R&D Resource & Capacity Strategy Lead

CSL; Maidenhead; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

CSL in Maidenhead is seeking an experienced leader to build and run the R&D resource and schedule management capabilities, defining its mission, governance structure, and operating model to ensure alignment with organizational goals.

You will define capacity strategy, drive standard definitions, produce dashboards, and collaborate with PMO, Finance, HR to integrate insights into portfolio decisions, while leading training for PMs and managers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, Business, or a related field
• 8+ years of experience in R&D operations, capacity/resource management, or strategic planning
• Proven experience leading enterprise-wide or global Centers of Excellence (CoEs) or transformation initiatives
• Strong analytical and systems thinking skills, with familiarity using tools like Planisware, Anaplan, Clarity or similar resource management and scheduling platforms
• Proven excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to drive alignment and influence across global teams

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the R&D Resource and Schedule Management capabilities, defining its mission, governance structure, and operating model to ensure alignment with organizational goals
• Define and evolve the resource capacity and schedule management strategy for R&D, aligned to portfolio governance and delivery priorities
• Establish and maintain an operating model for capacity, demand & scheduling, including roles and processes
• Drive adoption of standard definitions (e.g., FTE, capacity, demand, baseline vs. forecast schedule, critical path) and reporting conventions
• Proactively flag gaps and quantify impact (timelines, cost, risk, quality, compliance) and develop options and scenarios and recommend paths forward
• Produce actionable dashboards and insights (monthly/quarterly) for R&D leadership including capacity vs. demand by function/program/stage; schedule health and milestone predictability; resource-driven critical path risks; scenario comparisons and trade-offs
• Escalate issues constructively with clear evidence and proposed solutions
• Partner with PMO, Portfolio Oversight, Finance, HR, and functional leadership to integrate capacity and schedule insights into portfolio and execution decisions
• Develop and deliver training for PMs and people managers on resource planning and demand entry; schedule building and maintenance (baseline/forecast); best practices for dependencies, critical path, and scenario planning; tool usage and reporting expectations, and reinforce consistent ways of working
• Facilitate alignment workshops to resolve resourcing conflicts and schedule trade-offs

Skills

Planisware

Anaplan

Clarity

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, Business

Tools

Planisware

Anaplan

Clarity

Job description

CSL in Maidenhead is seeking an experienced leader to build and run the R&D resource and schedule management capabilities, defining its mission, governance structure, and operating model to ensure alignment with organizational goals.

You will define capacity strategy, drive standard definitions, produce dashboards, and collaborate with PMO, Finance, HR to integrate insights into portfolio decisions, while leading training for PMs and managers.