Capital Project & High-Hazard Lead

AstraZeneca plc; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca plc is seeking a Capital Project & High-Hazard Lead at its Macclesfield Campus. The role holds the coordination point for capital projects, CDM duties, permit-to-work integrity, and high-hazard work governance, including liaison with principal contractors and maintenance of the AI-assisted workflow.

The position requires CDM knowledge, significant capital project SHE experience, and strong regulatory understanding, with leadership across safety disciplines and contractor management.

Qualifications

• Degree in engineering, construction management or related field.
• CDM Principal Designer/Principal Contractor experience.
• Significant experience in capital project SHE or high-hazard permit-to-work coordination.
• Strong knowledge of UK CDM 2015 and PUWER regulations.

Responsibilities

• Hold campus permit-to-work system integrity and governance.
• Coordinate CDM duty-holder and contractor liaison for high-hazard work.
• Own contractor competency framework and inductions.
• Provide SHE assurance on capital projects and high-hazard operations.
• Operate AI-supported permit lifecycle workflow and document register.

Skills

CDM knowledge

Contractor management

Safety leadership

Regulatory compliance

Education

Degree in engineering, construction management or related field

Tools

AI-enabled permit-system tools

Job description

Capital Project & High-Hazard Lead

Macclesfield

At AstraZeneca, we are driven by our commitment to deliver accelerated growth and to make people's lives better. We thrive in our often intense and ambiguous environment, seeking out new challenges and working towards new solutions. We are part of an inclusive and giving community, supporting each other on our journeys. We are leading the way in delivering Lean processes that drive greater efficiency and speed. Sustainable practices are at the heart of what we do, ensuring we manage our environmental impact across all our activities and products.

We are now looking for a Capital Project & High-Hazard Lead to join the team!

Introduction to Role

To hold the single coordination point for capital projects, CDM duties, permit-to-work system integrity, and high-hazard work assurance across the Macclesfield Campus. The role carries the relationship, coordination, and assurance layer for Principal Contractor liaison, CDM duty-holder support, permit-system integrity, and high-risk operational work governance, operating the AI toolset that handles workflow administration and document register maintenance.

Accountabilities

• Hold the Campus permit-to-work system integrity assurance — system design, deviation governance, audit response and cultural engagement.
• Lead the Campus CDM duty-holder coordination — Principal Designer and Principal Contractor liaison, HSE F10 notification governance, designer risk assessment integration.
• Own the contractor competency framework — pre-qualification matrix, on-site induction governance, named-individual competency verification.
• Coordinate the capital project Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) interface — project-stage SHE inputs, design risk assessment, pre-commissioning SHE assurance.
• Provide assurance on high-risk operational work — energy isolation, lockout / tagout, confined space, working at height.
• Operate the AI-supported permit lifecycle workflow, CDM document register, and contractor competency tracker as the named operating-user.
• Cross-pillar collaboration with the Associate Director - Site Safety Operations & Resilience on high-hazard work and emergency response interfaces.
• Lead permit-system audit response — internal audit findings, AstraZeneca Global audit visits, EA and HSE inspection close-out.
• Own the CDM, permit-to-work, and high-hazard operational work training programme — curriculum for permit issuers and acceptors, contractor competency inductions, refresher cycles.
• Provide SHE assurance on the Engineering-owned statutory inspection regimes — LOLER (lifting), PUWER (work equipment), electrical safety rules and Authorised Person regime.
• Own the waste contractor audit programme on capital projects and decommissioning / demolition governance (with Associate Director - SHE Regulated Operations on waste routing).
• AstraZeneca Pharma capital project SHE peer-network participation.
• External representation in CDM and permit-system industry forums to support the development of best practice and process optimisation.
• Cross-departmental advice to operations teams on permit and high-hazard work.
• Support to Director – SHE people, Workplace & Capital on capital project SHE governance.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Degree qualified in engineering, construction management, or related field (or equivalent relevant professional qualification and/or experience)
• CDM Principal Designer / CDM Principal Contractor experience.
• Significant experience in capital project SHE or high-hazard permit-to-work coordination.
• Strong working knowledge of UK CDM 2015 and PUWER regulations.
• Track record of contractor management at major industrial sites.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Pharmaceutical or specialty chemical industry experience.
• NEBOSH Construction Certificate.
• Experience of AI-enabled permit-system tools.
• Project SHE assurance framework experience.

Applications close midnight Wednesday 7th October

Please note that interviews for this role are likely to commence 14th October 2026

At AstraZeneca, we are leading our Operations function at an exciting time of growth and evolution. We pioneer new approaches and processes across our sites, empowering our teams to foster a Lean mindset and sustainable practices. Every change we make is to deliver better outcomes for our patients. We are the champions of Lean, ensuring our teams understand and embody the benefits it can bring. There's improved quality and safety, as well as speed. Our manufacturing sites are environments of constant and rapid change. It's a place to expect the unexpected. There's rarely an obvious answer to the varied challenges we face, so it takes adaptability, flexibility and patience to thrive here.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions.

Ready to take the next step in your career?

Date Posted

25-Sept-2026

Closing Date

07-Oct-2026Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.