Hiring a Project Manager

Project Manager Role

We are looking for an experienced Project Manager to be responsible for leading project management for the design and delivery for our First-Of-A-Kind Commercial Plant (FOAK CP) and projects involving the expansion and development of the Sonichem (previously known as Bio-Sep) Pilot Plant Facility located at Melton Mowbray.

Reporting to the Principal Process Engineer, you will provide the technical leadership for project management and be the focal point for all engineering projects.

Sonichem (previously Bio-Sep) is a clean technology company based in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. We have developed a patented sustainable, ultrasonic biorefining technology that transforms woody biomass, the by-product of forestry and agriculture, into high value bio-based chemicals with a wide range of applications. This is a fantastic opportunity to join an organisation with ambitious plans in the sustainable biorefining sector.

Why Sonichem (previously Bio-Sep)

Innovation: Be a part of cutting-edge technology development that is shaping the future of sustainable bio-based chemicals.

Growth Opportunities: Join a team with ambitious plans in the sustainable biorefining sector.

Supportive Environment: Collaborate with an enthusiastic, diverse and skilled team committed to excellence.

Bio-Sep is not just a company; it’s a vision for a greener future. If you are a dynamic, adaptable, analytical thinker with a passion for driving projects to success, we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

Work closely with the Principal Process Engineer to ensure the highest calibre of technical and commercial delivery on all projects, and to help and support the Principal Process Engineer as required.

Develop and implement an in-house Engineering Project Management System based on best practices and industry standards.

Develop a project excellence model to ensure consistently excellent project delivery for the company including project management based KPIs.

Act as the focal point and lead with Engineering Contractors, Original Equipment Manufacturers, Engineering Design Contractors and EPCs.

Support the Principal Process Engineer in the pre-feasibilty and concept phase of the FOAK CP and preparation of the documentation suite for tendering the FEED and EPC.

Be the key lead in determining the tender/contract strategy for the EPC contracting award for the FOAK CP including the scoring and evaluation of submitted bids.

Develop, agree and approve the project management strategy with the potential EPC Company for delivery of the FOAK CP. Ensuring the supply chain is fit for purpose, selection of competent and reliable suppliers, elimination of single points of failure and systems are in place to monitor and record supplier performance.

Be the project management lead for grant funded collaborative R&D projects ensuring compliance to funding requirements.

Ensure company financial controls are adhered to across all sanctioned projects.

Ensure project deliverables are completed and presented in a professional manner, to include quality of information, written, drawn and verbal.

Support the executive team in research grant applications.

Support the CEO in business and investment project management activities.

Requirements

You will be qualified in a relevant Engineering and/or Project Management discipline.

Professional qualification with relevant engineering and/or project management bod

Circa 10 years’ experience gained in an engineering project management environment, ideally with an EPC or projects department in the process industry.

Competent and experienced in using MS Project.

Experience of managing grant-funded projects and their reporting requirements is desirable.

This role allows for a hybrid working arrangement.

Apply Now

Please apply via our Linkedin application process or send an email with your CV and a cover letter to info@sonichem.com

New Joint Industry Project with iCAST and the National Composite Centre

Bio-Sep Biochemicals and Biorefinery

Bio-Sep (now Sonichem) Launches new Joint Industry Project to Fuel the  Green Revolution

Bio-Sep (now Sonichem) has begun an exciting joint industry project which aims to develop renewable, bio-sourced alternatives for existing petrochemically-derived platform chemicals, ultimately helping to meet the worldwide demand for clean technologies and contributing to net-zero carbon goals. The new venture is in collaboration with the Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies (iCAST), which includes prestigious institutions such as the University of Bath and the National Composites Centre (NCC).

 

Bio-Sep specialises in the conversion of non-food, lignocellulosic biomass generated by agriculture and forestry into high-value biochemicals, using its unique, low energy biorefinery process. It produces a novel, non-sulfonated lignin with enhanced reactivity and low molecular weight. This new product and exclusive separation process have great potential for the large-scale manufacture of sustainable biochemical substitutes that can be used in multiple commercial applications, such as the composites and construction industries. The joint industry project aims to extensively test the properties and performance of the products, both as part of biobased composites and as a cement admixture.

Dr Andrew West, Chief Chemist at Sonichem (previously Bio-Sep), explained: “This interdisciplinary R&D project will allow us to develop and demonstrate potential applications for our non-sulfonated lignin and biorefinery process. We are very much looking forward to working with our valuable partners within iCAST, and benefiting from their global expertise and extensive knowledge in bio-based materials chemistry and composites manufacture.”

Dr Andrew West Tweet

Professor Matthew Davidson, iCAST Director, added: “We are delighted to be working with Bio-Sep to accelerate innovation in this important area. It is exactly the sort of collaboration that iCAST was designed to undertake, and one of the first of around 50 joint industry projects that we plan to deliver in the next two years. By bringing together iCAST’s expertise in materials and manufacturing with innovative companies such as Bio-Sep, we aim to accelerate the deployment of sustainable technologies into commercial applications. This will in turn contribute to achieving the UK’s net zero and Clean Growth targets.”

Professor Matthew Davidson Tweet

Tim Young, Head of Sustainability at the National Composites Centre, said: “Being part of the Bio-Sep project will enable us to assess the suitability of a highly innovative, low carbon, composite material. The NCC team looks forward to assessing the feasibility of the material for use in industrial applications using our design, manufacturing and quality assessment expertise alongside our customer network, to help the material’s route to market. We are delighted to support Bio-Sep with its exciting sustainability offering for the composites marketplace, and to be part of the consortium of partners, pooling expertise and knowledge in this growing specialist area.”

Tim Young Tweet

Early results of the project are encouraging, suggesting that in the near future, composites and construction industries could make use of a low-carbon, renewable material, further displacing petrochemicals and improving their operational sustainability.

About iCAST

The Innovation Centre for Applied Sustainable Technologies (iCAST) is a unique collaboration set to deliver agile innovation in green, sustainable technologies. Bringing together experts across all the innovation stages, it focusses on bringing together industry and academia to translate discoveries into commercial application. iCAST is a partnership between the universities of Bath and Oxford, the High-Value Manufacturing Catapults (National Composites Centre and Centre for Process Innovation), the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership and SETsquared. This project is funded by Research England. icast.org.uk / @icastinfo

About the National Composites Centre

The National Composites Centre (NCC) is the UK’s world-leading composite research and development facility; where innovators come when they need to make things lighter, stronger, smarter and more sustainable. Its key focus areas are Composites, Digital Engineering, Hydrogen and Sustainability. With access to ‘beyond’ state-of-the-art technology and the best composites engineering capabilities in the world, the NCC collaborates with customers to solve the most complex engineering challenges of our time.  Part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, the NCC works across all manufacturing sectors and has forged strong links with aerospace, energy, defence, space, construction, infrastructure, auto, rail, marine and biomedical. It works with organisations across the board from micro enterprises and SMEs to disrupters, the supply chain and OEMs, providing businesses with a de-risked environment to design, develop, test and scale their ideas and get them to market fast. For more information visit https://www.nccuk.com/