Operational Delivery Leader

Yarnton

Job Description

Role Purpose

This role is responsible for the delivery of complex scientific and engineering projects and programmes from conception to completion with particular focus on achieving excellent execution of our experimental campaigns’ workflow. The role will play a critical part in concept capture and technical planning sessions by advising on achievable timescales and optimal sequencing to enable delivery.

The role will act as the vital link between our scientific, design, manufacture and experimental operations team stakeholders, and external partners to ensure that projects progress efficiently from initiation through delivery by coordinating resources, managing priorities, identifying and removing bottlenecks to ensure technical milestones are met without compromising scientific integrity or operational efficiency.

The role will provide clear visibility of project status and resource utilization, enabling informed decision-making by senior leaders when required.

Accountabilities and deliverables

Project Planning & Execution: Develop and track work to a detailed project plan, including schedules, resource plans, and issue resolution plans.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure seamless communication and workflow integration across scientific and operational teams.
Resource Management: Work with Project Leads to ensure budget allocations, lab resources, and personnel bandwidth are managed to keep projects on track.
Risk Mitigation: Work with Project Leads to ensure potential scientific or operational bottlenecks are identified early; develop contingency plans to keep work moving forward.
Reporting & Documentation: Translate complex technical updates into clear, actionable progress reports for non-scientific stakeholders and executive leadership.
Make recommendations to executive leadership about schedules, prioritization and resource allocation (people and assets) to enable successful delivery of strategic priorities.
Continuous improvement: identify areas of improvement, propose and implement solutions to enhance performance through transformation activities.

Core skills, knowledge and attributes

Essential

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in engineering or a relevant scientific field.
Experience of executing cutting-edge technology plans in complex scientific or engineering environment.
Strong understanding of cross-functional workflows involving research, operations, and support teams
Strong understanding of the scientific method and experimental design.
The ability to understand and critique technical data while keeping the "big picture" in mind.
Balancing the slow, iterative nature of science with the fast-paced demands of commercial deadlines.
Influencing: Excellent communication skills to effectively influence stakeholders, foster collaboration and remove any barriers to delivery.
Problem-Solving: Proven ability to identify and solve complex business problems.
Financial Acumen: Understanding of how project delivery can impact the bottom line.
Adaptability: The ability to adapt to changing business needs and challenges.

Desirable

Member of recognised Project Management body (e.g. APM, PMI, etc.)
Proficiency with PM software (e.g. Jira, MS Project)