Development Lead (11-Month Contract) - Liverpool - £750 Per Day

Are you an experienced Development Lead with a strong background in pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical or manufacturing environments? We are supporting a major UK operation in the appointment of a senior contractor to lead the setup, development and delivery of a new R&D and operational technology function.

This is a high-impact role operating across technical development, engineering, process validation, IT logistics and project delivery, supporting the establishment and growth of an advanced manufacturing and development environment.

You will work closely with senior leadership, vendors, operational teams and external partners to drive technology integration, process optimisation and successful project execution across the UK and Europe.

The Opportunity

• 11-month contract
• £750 per day
• Liverpool based
• Senior leadership exposure
• Opportunity to shape and influence a developing business unit
• Cross-functional project ownership within highly regulated environments

Key Responsibilities

Technology & Project Delivery

• Lead the development and implementation of business and operational technology solutions
• Analyse and improve existing business processes and operational workflows
• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, budgets and stakeholder communications
• Act as the key point of contact for project delivery across multiple workstreams
• Coordinate vendors, contractors and cross-functional teams
• Support system validation, change control and governance activities
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope and budget
• Drive stakeholder engagement and alignment throughout the project lifecycle

Engineering & R&D Operations

• Support the setup and operational delivery of pilot plant and R&D activities
• Provide technical leadership across process development, validation and equipment qualification
• Lead technology transfer and scale-up activities for new products
• Develop tracking systems for critical process parameters and operational metrics
• Oversee equipment installation, operational and performance qualification activities
• Support regulatory and technical documentation including SOPs, validation protocols and technical reports
• Influence process and formulation improvements to maximise operational efficiency
• Drive operational excellence, continuous improvement and quality initiatives

What We Are Looking For

• MA, MSc or PhD in Life Sciences, Engineering, IT or related discipline
• 10+ years' experience within Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Chemical or Advanced Manufacturing sectors
• Strong background in Technical Development, Engineering Projects or R&D Operations
• Experience leading complex cross-functional projects within regulated environments
• Knowledge of validation, change control and quality systems
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Experience working within matrix organisations
• Proven leadership capability across technical and operational teams
• PMP certification advantageous

Technical Experience In One Or More Of The Following:

• Solid dose manufacturing/development
• Parenteral manufacturing/development
• Biotechnology production/development
• Chemical manufacturing/development
• Analytical development
• Quality control environments

Ideal Candidate

You will be a highly organised and commercially aware technical leader who thrives in fast-paced environments. The successful candidate will combine strong project delivery capability with engineering and operational expertise, while being comfortable influencing stakeholders across technical, operational and leadership teams.

To apply or discuss the opportunity in more detail, please contact:

#INDENG