Senior Section Manager (Science & Research)

Laing O'Rourke; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Laing O'Rourke are recruiting a Senior Section Manager to lead section packages on Plot B2 in Oxford, a laboratory-based Vaccinology Centre project due for completion Spring 2028. The role requires delivering programmes, managing budgets, enforcing safety, and coordinating with section and construction leaders.

The candidate will report progress, adopt innovative practices, and ensure value through robust site management and governance. This is a high-end project with a strong compliance focus.

Qualifications

• Fit out trade background or degree in Construction Management.
• Pharmaceutical / laboratory / life sciences experience.
• Proven experience on projects of similar scale in high-end capacity.
• Detailed knowledge of Health and Safety legislation.

Responsibilities

• Deliver section packages to the client within time, cost, quality, safety.
• Develop detailed short term programmes with the planning team.
• Implement, measure and report on Environmental Management Plan.
• Chair Trade Contractor meetings to review time, cost, quality, safety.
• Monitor changes to work plans and report effects.
• Ensure adoption of Laing O'Rourke project management procedures.
• Contribute to the contract review process.

Skills

Project management

Budget management

Reporting & planning

Health and safety knowledge

Stakeholder communication

Education

Construction management degree

Tools

Planning software

Management systems

Job description

Laing O'Rourke are currently recruiting for a Senior Section Manager to work on our Plot B2 project in Oxford.

Project completion: Spring 2028

Known terms: Package Manager, Site Manager

This building will be made up of a predominantly laboratory-based Vaccinology Centre (Cyrus Poonawalla Vaccines Research Building) linked with a Pandemic Sciences Centre that focuses on new and emerging pathogens, epidemiology and surveillance. These aspects will combine with translational activities, such as clinical trials, as well as education and training. Communal areas will facilitate discussions and collaborations.

By providing state-of-the-art space and cutting-edge technologies in one place, Oxford will be in a prime position to confront and lead on the responses to emerging pandemics in the future. This building, estimated to complete early 2028, will also demonstrate Oxford's commitment to pandemic science research and will act as a lever to obtain research funding on an international scale. Given the recent disruption due to COVID-19 we will also be in a good position to obtain governmental funding in order to contribute further to the UK's ability to respond to problems in the future.

Job Description:

• To deliver sections packages of the project to the client within time, cost, quality, safety and
  corporate responsibility parameters
• To work with the planning team to develop detailed and accurate short term programmes of
  work.
• To implement, measure and report on our Environmental Management Plan.
• To continually revise the site induction and give daily presentations.
• To manage the budget and delivery of the section of the project
• To assess direct operative capability and performance
• To provide accurate and timely reporting of progress against the plan
• To ensure adoption of innovative ideas from within the business and from the workforce
• To plan the programming of day to day resource requirement and communicate these to
  the construction team
• To interface with other section managers and Construction Managers to share best practice
  and ensure effective resource utilisation
• To chair Trade Contractor meetings to review time, cost, quality, safety and corporate
  responsibility matters
• To monitor external changes to work plans and report the effect of change
• To ensure effective implementation Laing O'Rourke project management systems and
  procedures
• Contribute to the contract review process

Requirements:

• Fit out trade background OR degree qualified in Construction Management
• Pharmacutical / laboratory / life sciences experience
• Proven experience working on projects of similar scale in high-end capacity
• Detailed knowledge of Health and Safety Legislation

Don't match all the criteria? We are open and always happy to hear from people with transferable skill sets and a commitment to learning.

About us:
We are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.

Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term health conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know prior to interview what adjustments are required as well as discussing how we can support you in the workplace.