Senior Project Manager (NPD)

Oxford Instruments plc; Severn Beach; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Private healthcare

Share incentive plan

Pension scheme

Flexible benefits

Structured career development

Job summary

Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology in Severn Beach, Bristol, seeks a Senior Project Manager to own development and delivery of new products, guiding cross-functional teams through concept to launch.

You will drive stage-gate processes, manage costs and schedules, and mentor junior PMs while collaborating across sites to ensure smooth product introductions.

Qualifications

• Degree and formal Project Management training or certification.
• Proven track record delivering product development projects in high-tech/engineering environments.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and complex programmes.

Responsibilities

• Drive successful project delivery while building relationships and guiding teams.
• Proactively manage workload and remove obstacles for the team.
• Lead project meetings with clear ownership of actions and status updates.
• Identify, manage and communicate project risks, issues and mitigations.
• Ensure robust planning, accurate task estimation and schedule tracking.
• Take ownership of project and product costs, ensuring financial control.

Skills

Project Leadership

Stakeholder Management

New Product Development

Cross-functional Teams

Cost Management

Education

Degree qualified

PM Certification

Job description

Are you an experienced Project Manager with a passion for bringing innovative products to market? Do you thrive in fast-paced, high-tech environments, leading cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects from concept through to launch?

We are excited to offer a permanent opportunity for a Senior Project Manager (New Product Development) to join our team in Severn Beach, Bristol.

In this pivotal role, you will take ownership of the development and delivery of new products, leading projects from initial planning through to successful launch and first customer deliveries. You'll play a key role in ensuring a seamless, joined-up approach across multiple functions, business units, and locations, while helping to shape and continuously improve project management practices across the organisation.

Beyond delivering projects, you'll be a role model for excellence in project management, driving best practices, developing others, and helping build a culture of continuous improvement.

What You'll Be Doing

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Drive successful project delivery while building strong relationships and bringing teams along with you.


• Proactively manage your own workload while removing obstacles for both yourself and the wider team.


• Lead project meetings, ensuring clear ownership of actions, effective task management, and visibility of project status.


• Identify, manage, and communicate project risks, issues, and mitigation plans.


• Ensure robust project planning, realistic task estimation, and effective schedule tracking, constantly seeking opportunities to improve delivery timelines.


• Manage project requirements and ensure teams remain aligned to business objectives throughout the project lifecycle.


• Take ownership of project and product costs, ensuring effective financial management and control.

Stakeholder & Team Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, including those based remotely and across different business units.


• Operate effectively within a matrix organisation and navigate ambiguity with confidence.


• Influence and engage stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership, with the confidence to challenge where appropriate and provide realistic assessments of risks, timelines, and delivery expectations.


• Develop and mentor less experienced project managers, helping others succeed and grow their capabilities.

New Product Development

• Lead and manage project deliverables throughout the stage-gate product development process.


• Partner with Engineering teams to track and report project progress, costs, risks, and issues at a business level.


• Work closely with key stakeholders to ensure project schedules, quality standards, feature requirements, and cost targets are achieved.


• Collaborate with Marketing, Sales, Service, and Operations teams to ensure smooth product launches and successful transition into routine manufacturing and shipping.


• Lead and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, helping to develop and implement new processes, tools, and ways of working.

Qualifications

What We're Looking For

• Degree qualified.


• Formal Project Management training or certification.

Skills & Experience

• Proven track record of successfully delivering product development projects within a high-tech or engineering-focused environment.


• Extensive experience leading complex, multi-functional projects involving diverse stakeholder groups.


• Strong understanding of stage-gate product development processes.


• Experience using project management tools, issue tracking systems, and project reporting methodologies.


• Broad business knowledge, including manufacturing, supply chain, procurement, quality, and service functions, and how they contribute to successful project delivery.


• Ability to work flexibly across product lines, business units, and geographical locations.


• Demonstrated success managing and delivering projects remotely while maintaining engagement and momentum across globally distributed teams.


• Excellent communication, leadership, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.

Why Join Us?

This is an outstanding opportunity to own exciting new product developments in a cutting-edge technology environment. You'll have the chance to work with talented cross-functional teams, influence strategic business outcomes, drive continuous improvement, and play a key role in bringing innovative products to market.

About Us

At Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology, we develop world-leading tools for engineering micro- and nano-scale structures. Our technologies enable innovation across industries, helping customers push the boundaries of science and technology.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary


• 25 days annual leave + half-day Fridays


• Private healthcare


• Share incentive plan


• Pension scheme


• Flexible benefits tailored to your needs


• Structured career development opportunities


• A collaborative environment with excellent work-life balance

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability.

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and would ask you to get in touch if you are concerned about any barriers you feel you may be facing in your application process with us.

Note to recruitment agencies

Oxford Instruments operates a Preferred Supplier List, and we do not accept unsolicited agency CVs. Please do not forward candidate details in response to this advert, or to any Oxford Instruments employees or other company locations. Oxford Instruments is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs.