Project Manager (Maternity Cover) HUBER+SUHNER Polatis

Cambridge Science Park; Cambridge; Remote; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Cambridge Science Park is seeking a Project Manager to lead multiple hardware development initiatives from concept to launch. You will align engineering, production and business teams to deliver value on time and within budget, navigating ambiguity and changing priorities.

The role requires strong planning, risk assessment, and stakeholder communication in a fast-paced environment. The position is based in Cambridge, with occasional travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading multiple hardware/tech development projects.
• Strong understanding of product development lifecycle in hardware or embedded systems.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder influence across departments.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional projects from initiation to closure.
• Develop detailed project plans with resources, risks, and timelines.
• Monitor budgets, milestones and quality objectives.
• Provide regular status updates to leadership and teams.

Skills

Experience in hardware/tech dev

Cross-functional leadership

High-pressure prioritisation

Stakeholder management

Analytical reporting

Communication skills

Ambiguity navigation

Travel readiness

Tools

MS Project

Jira

Excel

Job description

Your tasks

We are seeking a highly skilled and accountable Project Manager to lead multiple cross-functional projects in a fast-paced product development environment. This role requires a strategic thinker and is ideal for someone who thrives on navigating ambiguity, aligning diverse teams and delivering high-impact results. You will be instrumental in driving product development from concept to launch, ensuring alignment across engineering, production, and business teams. The role will plan and execute projects in a dynamic environment to meet business, schedule, cost and quality objectives.

Key objectives include:

• Project Execution: Manage internal projects from initiation to closure, ensuring delivery within scope, time, and budget.


• Cross-functional Collaboration: Coordinate with departments such as Production, Engineering, Quality, Supply Logistics, Finance HR, and IT to align project goals and execution.


• Planning & Execution: Develop detailed project plans, resource allocations, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies.


• Change Management: Support organizational change initiatives and ensuring smooth adoption of new processes or systems


• Prioritisation & Decision Making: Navigate conflicting priorities across projects, making informed decisions to maintain momentum and quality.


• Reporting & Communication: Deliver clear, concise updates on project status, risks, and dependencies to leadership and cross-functional teams.


• Cost Control: Monitor project budgets and ensuring cost-effective execution without compromising quality.


• Performance Monitoring: Establish KPIs and track progress to ensure continuous improvement and transparency.

Your profile

Essential

• Proven experience managing multiple simultaneous hardware or technology development projects


• Good understanding of product development lifecycle, especially in hardware or embedded systems.


• Highly developed organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to influence and align diverse and dispersed teams.


• Ability to understand, simplify, and communicate complex technical concepts across all levels of the organisation.


• Demonstrated accountability and ownership of project outcomes.


• Ability to lead cross-functional & multi discipline teams and manage external consultants.


• Proficiency in project planning tools (e.g. MS Project, Jira, Excel).


• Strong analytical and reporting skills in an international environment.


• Hands-on, pragmatic approach to problem-solving and execution.


• Good understanding of budgeting, cost control, and business case development.


• Proven experience of operating in high-growth, ambiguous environments where priorities shift rapidly.


• Able to work in the Cambridge office as required

Key personal attributes

• Accountability: Takes full ownership of deliverables and outcomes.


• Adaptability: Thrives in managing multiple projects with overlapping timelines and priorities.


• Communicative: Builds trust through transparent, timely, and effective communication.


• Proactive: Self-starter who anticipates needs, takes initiative and acts decisively.


• Detail-Oriented: Maintains high standards of accuracy and quality.


• Collaborative: Works effectively across teams and cultures.

Desirable requirements

• PMP, PRINCE2, or Agile certification.


• Education or experience in engineering (electrical, mechanical, systems, or related field)


• Experience managing projects using both Agile and Waterfall methodologies


• Able and willing to undertake infrequent travel to Poland to support Project objectives.

Please note:

This is a fixed-term maternity cover position, expected to last approximately 9-12 months, subject to the return of the substantive postholder from maternity leave.