Facilities Engineer (Projects & Improvement)

Thermofisher Scientific; Horsham; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Thermo Fisher Scientific is seeking a Facilities Projects & Improvement Engineer in the UK. You will manage facilities CAPEX/OPEX projects across the full lifecycle, ensuring compliance with cGMP and quality systems while coordinating with the Facilities team and Quality groups.

You will identify improvements, develop business cases, and lead cross-functional delivery in a busy pharmaceutical-style environment, supporting 24/7 operations and site infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Recognised qualification in Facilities, Building Services, Mechanical, Electrical or another relevant technical discipline, or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Strong practical background with facilities, utilities, building services or site infrastructure.
• Good technical understanding of facilities systems (HVAC, electrical distribution, compressed air, water systems, fire protection, BMS).
• Experience delivering facilities projects from concept to handover in regulated environments is desirable.
• Experience managing contractors, CAPEX/OPEX, budgeting and procurement.
• Experience with cGMP, Quality Systems and change control in a controlled facilities environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage facilities CAPEX and OPEX projects through the full project lifecycle.
• Prepare and manage project documentation and cost estimates.
• Manage budgets, contractors, schedules, risks and actions.
• Collaborate with site CAPEX Project Managers on larger projects.
• Ensure facilities and utilities are handed over with documentation and training.
• Review designs for operability, maintainability and energy efficiency.
• Raise and manage change controls with quality and stakeholders.
• Work with Quality Engineer on verification requirements.
• Write and execute facilities engineering protocols and documentation.
• Identify improvement opportunities from data and feedback.
• Develop a prioritised pipeline and business cases for improvements.
• Lead continuous improvement activities and manage service providers.
• Undertake minor facilities works when appropriate.
• Provide hands-on support during high workload periods and breakdowns.
• Support fault finding and maintain reliable site services.
• Participate in 24/7 callout rota.
• Ensure activities comply with EHS, cGMP and procedures.

Skills

Facilities project management

Stakeholder management

Problem solving

HVAC/building services knowledge

CAPEX/OPEX experience

Education

Facilities/Building Services qualification or equivalent

Tools

Maximo CMMS

Job description

Adherence to all Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Safety Standards, Loud Noises (Equipment/Machinery), Office, Various outside weather conditions, Warehouse, Working at heights, The Facilities Projects & Improvement Engineer will work within the Engineering & Facilities department, reporting to the Engineering & Facilities Manager and working closely alongside the Facilities Team Leader and Facilities Engineers. The role will provide dedicated facilities project and improvement capability within the department, with a primary focus on facilities, utilities, building services, site infrastructure and associated operational processes. The role will independently manage appropriate facilities CAPEX and OPEX projects through the full project lifecycle and act as the key Facilities interface for larger or more complex CAPEX projects managed by the site CAPEX Project Management team. Alongside project delivery, the role will proactively identify opportunities to improve the reliability, efficiency, compliance, maintainability and cost effectiveness of site facilities and utilities. This will include using maintenance history, recurring failures, energy and utility performance, compliance requirements and feedback from the Facilities team to develop and maintain a prioritised pipeline of improvement opportunities. The position will combine project management with practical facilities experience and will remain an active member of the Facilities team, providing operational and hands-on support when required.

