Job Description

Job title: Estates Transformation Projects Lead

Location: MRC Harwell

Salary: 55,809

Contract type: FTC until end March 2026

Hours Full: Time

About Us

The Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell (MLC) https://www.har.mrc.ac.uk/ is located in an expanding science and innovation park in Oxfordshire and is an internationally renowned centre at the forefront of genetics research. As the hub of the new National Mouse Genetics Network, the specialist facilities and capabilities of the MLC support a number of research groups across the UK to accelerate our understanding of human disease.

About the Role

The Estates Transformation Projects Lead will manage and deliver a broad portfolio of estates projects at the Mary Lyon Centre, MRC Harwell, supporting MRC's capital investment and sustainability strategies. These projects include infrastructure upgrades, lab refurbishments, M&E systems, plant replacements, and sustainability initiatives such as decarbonisation and renewables.


Reporting to the Head of Engineering and Estates, the role oversees all project phases from feasibility to completion ensuring technical and scientific requirements are met without disrupting operations. Managing budgets ranging from 200k to 10m, the post-holder will work closely with internal teams, scientific stakeholders, external consultants, and contractors.


A strong background in building services engineering, particularly mechanical and electrical systems, is essential. The role requires the ability to lead complex projects, assess technical risks, ensure compliance, and deliver robust, maintainable, and regulation-compliant schemes on time and within budget.

About You

You will need to have:

Must hold relevant professional qualification related to the construction industry and/or membership of a relevant professional body (RICS, ICE CIOB, RIBA, etc.) Project Management Qualifications or educated to degree level or equivalent in an engineering or construction discipline Experience within a lead role of managing a large and complex construction project portfolio and managing a multi-disciplinary design team throughout the pre-construction phase An excellent track record in project planning, financial control, the assessment of contract strategies and contract supervision Proven experience working with Mechanical and Electrical schemes and understanding key engineering principles

Key Responsibilities

Ownership and responsibility for the successful planning, execution, monitoring, and control of site projects Provide regular summary to Head of Engineering & Estates and relevant MLC Stakeholders with regular reporting of projects, providing progress reports to stakeholders and wider audiences Take responsibility for the management of projects, including design and specification development, procurement, programme, construction, gateway approvals, risk and financial status Carry out initial project assessments, undertake client discussions, and give client technical advice regarding project proposals, process, procurement of the project team and deliverables providing technical expertise and commentary to provide engineering solutions Ensure compliance with all relevant project Health & Safety legislation, undertaking project audits where required, ensuring that policies and procedures relating to Health & Safety are adhered to

Benefits:

Choosing to come to work at the MRC (part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)) means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits, from a defined-benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement, to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and a salary sacrifice cycle-to-work scheme. In addition, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the work of a world-class medical research organisation.

How to Apply

If you are ready to take on this exciting role and be part of a team dedicated to ground-breaking research, we would love to hear from you. For full details and to apply visit our careers site.


Please quote reference MLC 2661


The closing date for applications is 24th August