Team Leader – Automation and Digital

CPI helps make great ideas and inventions a reality. We’re a team of intelligent people using advances in science and technology to solve the biggest global challenges in healthcare and sustainability.

Through our incredible people and innovation infrastructure, we collaborate with our partners in industry, academia, government, and the investment community to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative products.

From health technologies and pharmaceuticals to sustainable food and materials innovations, we turn the entrepreneurial spirit and radical thinking of our people and partners into incredible impact that makes our world a better place.

We are looking for a Team Leader to assist in the supervision and coordination of the automation and digital team at Formulation. The successful candidate will provide management support for 2/3 reports initially with the potential to expand to up to 5 longer term as the team expands. An ideal candidate will be able to provide management expertise and a range of technical skills applicable to the team’s strategy applying state-of-the-art automation and digital techniques to the formulating industries (Energy, Nanopharma, Sustainable Materials, HealthTech, Food and Feed, FMCG). These skills could either be directly in automation/​data science, or existing skills built up through relevant industry/​field experience that can contribute to the team’s goals.

They will use their expertise to contribute to the delivery of projects, acting as a technical lead in complex medium/​large scale projects. Drawing upon a broad range of technical know-how, they will provide carefully thought-through advice and expertise to our stakeholders. The Team Leader will offer innovative solutions and contribute extensively to development and improvement activities within the team to maximise performance. Further opportunities are available in this role to provide CR&D bid and commercial projects scoping to support the team pipeline of work; experience in this is highly desirable.

Project Highlights

Constellation (Energy Sector): This project used AI and automation to optimise the performance of battery cells for the electric vehicle (EV) market.

Narrator (Nanopharma): The application of state-of-the-art digital techniques and automation to explore Lipid Nanoparticle manufacture to support RNA vaccines and therapeutics.

DIY4U (FMCG): The generation of a fabrication lab combining an automated platform with digitally enabled manufacturing for the fast customisable, at point of purchase, fabrication of FMCG products such as laundry detergent.

Key Tasks

Responsibilities in the Team Leader – Automation and Digital role include (but are not limited to) the below:

• Working closely with the manager of the automation and/​or digital team to guide and implement effective strategies, in line with our business requirements.

• Supporting the effective resourcing and scheduling of automation and/​or digital projects and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.

• Contributing to and leading the technical delivery of programmes of work such as, but not limited to, those inside the automation and/​or digital strategy or any strategies linked to personal experience (e.g. Energy, Nanopharma, Sustainable Materials, HealthTech, Food and Feed, FMCG).

Supporting and contributing to the planning and scoping of commercial or collaborative bids supporting our key strategies (e.g., automation, digital as applied to energy, pharma, food and feed, FMCG sectors).

• Keeping up to date with research and techniques relevant to the automation and/​or digital space as applied to support our key strategies (e.g. Energy, Nanopharma, Sustainable Materials, HealthTech, Food and Feed, FMCG).

• Contributing to a culture of continuous development acting as an internal expert in automation and/​or data science using knowledge of principles and practices in the field to support colleagues.

Full Overview of Duties

• To supervise the automation and digital team, ensuring delivery of departmental goals, through appropriate delegation and providing feedback and motivation to team members. This includes providing first line-management support, allocation of resource to ensure project delivery and short term planning of deliverables.

• To work with and provide advice to the area Manager(s) to ensure the relevant portfolio of project work is delivered on time and in accordance with SHE practice and policy. 

• To identify new technical developments and trends, translate these into building blocks for opportunities within the business unit, initiating the creation of (new) technological innovations/​applications.

• To utilise own expert knowledge to assist in translating business unit strategy into practice through the delivery of plans to achieve team and business unit objectives.

• To build, maintain and exploit a network of relevant external stakeholders, customers, partners, research organisations and authorities, to represent the business unit and self as a credible expert, identifying opportunity for future projects and developments.

• To actively contribute to a culture of continuous capability development through coaching, mentoring and/​or developing colleagues across the business unit and organisation, providing insights into areas of specialism. 

• To work collaboratively with Business Development, Bid Proposal and technical colleagues to contribute to proposal / project development and direct customer engagement. Seek out and engage in business development opportunities where appropriate.

• To formulate and present possible solution directions and issue advice, building an internal reputation as a reliable and credible authority.

• To actively engage in hazard studies / SRA studies and discussions, as appropriate to role level.

Essential:

• Will possess experience from industry and/​or academia, and previous experience managing and developing direct reports.

• Will possess experience leading teams and delivering technical research projects.

• Will have experience either in automation and/​or applied data science; or would be able to apply and extend their previous experiences into the automation and/​or digital space.

• Will possess a willingness to learn new methods applicable to the delivery of our strategies and to stimulate innovation.

• Can demonstrate evidence of knowledge sharing and network building practice across teams or groups.

• Has ability to apply theoretical and practical scientific methods to contribute to business activities.

• Has confidence to use own judgement and initiative within standard engineering / scientific practices, as well as an understanding of when to seek advice from colleagues.

It would be great if you also:

• Are an active member of a professional body, engaging with peers beyond CPI.

• Have industry experience applicable to one of our main markets supported by our automation and digital strategy: energy (batteries), Nanopharma, or Food and Feed/​FMCG.

• Have previous experience in processes relevant to automation system design e.g. design, hardware integration, control systems, workflow generation.

• Have previous experience in work on development of collaborative research and development bids.

• Have previous experience in tools relevant to process analytical technology: (inline) Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, inline particle sizing such as full beam reflectance measurements.

At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, this includes:

• Up to 36 days holiday, including bank holidays – Plus a holiday purchasing scheme
• Generous pension scheme
• Life assurance and accident insurance schemes
• Flexible working
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Free parking

Find out more about our culture and benefits.

CPI is an organisation based in the UK. Commencement of employment is conditional to demonstrating right to work in the UK, sponsorship may be available.