Senior Manager - Engineering & Maintenance in Oxford
Senior Manager - Engineering & Maintenance

Senior Manager - Engineering & Maintenance in Oxford

Oxford Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead engineering and maintenance excellence in a cutting-edge biotech facility.
  • Company: Join Moderna, a leader in mRNA technology transforming medicine.
  • Benefits: Best-in-class healthcare, generous paid time off, and family building support.
  • Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for innovation and collaboration.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on patients' lives while advancing your career.
  • Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in engineering and 8+ years in biotech or pharma required.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

Joining Moderna means advancing mRNA science to transform medicine. Work with exceptional global teams on a broad pipeline and build a career that makes a real difference for patients. Moderna is establishing a leading research, development, and manufacturing facility at Harwell to support onshore mRNA vaccine production for respiratory diseases in the UK. This long-term investment will create skilled jobs and strengthen collaboration with academic, NHS, and government partners. We welcome experts ready to help expand access to life-saving vaccines.

Reporting to the Site Engineering Lead, this role sits at the heart of Moderna’s Harwell operations, acting as a critical technical authority across facility, utility, and maintenance systems. You will shape how engineering and maintenance excellence is delivered across both R&D and Manufacturing environments. This is a highly visible individual contributor role, driving vendor performance, operational reliability, and continuous improvement across a complex, high-impact biotech site—with growing exposure to digital and AI-enabled engineering practices.

Here's What You'll Do:

  • Provide technical oversight of building infrastructure and grey/black utility systems (Shell and Core), ensuring facility and lab service delivery meets operational needs.
  • Manage and elevate performance of on-site engineering service vendors through clear expectations and governance frameworks.
  • Review and drive vendor KPIs in alignment with Global Engineering governance standards.
  • Oversee delivery of maintenance and engineering activities using a mix of global planning, local coordination, and internal/external resources.
  • Contribute to key site initiatives including shutdowns, CAPEX projects, and engineering process improvements.
  • Partner with Global Maintenance and Engineering teams to implement maintenance strategies and develop Maintenance Job Plans.
  • Lead smaller site projects and improvements, ensuring quality, compliance, timelines, and cost control.
  • Act as the primary technical contact for operational and service issues across in-scope systems.
  • Engage proactively with lab and manufacturing teams to identify issues and drive continuous improvements.
  • Ensure all engineering activities align with Moderna procedures and compliance standards.
  • Support vendor onboarding, offboarding, and transitions to maintain operational continuity.
  • Leverage digital tools and emerging technologies, including exposure to Generative AI, to enhance maintenance, vendor management, and decision-making.

The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:

  • “We behave like owners. The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description.”
  • “We digitize everywhere possible using the power of code to maximize our impact on patients.”

Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications):

  • Bachelor’s degree in engineering (i.e. Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, or Civil Engineering) required. Master’s degree preferred.
  • Minimum 8 years of Facilities and/or Engineering experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries required. GMP facility experience required.
  • Excellent negotiation, interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written) are required.
  • Technical writing skills required.
  • Must be able to use his/her technical background to investigate issues using a structured problem-solving approach to determine true root cause and develop effective corrective and preventative actions.
  • Demonstrates strategic enterprise thinking, finding innovative ways to deliver results and build trust.
  • Must possess outstanding communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills, and the ability to work with enterprise-wide information systems for effective stakeholder management and communication.
  • Experience utilizing a CMMS for the planning and execution of a maintenance program. Maximo-specific experience preferred.
  • Ability to interact well with other groups and must be able to take ownership of and follow through on assignments.
  • Experience with Delta Controls (Enteliweb) and Siemens (Desigo) systems preferred.
  • Ability to represent Moderna’s interests, objectives, and policies in a professional and responsible manner.

This position is site-based, requiring you to be at Moderna’s site full-time. This position is not eligible for remote work. As part of Moderna’s commitment to workplace safety, this role may require an enhanced pre-employment check.

Pay & Benefits:

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our global benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

  • Best-in-class healthcare, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs.
  • A holistic approach to well-being with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support.
  • Family building benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support.
  • Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown.
  • Savings and investments to help you plan for the future.

The benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work.

About Moderna:

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world. By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture.

Moderna is committed to equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law.

If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply!

Senior Manager - Engineering & Maintenance in Oxford employer: ModernaTX

Moderna is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment at its state-of-the-art Harwell facility, where you can contribute to groundbreaking mRNA vaccine production. With a strong focus on employee well-being, generous benefits, and a culture that champions innovation and collaboration, Moderna provides ample opportunities for professional growth and development. Join a team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the world of medicine while enjoying a supportive and inclusive workplace.
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Contact Detail:

ModernaTX Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Manager - Engineering & Maintenance in Oxford

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the biotech field, especially those who work at Moderna or similar companies. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching Moderna’s projects and values. Show us you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate how your skills align with our mission to transform medicine and improve patient outcomes.

Tip Number 3

Practice your technical skills and problem-solving approach. Be ready to discuss real-world scenarios where you’ve tackled complex engineering challenges. We love candidates who can think on their feet!

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Moderna.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Manager - Engineering & Maintenance in Oxford

Technical Oversight
Vendor Management
Performance Management
GMP Facility Experience
Negotiation Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Communication Skills
Technical Writing
Problem-Solving Skills
Root Cause Analysis
Analytical Skills
CMMS Utilisation
Maximo Experience
Delta Controls (Enteliweb) Experience
Siemens (Desigo) Systems Experience

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in engineering and maintenance. We want to see how your skills align with the specific needs of the role at Moderna.

Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t hold back on showcasing your technical writing and problem-solving abilities. Use examples from your past experiences that demonstrate how you've tackled complex issues, especially in biotech or pharmaceutical settings.

Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured documents that are easy to read. Avoid jargon unless it's industry-specific and relevant to the role.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at ModernaTX

Know Your Engineering Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your engineering principles, especially in facilities and maintenance. Be ready to discuss your experience with utility systems and how you've tackled complex problems in the past. This role is all about technical oversight, so show them you know your stuff!

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a Senior Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead teams and manage vendor performance. Prepare examples of how you've successfully driven projects or improved processes in previous roles. Highlight your negotiation and communication skills, as these will be key in influencing decisions.

Familiarise Yourself with Digital Tools

Since this role involves leveraging digital tools and AI, make sure you're up to speed with any relevant technologies. If you've used CMMS like Maximo or have experience with Delta Controls, be ready to discuss how these tools have helped you enhance maintenance strategies in the past.

Align with Moderna's Mindsets

Understand and embody Moderna's core mindsets, such as behaving like owners and digitising processes. Think of examples where you've taken ownership of projects or implemented innovative solutions. This will show that you're not just a fit for the role, but also for the company culture.

Senior Manager - Engineering & Maintenance in Oxford
ModernaTX
Location: Oxford

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