Responsibilities

• Manage facilities CAPEX and OPEX projects through the complete project lifecycle, including project initiation, scope development, planning, financial approval, procurement, implementation, commissioning, handover and close-out.
• Prepare and manage project documentation including project initiation documents, scopes of work, cost estimates, ARs and financial approvals, project plans and associated facilities documentation.
• Manage project budgets, contractors, suppliers, schedules, risks and actions to ensure facilities projects are delivered safely, compliantly and in accordance with the agreed scope.
• Work closely with site CAPEX Project Managers on larger projects, representing Facilities throughout design, installation, commissioning and handover.
• Ensure new and modified facilities and utilities are suitable for operational use and appropriately handed over to the Facilities team, including training, snagging, drawings, O&M information, asset records, maintenance requirements, spares and other relevant documentation.
• Review project designs and proposals from a Facilities perspective, considering operational requirements, accessibility, maintainability, reliability, lifecycle costs, energy efficiency and ongoing maintenance.
• Raise, own and manage facilities-related change controls from initiation through implementation and closure, coordinating associated actions with Quality and other site stakeholders.
• Work with the Quality Engineer to determine appropriate verification requirements for facilities projects and changes where formal validation is not required.
• Write and execute appropriate facilities engineering protocols and technical documentation to verify that installations and modifications meet their intended requirements.
• Proactively identify facilities improvement opportunities using maintenance history, recurring breakdowns, utility and energy performance, compliance requirements, asset condition and feedback from the Facilities team.
• Develop and maintain a prioritised pipeline of facilities improvement opportunities and prepare proposals, cost estimates and business cases for review with the Engineering & Facilities Manager.
• Lead and support continuous improvement/PPI activities relating to facilities, utilities and departmental processes, including maintenance, asset management, contractor management, documentation and ways of working.
• Manage contractors and specialist service providers undertaking facilities project and improvement works.
• Where appropriate and within individual competence, undertake minor facilities project works directly where this provides a safe, practical and cost-effective solution, for example minor installations, modifications, cabling, repairs or making-good works.
• Provide technical and practical support to the Facilities Team Leader and Facilities Engineers during significant breakdowns, periods of increased workload, holiday or sickness absence and other operational requirements.
• Support fault finding and resolution of facilities and utilities issues where required, helping to maintain reliable site service provision.
• Participate fully in the Engineering & Facilities 24/7 callout rota.
• Ensure all activities are completed in accordance with site EHS requirements, cGMP, Quality Systems, statutory requirements and applicable procedures.

Qualifications

• Recognised qualification in Facilities, Building Services, Mechanical, Electrical or another relevant technical discipline, or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Strong practical background working with facilities, utilities, building services or site infrastructure.
• Good technical understanding of facilities systems such as HVAC, electrical distribution, compressed air, heating and cooling systems, water systems, fire protection, BMS and associated building infrastructure.
• Demonstrable experience delivering facilities projects from concept and scope development through installation, commissioning, handover and close-out.
• Experience managing contractors and suppliers, including preparation of scopes, coordination of works and completion of project deliverables.
• Experience of CAPEX and OPEX project delivery, including cost estimation, financial approval, budget management and procurement.
• Experience within pharmaceutical, life sciences, manufacturing or another regulated environment is highly desirable.
• Good understanding of cGMP, Quality Systems and change control within a controlled facilities environment.
• Experience preparing facilities technical documentation, specifications, test documentation and/or engineering protocols.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, manuals and other facilities documentation.
• Strong practical problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and implement effective facilities solutions.
• Ability to identify improvement opportunities, investigate recurring issues and develop practical proposals and business cases.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• A hands-on approach and willingness to undertake appropriate minor facilities works within individual competence.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively with Facilities, CAPEX Project Management, Quality, EHS, Operations, Finance, Procurement, contractors and suppliers.
• Experience with CMMS systems such as Maximo and continuous improvement/PPI methodologies would be advantageous.

How will you get here?

• Demonstrate a proactive approach to facilities projects and improvement, taking ownership of activities and driving them through to completion.
• Be capable of working independently while maintaining close collaboration with the Facilities Team Leader, Facilities Engineers and wider site functions.
• Be comfortable balancing planned project and improvement activities with the operational requirements of a busy Facilities department.
• Apply a practical, risk-based approach to facilities solutions, considering safety, compliance, reliability, maintainability, cost and operational impact.
• Demonstrate an adaptive and flexible working style and provide operational Facilities support when business needs require.
• Demonstrate behaviours in line with the Thermo Fisher Core Competencies and 4i Values.
• Ensure compliance with cGMP, Quality Systems, EHS and training requirements in line with business needs.

When you are part of Thermo Fisher Scientific, you will do ambitious work and be part of a team that values performance, quality and innovation. As a member of a successful, growing global organization, you will be encouraged to perform at your best. With revenues of $40 billion and the largest investment in R&D in the industry, we give our people the resources and opportunities to make significant contributions to the world. As part of our global team, what you do contributes directly to our Mission - enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer, alongside receiving strong support for your own career growth.

We are the Clinical Trials Division (CTD): We Supply the Hope that Changes Lives. CTD partners with pharmaceutical and biotech customers around the world to ensure the right patients get the right therapies in the right doses at the right time - a concept that we internally adopt as "There is a Patient Waiting."