Technology Development Director - South UK in London

Operating within the UK and European Operations function, this senior contract role is responsible for directing the design and development of processes, systems, instruments and equipment from laboratory through to manufacturing environments. The position will oversee the identification, deployment and governance of technology solutions supporting product development and operational processes, whilst leading strategic vendor interactions and technology initiatives.

Responsibilities include equipment acquisition and validation, process development and validation activities, and support of pilot plant and R&D operational environments. The role will have significant exposure to the development, implementation and operation of production and R&D facilities within regulated industrial and life sciences environments. Working across multiple concurrent projects and stakeholder groups, the successful candidate will collaborate closely with business leaders, end users, vendors, service providers and cross‑functional teams to deliver technology solutions aligned with operational strategy and business objectives. Whilst the role has no direct reports, it will involve leadership of cross‑functional project teams and oversight of external contractors. The position requires a highly organised, adaptable and hands‑on approach within a fast‑paced environment.

Main Duties

• Technology & Systems Development
• Analyse, document, and optimise business processes to align with current and future technology solutions.
• Identify and recommend solutions that meet operational and business requirements.
• Collaborate with internal technology and functional leads to assess existing systems and reusable capabilities.
• Lead the preparation of business cases and governance documentation.
• Develop and manage project plans including timelines, budgets, resources, communications, risks, and stakeholder management.
• Ensure stakeholder alignment throughout project delivery.
• Define and coordinate project teams, including vendors and contingent resources where required.
• Manage project execution and hold stakeholders accountable for deliverables.
• Validate functional solutions including use cases, conceptual designs, workflows, and supporting requirements.
• Partner with compliance and validation teams to support change control and system validation activities.
• Act as the primary point of contact for project delivery activities.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Facilitate governance forums to manage project dependencies and integrations.
• Resolve issues effectively and drive successful outcomes.
• Communicate project status through agreed reporting processes and tools.
• Support transition of projects into operational support environments.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with business leaders and end-user communities.
• Engineering & Operational Leadership
• Oversee schedules, equipment, materials, resources, and operational requirements within pilot plant or R&D environments.
• Provide technical leadership in process development, process validation, and equipment qualification activities.
• Lead technology transfer and scale‑up projects to support product launches and manufacturing readiness.
• Develop and maintain systems for tracking critical process parameters.
• Prepare, review, and approve technical documentation including SOPs, validation protocols, manufacturing records, and technical reports.
• Support preparation and review of technical and regulatory documentation where required.
• Develop and implement equipment qualification activities including installation, operational, and performance qualification.
• Ensure operational budgets and schedules align with organisational objectives.
• Assess resource utilisation and identify future resource requirements.
• Ensure appropriate staff training and maintenance of training records.
• Support optimisation of facility and equipment utilisation.
• Provide coaching, development, and performance feedback to team members and project contributors.
• Contribute to strategic and operational planning activities.
• Generate innovative solutions and maintain attention to detail.
• Lead structured problem‑solving and continuous improvement activities.
• Develop and coordinate project plans and team activities.
• Promote technical development and knowledge sharing across teams.
• Communicate clearly in both written and verbal formats.
• Support organisational change initiatives and transition management activities.
• Delegate responsibilities appropriately and monitor outcomes.
• Inspire and lead cross‑functional teams in achieving operational objectives.
• Foster collaboration, accountability, and continuous development within teams.
• Promote quality, compliance, accuracy, and operational excellence.

Qualifications and Person Specification

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD preferred) in Life Sciences, Engineering, Information Technology, or related discipline.
• Significant experience in technology deployment, process development, validation, and project management.
• Extensive management experience within pharmaceutical, biotech, manufacturing, or regulated industrial environments.
• Strong background delivering technology and operational projects across multiple technical and business domains.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across internal and external stakeholder groups.
• Strong project management capability with experience managing complex initiatives and resolving issues proactively.
• Ability to bridge business requirements with technical solution design and implementation.
• Experience gathering and documenting business requirements.
• Good understanding of system validation and change control processes.
• Project Management certification desirable.
• Experience working within regulated environments such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, research, clinical, manufacturing, or quality functions preferred.
• Demonstrated operational leadership and continuous improvement capability.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across functions.
• Proven ability to operate effectively within matrix organisations and manage multiple stakeholder groups.
• Technical experience in manufacturing, process development, analytical development, quality control, biotechnology, or chemical production environments.
• Strong leadership capability with experience developing and mentoring teams.
• Strategic, innovative, and forward-thinking mindset with focus on scalable and sustainable operations.
• Ability to deliver ambitious objectives through cross‑functional collaboration.