Program and Project Manager

Company Description

At Syngenta Crop Protection, we're pioneering solutions that safeguard global food security while championing sustainable agriculture. As a world market leader headquartered in Switzerland, we empower farmers with innovative crop protection technologies that defend against nature's toughest challenges. We unite advanced science with digital solutions to develop intelligent crop protection that maximizes yields while minimizing environmental impact. Join our mission of revolutionizing plant protection from seed to harvest.

Job Description

Scientific Equipment Programme Leadership

Lead the annual Scientific Investment Programme to deliver agreed scientific capability, capital targets and strategic priorities at pace, through robust governance, programme control and active support to project delivery teams.

• Maintain accurate, timely visibility of expenditure, forecast, progress, risks and delivery confidence, enabling early intervention and delivery against agreed targets.
• Remove barriers to delivery by leading timely issue resolution and decision‑making with internal teams and external delivery partners.
• Lead and develop the CPR Scientific Asset Lead community, embedding consistent ways of working that improve the quality, pace and transparency of asset investment decisions and delivery.
• Balance customer requirements with wider site, business and portfolio priorities to optimise project scope, value and delivery outcomes.
• Partner with the CPR Capital Portfolio Manager and cross-functional stakeholders to shape the Scientific Equipment Programme and strengthen evidence-based investment proposals for timely technical, business and capital decisions.

Project Delivery

Lead the delivery of assigned planned and reactive capital projects from definition through commissioning, handover, and close-out, delivering agreed scope, cost, schedule, quality, safety, compliance, and risk outcomes, while also supporting wider site infrastructure priorities as needed.

• Ensure projects are well defined before commitment, with clear user requirements, technical specifications, approved scope, sourcing approach, delivery plans and governance approvals in place.

• Drive delivery pace by identifying and removing barriers early through proactive issue resolution, timely escalation and coordinated action with internal teams, scientific users and external delivery partners.
• Maintain timely, accurate visibility of expenditure, forecasts, progress, risks, issues, dependencies and delivery confidence, enabling early intervention and informed decision-making.
• Act as Project Owner for specified projects when appointed, providing clear direction, governance and stakeholder accountability to secure timely, effective delivery

Delivery Excellence and Governance

Embed robust, repeatable delivery routines across the capital portfolio that reduce rework, avoidable cost and time to outcome.

• Collaborate with HSE, Facilities Management, Procurement, IT, Syngenta Engineering and other relevant internal and external Stakeholders enable safe, compliant and predictable programme delivery.
• Continuously improve Capex processes, governance, controls and reporting tools to improve forecast quality, decision readiness and delivery confidence.
• Provide deputy cover for the CPR Capital Portfolio Manager as required, ensuring continuity of portfolio leadership, governance and decision-making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific, engineering or closely related technical discipline is required. An advanced degree in economics, finance, business administration or related discipline is an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of project and program management disciplines, including scope, schedule, cost, risk, change, stakeholder and benefits management; recognised PMI certification is desirable.
• Knowledge of capital-project delivery in scientific, engineering, infrastructure, equipment or comparable research-facility environments;
• Knowledge of capital investment governance, financial controls, forecasting and reporting.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Proficiency in Excel, Power BI and Smartsheet; familiarity with PPM Capex is desirable.
• Demonstrable experience managing projects or programmes with multiple stakeholders, competing priorities and changing timelines.
• Experience influencing cross-functional teams and suppliers without direct line authority
• Strong analytical capability, including the ability to translate complex delivery and financial data into clear recommendations.

Additional Information

Jealott's Hill International Research Centre UK is situated in pleasant semi-rural surroundings between Bracknell and Maidenhead and is the place of work for approximately 800 Syngenta scientists and support staff.  Jealott’s Hill is one of the main global research and development sites and key activities include research into discovery of new active ingredients, new formulation technologies, product safety and technical support of our product range.

What We Offer:
A culture that celebrates diversity & inclusion, promotes professional development, and strives for a work-life balance that supports the team members.
Extensive benefits package including a generous pension scheme, bonus scheme, private medical & life insurance.
Up to 31.5 days annual holiday plus 8 UK bank holidays.
36-hour working week.

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. 

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