Job Purpose: The Engineering Lead for the global life sciences account provides senior technical, strategic, and operational leadership across the EMEA portfolio, ensuring safe, compliant, resilient, and cost‑effective delivery of the account Technical Provision. The role is the senior technical authority and escalation point, accountable for technical strategy, leadership of Technical Lead SMEs, and CAPEX lifecycle investment planning.
The role acts as the senior technical authority and escalation point for the account, leading a federated model of Technical Leads and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and holding overall accountability for technical strategy, CAPEX planning, lifecycle investment decisions, and regulatory compliance across a highly regulated pharmaceutical estate.
The role is accountable for development and delivery of account Technical Strategy in conjunction with senior client stakeholders. As well as regular meetings and interactions with client stakeholders, the successful candidate will be the client communication and POC for reporting. initiatives, escalations etc.
Key Tasks:
Technical Leadership & Governance
Act as the senior technical authority for the client account, setting and enforcing technical standards across all sites and regions
Provide functional leadership to existing Technical Lead SMEs ensuring clear role clarity, aligned priorities, and consistent application of engineering standards.
Chair or sponsor technical governance forums, ensuring coordinated decision-making across engineering disciplines, regions, and suppliers
Serve as final escalation for critical incidents, system failures, audit findings, and regulatory risks
Energy and Sustainability – oversight and governance of the E&S provision on the account. Working with the assigned BSO to ensure delivery of agreed scope, reporting and visibility across client and internal stakeholders, and implementation of initiatives across operational teams.
People Leadership & Capability
Provide formal leadership to senior technical resources Technical Leads and SMEs embedded within account
Drive capability development, succession planning, and competency assurance across the technical community
Ensure consistent application of CBRE workforce development, competency verification, and technical training expectations – including TCCC and Competency Verification Programmes
Operational Assurance & Compliance
Ensure planning and communication of planned maintenance across all engineering systems in line with the client’s standards, statutory obligations, and CBRE policy.
Where relevant, lead responses to audits, inspections, and technical assurance reviews, ensuring timely closure of findings and sustainable corrective actions.
CAPEX Planning & Lifecycle Accountability
Hold account-level accountability for CAPEX planning, prioritisation, and governance, working in partnership with the client stakeholders and CBRE leadership.
Lead development of multi-year CAPEX and lifecycle investment plans, informed by asset condition, risk, obsolescence, and business criticality.
Ensure CAPEX decisions are aligned to asset strategy, regulatory risk, operational resilience, and total cost of ownership.
Sponsor technical input to business cases, investment proposals, and funding approvals, ensuring robust engineering justification and value management.
Financial & Commercial Oversight
Support preparation of long-term technical investment plans
Monitor engineering OPEX and CAPEX performance, identifying risks, trends, and optimisation opportunities
Provide technical leadership on supplier strategy, performance management, and commercial challenge where required
Client & Stakeholder Engagement
Act as a trusted senior technical advisor to client stakeholders and the CBRE Account Leadership Team
Support productivity and effectiveness of technical teams through clear strategy, escalation management, and decision support
Build strong partnerships across CBRE Operations, QHSE, Energy, Projects, PMO, and Workplace Experience functions.
Scope & Complexity
Multi-country, EMEA-wide client portfolio.
Leadership of a federated technical model comprising Technical Directors, Technical Leads, SMEs, and specialist partners
Success Measures (Role Outcomes)
Consistent technical standards and risk management across all client sites.
Clear leadership, alignment, and effectiveness of Technical Lead SME
Robust, defensible CAPEX planning aligned to asset risk and business priorities
Strong audit outcomes reduced technical risk exposure, and improved asset resilience
Trusted advisor status with the client and CBRE senior leadership
Person Specification:
Degree level or equivalent education
Languages English – other European Languages a benefit
Technical Team Leadership
Proven capability working with teams for delivery of initiatives
Client presentations
CAPEX planning
LCAM
Travel when required (across UK & EMEA)
Desirable :
CMMS capability and understanding
Experience with SMART FM
Experience with next generation maintenance innovation – e.g. predictive and reliability centered maintenance programmes
Why CBRE When you join CBRE, you become part of the global leader in commercial real estate services and investment that helps businesses and people thrive. We are dynamic problem solvers and forward-thinking professionals who create significant impact. Our collaborative culture is built on our shared values — respect, integrity, service and excellence — and we value the diverse perspectives, backgrounds and skillsets of our people. At CBRE, you have the opportunity to chart your own course and realize your potential. We welcome all applicants. Applicant AI Use Disclosure We value human interaction to understand each candidate's unique experience, skills and aspirations. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to make hiring decisions, and we ask that candidates disclose any use of AI in the application and interview process.
