Head of Project Management in Cambridge

Inkjet Innovator. Trusted Partner. Sustainable Future. Xaar is here to create a world where you can print anything you can imagine. Xaar has defined 5 values which are vital to our business; each represents an area of essential importance to us. Their existence is intended to guide difficult decisions and shape behaviour.

• Creative – we push the boundaries of what’s possible
• Collaborative – everyone is a partner; we help each other freely and willingly
• Innovative – we always strive to constantly improve
• Integrity – we deliver on our promises
• Passion – we care about our technology, our products, our partners and each other

Purpose of Role

Head the Project Management Team. Ensure all Development projects within Xaar are being delivered at high project quality and following robust, high-quality processes. Direct the evolution of our Project Management processes in line with industry best practice. Maintain and build resource capacity and capability within the team in support of our 3-year plan. Represent Xaar externally to key customers.

Scale

The role is likely to involve line management of a team of three to ten people. The role will be responsible for delivering the R&D Project Portfolio including multi-million pound development projects.

Freedom to make decisions

The role will line manage the personnel within the team and own the working processes which the team follow. The role will, whilst working with Technical Authorities, define R&D projects and steer the project work to ensure that the team run successful projects. The role will personally project manage key projects to ensure on time and on budget delivery, whilst working with a Technical Authority to ensure on quality delivery. The role will work closely with the Commercial team to ensure the live project portfolio is well aligned with the business commercial priorities. The role will proactively foster collaboration between Development and other non-Development functions (Field Applications, Product Management, Business Development, Operations) to support knowledge sharing. The role will work closely with the Commercial team and the Technology team, to stay abreast of new industry sectors and applications which our technology could be applicable to. The role will manage the Project Management budget; working with the Finance team to track spend, update forecasts and allocate budget where felt necessary.

Complexity

The role will be required to work with, and clearly communicate to, multiple functional areas and stakeholders – some non-technical and some senior stakeholders. The role will need to communicate with external customers and may be running customer funded projects. The role will need to work closely with Technical Authorities; balancing project technical quality with “on-time” and “on-budget” delivery. The role will need to steer key project management decisions to ensure projects deliver in support of the three-year roadmap. The role will be personally project managing complex, multi-discipline R&D projects involving mechanics, electronics, software, fluidics. The role will need to stay aware of project management trends, including novel approaches, processes and tools. The role will need to govern the entire R&D Project Portfolio to ensure that all projects are delivering on time and to budget, including tracking and reporting methods. The role will need to proactively identify process and tool improvement opportunities for the Project Management team, and work as a change agent to have these implemented. Mostly working to a set of annual targets related to approved projects. Daily tracking of the projects being managed personally. Contribute to the organisational 3-year plan – bringing new project ideas to the team for review and discussion.

Key Accountabilities

On a typical day you’ll be expected to:

• Line manage the Project Management team members – ensuring good people management practice is in place.
• Project manage one or more key R&D projects.
• Keep an eye on the live project portfolio to ensure project deliverables are on track, forecasts remain updated and key issues and risks are being managed well.
• Develop a positive team culture in line with the Group’s values and behaviours.
• Work with Technical Authorities to steer Development Projects related to new product developments.
• Communicate with new and existing customers.

Knowledge, experience and qualifications:

• Degree level educated in an engineering or scientific field.
• Ideally, some experience in inkjet or a printing industry – any experience of digital print considerations would be an advantage (print head operation, waveform fundamentals, ink chemistry, media, drying techniques, colour management, ink system operation).
• Experience of line management.
• Experience of leading innovation within a technical organisation.
• Experience of best-in-class project management methods and tools.
• Experience of driving change to process, people, tools.

Skills & behaviours:

• Resourceful, flexible and able to work on own initiative.
• Able to communicate clearly and effectively in conversation and in writing, even to non-technical people.
• Highly collaborative.
• Dynamic, able to react to changing situations.
• Able to think analytically and apply skills and knowledge in new environments.
• Commercially aware and results orientated – comfortable representing Xaar in front of key clients.