Head of Construction and Project Delivery

The Wellcome Genome Campus is seeking to recruit a Head of Construction and Project Delivery to play a leading role in the transformational development and expansion of its renowned scientific research campus.

The Wellcome Genome Campus is a leading genomic research campus and home to some of the world's foremost institutes and organisations in genomics and computational biology, including the Wellcome Sanger Institute (“Sanger”) and the European Bioinformatics Institute. Sanger is Wellcome’s largest charitable initiative, having founded and funded the Campus and Sanger since 1992. Today, over 2,500 people work at the Campus that comprises c.1 million square feet of space set within a beautiful 135-acre estate in Hinxton, 9 miles south of Cambridge.

The Campus is situated within one of the most dynamic and innovative life sciences ecosystems in Europe. The region is home to over 30 science and technology parks within a 10-mile radius of Cambridge, making it Europe's largest biotechnology cluster. The Campus is also well-positioned to capitalise on the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor initiative. This project aims to boost the economy by £78 billion by 2035, enhancing infrastructure, fostering innovation, and attracting investment in high-tech industries, including life sciences, contributing to the UK's position as a world leader in science and technology.

In 2020, planning permission was granted to grow the Campus from 125 acres to 440 acres. This includes up to 150,000 sqm of flexible space for R&D, laboratories, offices and other employment uses, 1,500 homes for Campus staff and their families, new community uses and social infrastructure, supporting community and social uses including nursery, conferencing, hotel, retail and leisure, food and drink, landscaping and public realm, biodiversity enhancements, energy centre, transport, utility and enabling works.

Wellcome Genome Campus Ltd (WGCL) is the owner-representative, operator, and asset manager for the Campus. WGCL is the new company and team formed to lead the Campus and its expansion, and the project is already in full flow, with highway and enabling works underway and the first new buildings on the expansion land starting on site in 2025. WGCL and the Campus are owned by a world-renowned endowment fund that is committed to expanding its existing campus into a global centre for genomic and biodata sciences and an expanded science community.

Reporting to the WGCL Chief Executive, the Head of Construction and Project Delivery will join with an extraordinary remit to lead the delivery of the construction phases of the Campus expansion, as well as the construction programme for the existing estate portfolio.

We are looking for a candidate with demonstrable industry experience and a proven track record of successfully leading large-scale construction projects and programmes in excess of £100m in value.

The ideal candidate with have a high degree of commercial acumen honed in the construction industry, whilst also being motivated to embrace innovation and the highest standards of construction design quality and sustainability. Experience of delivering major mixed-use projects, including infrastructure delivery, and experience of delivering life sciences facilities would be advantageous.

Excellent interpersonal, communication and stakeholder management skills will be hugely important in the role. It will suit an individual that is collaborative, customer-focused, flexible and able to work in a dynamic environment, whilst being driven and delivery-focused.

To learn more, visit the candidate brochure at https://online.flippingbook.com/view/447007189/

To arrange a confidential briefing conversation please contact our advisors Nick Coppard (07896 079 495 / ) and Ben Duffill ( / ) at MRG. Applications should consist of a CV and covering letter and can be sent to and .

Closing date for applications is Saturday, 26th April 2025.