Overview
Real Estate Project Manager, Europe
Wilmslow, UK (Hybrid) | Waters Corporation
Waters Corporation is growing and we’re looking for a Real Estate Project Manager to help shape the future of our European real estate portfolio. This is a rare opportunity to lead meaningful, high‑impact projects at the intersection of real estate strategy, life sciences, and M&A integration.
You’ll join a supportive, collaborative global team where your expertise will influence decisions across laboratories, GMP facilities, R&D environments, and office spaces.
If you enjoy solving complex problems, partnering with diverse stakeholders, and delivering projects that make a real difference, this role offers the scope and visibility to thrive.
Responsibilities
What You’ll Do
M&A Integration & Transition Management
1. Lead real estate workstreams for acquisitions, divestitures, and mergers, from site assessments to transition planning and consolidation opportunities.
2. Conduct due diligence across acquired portfolios, including lease reviews, compliance gaps, and laboratory infrastructure readiness.
3. Develop integration roadmaps, project plans, and critical‑path schedules.
4. Manage the relocation of people, equipment, and regulated materials while maintaining business continuity.
Portfolio Strategy & Planning
5. Partner with senior leaders to align real estate strategy with business goals.
6. Support decisions across offices, labs, warehouses, and manufacturing spaces.
7. Perform space forecasting, utilisation analysis, and scenario modelling.
8. Prepare business cases with CapEx/OpEx estimates and ROI analysis.
Transactions & Lease Management
9. Partner with brokers and internal teams on site searches, RFPs, LOIs, and lease negotiations.
10. Assess lease risks and obligations for newly acquired sites.
11. Handle real estate transactions end‑to‑end.
Construction & Project Delivery
12. Lead programming and requirements gathering with scientific and operational teams.
13. Collaborate on workplace design trends and regional standards.
14. Guide architects and engineers through design and laboratory planning.
15. Ensure compliance with life‑science‑specific codes and safety standards.
16. Be responsible for construction schedules, budgets, quality, and commissioning.
17. Partner with procurement and EHS to ensure safe, compliant delivery.
Budgeting & Financial Management
18. Lead project budgets, cash flows, and forecasts across multiple concurrent projects.
19. Provide financial updates, variance analysis, and scenario modelling.
Qualifications
What You Bring
We know that underrepresented groups often hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. If you’re excited about this role and have relevant experience, we encourage you to apply — even if your background doesn’t align perfectly.
20. Experience in real estate project management, ideally within life sciences.
21. Strong understanding of laboratory and technical building systems.
22. Proven track record to lead full‑cycle design and construction projects across multiple sites.
23. Confident stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills.
24. Ability to work across international teams and time zones.
25. Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and comfort running multiple priorities.
26. Experience navigating complex operational or commercial challenges.
Education: Bachelor’s degree required.
Travel: Approximately 30%.
What We Offer
Flexible working arrangements to support balance and wellbeing with 25 days’ holiday plus excellent family‑friendly benefits. We have a strong employer pension, life assurance, income protection, and private medical. Along with opportunities to grow, develop, and shape your career within a global organisation wtih a culture that values inclusion, collaboration, and diverse perspectives.
At Waters, we’re committed to building teams that reflect the communities we serve. We’re proud to foster an environment where everyone can contribute their best work and develop to their full potential.
We can make reasonable adjustments to our interview process according to your needs.
Company Description
(NYSE:WAT) is a global leader in analytical instruments, separations technologies, and software, serving the life, materials, food, and environmental sciences for over 65 years. Our Company helps ensure the efficacy of medicines, the safety of food and the purity of water, and the quality and sustainability of products used every day. In over 100 countries, our 7,600+ passionate employees collaborate with customers in laboratories, manufacturing sites, and hospitals to accelerate the benefits of pioneering science.
Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our core values at Waters Corporation. It benefits our employees, our products, our customers and our community. Waters complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, marital status (including civil unions), military service, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, legally recognized disability, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.