Project Manager

About CPI

CPI helps make great ideas and inventions a reality. We’re a team of intelligent people using advances in science and technology to solve the biggest global challenges in healthcare and sustainability.

Through our incredible people and innovation infrastructure, we collaborate with our partners in industry, academia, government, and the investment community to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative products.

From health technologies and pharmaceuticals to sustainable food and materials innovations, we turn the entrepreneurial spirit and radical thinking of our people and partners into incredible impact that makes our world a better place.

Hybrid Working

We’re embracing hybrid working to build a happier, more productive, and environmentally conscious workplace. Discover more about our new flexible working approach.

Why this role is important for CPI’s work

CPI are currently recruiting for an experienced Project Manager to join the team at our National Biologics Manufacturing Centre based at Darlington. 

You will have the opportunity to play a key role in delivering profound impact to the health and sustainability of the UK and global pharma economy through the projects you will manage, and the delivery teams you will lead.

We are looking for people who share our passion and energy for developing the next generation of medicine innovations to deliver a healthier and sustainable future for everyone.

The team

The project management team have grown significantly in recent years to enable the business to plan, co-ordinate and control the complex and diverse activities of innovative grant funded research programmes and industrially viable commercial projects to enable novel processes and technology endeavours as well as build ongoing mutually beneficial business relationships. 

Our people are our most prized asset, and we invest in their personal and professional development, all our Project Managers have the opportunity for professional training to gain a qualification from the Association of Project Management (APM) to enable them to fulfil and excel in their role. CPI’s dynamic and growing environment means that you will be challenged and given opportunities to grow and develop with the company.

The role

In the role of Project Manager, you will be required to take overall responsibility for several external customer projects all varying in budget, timelines, and complexity. Work closely with the project delivery teams, technical leads and managers to ensure clear roles and responsibilities are assigned to enable the project objectives to be defined, planned, and delivered successfully to meet time, quality, and cost targets, and in turn realising measurable benefits and ensuring customer satisfaction building a foundation for repeat business.

The National Biologics Manufacturing Centre in Darlington, provides a diverse range of bioprocessing and manufacturing challenges, below are a few highlights: 

• Accelerating and de-risking the development of complex medicines, vaccine technologies and advanced therapeutics. 
• Supporting industry to prepare and implement digital biopharma 4.0 technologies.

Collaborating with leading academic institutes and industrial partners to develop novel and leading technology advances. 

Key responsibilities

Key tasks in the Project Manager role will include (but are not limited to the below), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• To oversee the management of activities of the project delivery teams, supporting technical leads to ensure clear roles, responsibilities and objectives are defined, planned, and represent the customer ensuring deliverables are being completed to defined expectations (within the base-lined cost and time plan), first time to successfully deliver the contracted scope.
• Maintain frequent and detailed communication with all members of the team to always ensure clarity.
• Manage deviations from plan with customers and CPI delivery teams without unduly affecting the stated objectives and benefits and maintain clarity.
• Proactively manage foreseen project risks and mitigate issues as they arise, implementing corrective actions.
• Take on Project Support tasks, as and when necessary.
• Motivate the project team and provide direction.
• Execute the project lessons learnt process to maximise learning from all projects during and after the execution, carrying out an internal review with the delivery team and actively seeking feedback from the customer; implement any corrective actions to ensure continuous improvement. Seek repeat business from customers as part of the closure and review process.

The person we are seeking

Essential:

It is essential you can demonstrate a relevant project or technical background with experience in managing multiple projects. A team player who is proactive with a ​“can-do” attitude, as these attributes are essential to deliver the role fully.

Educated to Degree level (or equivalent) in an Engineering/​Science or Business-related subject with relevant industry experience or can demonstrate significant experience within a Project Management role.

Candidates are required to have demonstrable experience of establishing good relationships across functions and at all levels within an organisation, on-time delivery of the technical and multidisciplinary project and controlling multiple concurrent projects. With the ability to develop a strong and constructive relationship with the delivery team.

It is essential that candidates have an appreciation of commercial aspects to usefully contribute to project scope, definition, and control, quoting, contract agreements and change control.

Demonstrable experience in the management of single projects of more than £250K and adept in financial and project performance processes

Candidates must be financially adept and able to manage project budgets, control costs and forecast accurately utilising cost inputs such as labour and consumable profiles. The candidate should be experienced in financial reporting (cost of sales, revenue, etc.) and is versed in using Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint to communicate.

Will be able to demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication. 

Desirable:

Experience in managing R&D projects with high levels of uncertainty in a scientific environment is desirable.

Experience in the requirements and reporting needs of public and private projects 

A background in Lifesciences and holds a Project Manager qualification such as APM Project Management Qualification (PMQ) or an International Project Management Association (IPMA) Level D qualification equivalent.

What does CPI offer you?

At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, this includes:

• Up to 36days holiday, including bank holidays – Plus a holiday purchasing scheme
• Generous pension scheme
• Life assurance and accident insurance schemes
• Flexible working
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Free parking

Find out more about our culture and benefits.

Additional information

CPI is an organisation based in the UK. Commencement of employment is conditional to demonstrating right to work in the UK, sponsorship may be available.