Ag. and take full ownership from initiation to realization. 
• You create a clear, shared ambition and translate vision and ideas into concrete project goals, project plans, and business cases. 
• You coordinate and execute projects, guide tests and pilots, and bring structure to environments where not everything is yet defined. 
• You maintain control over budget, progress, and risks, and actively steer where needed to achieve results. 
• You work closely with colleagues from various disciplines as well as with external experts and suppliers. 
• You build a strong internal and external network and ensure clear progress reporting to managers and stakeholders. 

You are an experienced projectmanager who gets energy from pioneering and building something new. You understand the agricultural sector and know what is happening in the world of dairy farmers. You dare to think differently and know how to create opportunities in a constantly changing environment. 

You also bring the following: 

• A bachelor’s or master’s degree (HBO/WO); affinity with the agricultural sector/dairy farming is a plus; 
• At least 5 years of experience as a project manager; 
• Proven experience leading innovative product development projects; 
• As the team has an international character, you are fluent in both Dutch and English, spoken and written; 
• IPMA certification or equivalent. 
• Naturally, you thrive in a dynamic and innovative organization. 

Working at Lely means contributing to sustainable progress within one of the most innovative organizations in the Netherlands. You help future-proof the agricultural sector, and we ensure you have all the space, resources, and support to do so. 

• An international working environment with plenty of room for initiative and entrepreneurship. 
• Excellent employment conditions, including up to 8 weeks of vacation per year and a solid pension scheme. 
• Strong development opportunities: you are in control of your own growth and can choose from a wide range of training courses via the Lely Academy, from personal development to role-specific education. 
• Our modern Lely Campus offers daily access to extensive sports facilities, including an indoor gym, outdoor padel courts, an outdoor basketball and volleyball court, table tennis, and table football. You can join Hyrox workouts, sign up for personal training, or challenge colleagues during an active break. 
• Enjoy fresh coffee and tea from our own barista, with milk straight from our farm, as well as a healthy and affordable company restaurant. 
• A free shuttle bus that takes you to and from the Maassluis metro station, ensuring a smooth start and end to your workday. 
• Successes are meant to be celebrated—from anniversaries to Christmas parties, at Lely we know how to do it! 

Recruitment & selection agencies, consultancies, and/or staffing agencies 

We appreciate your interest, but we recruit all our candidates directly. We understand that as an intermediary you may wish to propose candidates for our great opportunities and contribute to our ambitions, but this is not how our recruitment process is set up. This means that all unsolicited profiles submitted for Lely vacancies will be treated as direct applications. 

Founded in 1948, Lely is committed to a sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable future in agriculture. Driven by the challenges faced by farmers and the needs of cows, we develop high-quality robots and data systems that improve animal welfare, flexibility, and productivity on dairy farms. Our mission is to support sustainable food production.

For more than 30 years, we have been a global leader in the sale and service of automated systems for successive generations of dairy farmers. Every day, we inspire our colleagues to offer customers innovative solutions and to be a reliable partner for long-term advice and support. With our state-of-the-art Lely Campus in Maassluis and a global network of dedicated Lely Centers offering customized sales and service, Lely is active in more than fifty countries.