Asset Management System Lead

Your new company
Our client is a leading independent, not-for-profit research organisation delivering environmental science across land, water and air. With more than 600 scientists and researchers, its work provides data, evidence and insight that helps governments, businesses and the wider research community understand and respond to some of the most significant environmental challenges facing society.

Its research spans areas including biodiversity, water resources, flooding and drought, soil health, sustainable agriculture, air quality and environmental change. The organisation also manages nationally important environmental datasets and long-term monitoring programmes, meaning the work carried out there has genuine scientific and societal impact.

This is an opportunity to join a purpose-led organisation where technology, data and operational capability directly support world-leading environmental research.

Your new role
This is a newly created opportunity to lead the development and long-term management of a major Science Asset Management System for a leading environmental research organisation.

The role will take ownership of a significant new capability designed to transform how scientific equipment and assets are managed across field, laboratory and research environments. Starting with a major research infrastructure programme before expanding across the wider organisation, you'll help move the business away from fragmented asset records and locally managed processes towards a consistent, integrated approach.

This is much broader than simply managing a system. You'll act as the product owner and service lead, shaping the standards, processes and governance surrounding scientific asset management. You'll work closely with scientific leaders, field and laboratory teams, digital specialists, finance, procurement, estates and external suppliers to ensure the system is successfully implemented, adopted and continuously improved.

A key part of the role will be establishing a trusted source of asset information that supports better visibility, maintenance and calibration planning, compliance, data quality, financial accountability and future investment decisions.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the ongoing development, governance and operational management of the Science Asset Management System, acting as product owner and service lead.
• Lead the implementation, migration and wider organisational rollout of the system across scientific, field and laboratory environments.
• Establish and maintain effective asset management processes covering the full lifecycle of scientific equipment, including maintenance, calibration, risk and disposal.
• Improve the quality and consistency of asset data, reporting and audit readiness.
• Manage relationships with the external system provider, including service performance, system changes, future development and contract governance.
• Produce meaningful reporting and analysis to support operational planning, compliance, financial management and longer-term investment decisions.
• Work across a broad stakeholder group to drive adoption, embed new ways of working and ensure the system delivers lasting organisational value.
• Continually develop the asset management capability as it moves from initial implementation into an established organisation-wide service.

What you'll need to succeed

• Experience owning or managing a business-critical operational or asset management system, with responsibility for its ongoing development and improvement.
• Good understanding of asset management and equipment lifecycle processes, including areas such as maintenance, calibration and equipment governance.
• Experience delivering system implementation, data migration, testing and user adoption.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work across technical, operational and senior leadership teams and introduce consistent ways of working.
• Experience with CMMS, EAM, CAFM or similar asset/maintenance management systems would be highly beneficial, particularly within scientific, engineering, laboratory or other asset-intensive environments.

What you'll get in return

• Generous annual leave - 27 days (rising to 29 days after 5 years) +3 for Christmas closure
• 10% employer pension contribution
• Financial protection through life assurance and income protection
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Flexible and hybrid working options (depending on your role)
• Lifestyle perks including dental, gym, retail and cycling discounts
• A commitment to wellbeing, supported by a range of internal initiatives
• Employee Assistance Programme and health benefits, including 24/7 support with remote GP access, mental health, physiotherapy and lifestyle services

What you need to do now

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

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