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.
CPI is currently recruiting for an exciting opportunity for a Programme Manager to join its expanding Project Management team to provide oversight and manage our Capex programmes. CPI has a history of building new open access centres and managing large pilot plant equipment builds.
Here are a few examples of recent large capital build programmes CPI has delivered:
RNA Centre of Excellence – Accelerating in-novation in RNA vaccines and therapeutics
AMBIC – A national centre to accelerate battery innovation, the UK’s open-access centre helping innovators bridge lab discovery to scalable, market-ready battery technologies
Supporting large pilot plant equipment builds as part of our Economiser programme.
The successful candidate for the role of this Programme Manager will manage the design, build and implementation of CPI’s CAPEX programmes. Working closely with the technical team, contractors and senior level stakeholders to establish the new facilities and deliver complex requirements. Experience in large scale technical and/ or construction projects is advantageous. The role will include coaching more junior project management and asset engineering staff. The role is offered on a hybrid working basis, a combination of home and office working, based in CPI’s Redcar and Sedgefield sites. Limited travel to contractors and other sites will be required. While the primary focus of this role is capital programme delivery, the role may also support R&D and innovation programmes where capacity allows.
CPI works with a wide range of organisations from across the world including large multinational corporations, small-medium enterprises and start-up companies as well as internationally renowned universities.
The Project Management team has grown significantly to support complex, innovative industrial projects and programmes. CPI uses the Association of Project Management (APM) based approach to programme and project management and offers a dynamic company environment with strong opportunities for professional development.
Key tasks
Key tasks in the role will include:
Act as the primary point of contact between CPI, contractors, and suppliers, managing risks, issues, and dependencies to ensure successful delivery of the contracted scope.
Manage contractor and supplier performance, including oversight of CAPEX contracts, change control, milestones, budgets and compliance with commercial and governance requirements.
Work closely with Technical Leads to deliver projects within agreed scope, cost, and schedule, ensuring roles, responsibilities, and delivery plans are clearly defined and aligned to customer requirements.
Manage programme finances, including budgets, forecasting, resourcing and variance management, ensuring alignment with approved funding profiles.
Support the delivery of grant-funded projects, ensuring robust, audit-ready financial records, and reporting.
Maintain clear communication with all stakeholders, managing deviations to protect programme outcomes.
Support CPI project governance and reporting processes.
Capture and implement lessons learned during and after project delivery to drive continuous improvement.
For full details of this position please download the attached job description under Job Details.
Essential:
Degree-qualified (or equivalent) in a scientific, engineering or business discipline or significant senior programme/project management experience supported by a recognised qualification (e.g. APM PMQ, IPMA Level D).
On time delivery of technical, multi-disciplinary complex projects and programmes.
Controlling multiple concurrent projects and programmes.
Experience delivering construction, infrastructure, or other large-scale CAPEX projects.
An understanding of a variety of grant funding mechanism and regulations.
Management of single projects in excess of £500K.
Managing and exceeding customer expectations.
Understands project management process.
Successfully mentoring more junior teams of Project Managers.
Ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams, manage risk effectively and challenge senior stakeholders when required.
Strong commercial awareness and strategic decision-making capability.
Desirable:
Experience delivery projects under NEC4 or similar construction contracts.
Experience in R&D or innovation-led environments.
Experience with public and private sector funded projects.
Experience delivering new facilities or major facility expansions.
Please note this role is hybrid but would require travel to our sites at Redcar and Sedgefield.
At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, this includes:
Up to 36 days 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.