Senior Client Side Design Manager

Senior Client-Side Design Manager | Pharmaceutical Capital Projects | Athlone We’re currently recruiting a Senior Client-Side Design Manager to support a major pharmaceutical manufacturing expansion in Athlone.
This is a long-term contract opportunity working on the retrofit and expansion of an established oral solid dose manufacturing facility. The successful candidate will act as an Owner’s Representative, taking responsibility for multidisciplinary design delivery and managing the interface between the client organisation, EPCM partner, procurement, construction, CQV and operations.


Key Responsibilities

• Lead client-side design management across a major pharmaceutical capital programme.
• Coordinate process, mechanical, electrical, automation, architectural, civil, structural and clean utility disciplines.
• Lead an internal team of package owners, SMEs and engineering stakeholders.
• Manage external engineering consultants, specialist vendors and the EPCM partner.
• Drive design packages from completion through tendering, bid evaluation, negotiation and contract award.
• Ensure designs align with GMP requirements, operational requirements, project scope and business objectives.
• Manage design schedules and ensure milestones support the overall project programme.
• Monitor design costs against capital budgets.
• Lead design reviews, technical decision-making and change control.
• Manage interfaces between design, construction, CQV and operations.
• Ensure process equipment and facility infrastructure are fully integrated.
• Coordinate long-lead equipment requirements with the procurement strategy.
• Manage project risks and develop appropriate mitigation plans.
• Report on schedule, budget, risk, quality and HSE to senior project leadership.

• Degree in Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum 15 years' experience within pharmaceutical or life sciences capital projects.
• Strong experience managing multidisciplinary design teams on major projects.
• Proven experience managing EPCM partners.
• Experience within oral solid dose pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Strong brownfield or retrofit project experience.
• Demonstrable experience working with construction and CQV/validation teams.
• Experience managing multiple work packages and discipline leads.
• Strong understanding of GMP-regulated pharmaceutical engineering.
• PMP, Prince2, NEBOSH or equivalent certification would be advantageous.