Site Engineering Manager

Lonza Biologics Porriño SLU; Slough; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Site Engineering Manager to lead engineering functions at a new site in Reading, UK. This pivotal role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure operational readiness and compliance while driving change and innovation. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in engineering leadership, effective communication, and project management. Join a dynamic team dedicated to making a meaningful difference in life sciences and improving lives globally.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in leading engineering functions such as Maintenance and Reliability.
• Proven track record of managing complex initiatives and diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering functions for Maintenance, Facilities, and Utilities.
• Ensure seamless communication between engineering and project teams.
• Develop strategies for operational readiness and compliance.

Skills

Leadership in Engineering

Communication Skills

Project Management

Change Management

Risk Assessment

Job description

Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across five continents. While we work in science, there’s no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is talented people working together, devising ideas that help businesses to help people. In exchange, we let our people own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world. And that’s the kind of work we want to be part of.

The role:

The Site Engineering Manager holds the overall responsibility for leading all engineering functions associated with Maintenance, Facilities, Utilities, and Reliability to support the establishment and successful start-up of Lonza’s new site in Reading, UK (Project Falcon).

Reporting directly to the Operations Leader, the Site Engineering Manager is a core member of the Operations Leadership Team. The role requires close collaboration with the cross-functional project team—including Manufacturing, Development Services, Capital Projects, and Quality Control—as well as coordination with the Slough Site Engineering team and other relevant Operations functions.

The candidate must have significant experience in leading engineering functions such as Maintenance, Reliability, Utilities, or Facilities.

Key responsibilities:

1. Act as the primary interface between engineering end-users and the project team, ensuring seamless communication and alignment.
2. Provide essential end-user input and consultation across all project phases—from design through operational deployment.
3. Develop and implement strategies for Maintenance, Reliability, and Utilities, following standard processes.
4. Successfully implement the Business Readiness Programme within the project, ensuring operational preparedness at debut.
5. Develop, implement, and coordinate all operational documentation, including standard operating procedures (SOPs).
6. Conduct and contribute to safety, process, and technical risk assessments to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.
7. Drive alignment and engagement of the engineering team with the Business Readiness and Organisational Efficiency programmes.
8. Partner with the HR team to support the engineering-related elements of the Change Management Programme.

Key requirements:

1. Proven track record of leading multiple complex initiatives simultaneously to successful completion as a change leader within Engineering.
2. Experience in building and managing diverse teams to improve global competitiveness and fuel innovation.
3. Ability to communicate effectively at all levels in verbal and written form.
4. Capability to manage multiple cross-functional teams simultaneously.
5. Proven track record of planning and delivering projects and programmes on time and results-focused.

Every day, Lonza’s products and services have a positive impact on millions of people. For us, this is not only a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. How we achieve our business results is just as important as the achievements themselves. At Lonza, we respect and protect our people and our environment. Any success we achieve is no success at all if not achieved ethically.

People come to Lonza for the challenge and creativity of solving complex problems and developing new ideas in life sciences. In return, we offer the satisfaction that comes with improving lives all around the world. The satisfaction that comes with making a meaningful difference.