Lisa Smith: My Career in Science and Technology Project Management

Could you describe what your job is?

In simple terms, I assemble the full team to execute a construction project. From the earliest design stages, working with clients, designers, consultants and contractors to create a plan that goes through planning and construction. I'm the glue coordinating everyone to meet deadlines, budget and quality standards. 

What do you love about your job? Why do you enjoy working in this industry?

I love the variety - no two days are the same. I interact with different specialists across the industry and get to see projects through start to finish. Having a physical building at the end you helped create is so rewarding. I also enjoy solving problems and managing client relationships.

Why did you pursue/fall into a ‘Science Aligned’ Career?

It was accidental - I opened the dictionary to "architect" in school and it sounded interesting! I trained as an architectural technologist, working on technical drawings. I found my niche in project management, where I can utilize my technical background but also collaborate with teams on and off site.

Could you tell us about what an exciting day in your role would look like?

Exciting days involve pushing projects forward through meetings, hitting milestones and visiting construction sites. I love seeing the concepts I have worked on for months finally take shape on site. It’s also very rewarding to update clients on progress and solve any problems that crop up. 

What three words would you use to describe what you do?

Exciting, challenging, rewarding

What are the most interesting projects you've been involved in?

At Harwell Campus, I'm working on two shared workspace builds one, Tech Edge 1 and 2 which is currently in early construction and the other, Quad 3 which is currently within the design stage. I enjoy working within the science and tech sector as every aspect of design has to be thought through, such as the spread of vibrations thorough a building and how that can effect the end use, which makes each project unique and exciting to work on. 

Project management allows me to blend technical expertise with collaboration and creativity. I’m able to work with state-of-the-art facilities and see innovations develop before over time.