Purpose of the Role

Senior Programme Manager – R&D, Agratas - Milton Park, Oxfordshire.

Agratas is seeking a dynamic and experienced Programme Manager to join our cutting-edge R&D facility. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in driving innovation, overseeing complex projects, and ensuring successful delivery of strategic programmes in a fast-paced environment.

We are seeking a strategically astute and technically accomplished Programme Manager to drive the industrialisation roadmap from next-generation battery cell design and development through to manufacturing at our UK Gigafactory. This is a pivotal role, charged with aligning technical programme execution with corporate strategy, driving operational transformation, and building long-term organisational capability in advanced manufacturing.

The Programme Manager will serve as a key contributor to the leadership team, bringing together strategy, innovation, and execution to ensure that the UK R&D and industrialisation programme delivers industry-leading outcomes in cost, quality, scale, and sustainability.

By joining Agratas R&D in Oxford, you’ll be part of a world-class research hub focused on advancing battery cell technology. Whether you’re an engineer, technician, or scientist, you’ll contribute to projects that power the future of mobility and energy, while working in an environment that values both technical excellence and sustainability.

Agratas R&D in Oxford offers the rare combination of cutting-edge science, meaningful impact, and career-building opportunities—all within a supportive, forward-looking team.

Key Responsibility Areas

• Lead and manage cross-functional programmes from concept to completion
• Align project outcomes with business objectives and R&D priorities
• Collaborate with technical teams, stakeholders, and senior leadership
• Ensure timelines, budgets, and quality standards are consistently met
• Strategic Programme Leadership
• Corporate Strategy Integration & Business Planning
• Anticipate global technology, regulatory, and competitive trends and proactively adjust programme priorities to maintain market leadership.
• Programme Leadership: Lead the execution of multiple process engineering projects, driving the industrialisation of advanced battery cell manufacturing technologies.
• Development, governance and delivery of timing, budget and capability requirements for our UK Gigafactory Project as well as leadership of technology development programmes.
• Process Development - Oversee programmes to design, deploy and optimise the manufacturing systems for electrode manufacturing, cell assembly and Formation, Aging & Test. Equipment Integration.
• Technology Transfer: Lead cross-functional teams in transferring technologies from both R&D and other technical partners to manufacturing. 
• Lead the strategic prioritisation of technology development and industrialisation projects based on business value, technical risk, and time-to-impact.
• Ensure seamless technology transfer from R&D into commercial production, including roadmaps for scale-up and automation.
• Define and govern programme portfolio metrics to ensure maximum ROI, cost leadership, and resilience.
• Operational Excellence & Transformation 
• Provide strategic oversight for supplier engagement and procurement decisions to ensure global supply chain scalability and resilience.
• Deliver operational excellence through robust cost control, financial modelling, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with external partners, including material suppliers and automation vendors.
• Risk Mitigation: · Identify and mitigate technical risks across all stages of process development and scale-up.

Job Context

About You:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical field.
• Advanced technical certifications in programme management or manufacturing are highly desirable.
• Strong technical experience in battery cell design and manufacturing processes and a proven record of delivery in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
• High level of understanding of lithium-ion battery chemistries and manufacturing process equipment, as well as technical and environmental standards for battery cell production.
• Strong background in using project management tools and methodologies. Proven ability to manage complex, large-scale programmes with a focus on technical deliverables and timelines.
• Relative experience in large-scale, complex R&D, manufacturing or engineering programmes
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, innovative environment

Joining Agratas R&D in Oxford means becoming part of a cutting-edge team shaping the future of sustainable energy storage, with the backing of Tata Sons and the excitement of a scale-up environment.

Join us at Agratas and help shape the future of advanced research and development.