The Top 5 Roles Your Next CapEx Project Needs to Succeed

2025 has already seen some incredible capital expenditure (CapEx) life science projects come to life, from the Wuxi Biologics Vaccine Manufacturing Center in Singapore to the Fujifilm Diosynth Cell Culture Facility in Denmark. The talent and expertise behind the completion of these projects will support the driving of scientific innovation and reshape the industry for years to come.

Business leaders and hiring managers need a clear understanding of the expertise they need within their CapEx teams to ensure their project's seamless and successful completion. In any project, there should be skilled professionals who cover all areas, from finance to engineering to project management.

This blog will guide you through five of the most vital roles you need to hire for your team to support you in delivering your next groundbreaking life science project. We’ll cover what area of the project they are responsible for, how they will support your project, and what salaries you should expect to offer a candidate.

1.     Financial Analyst 

If your business needs a professional to manage capital expenditure, ensure financial accuracy, and support strategic decision-making on your next project, you need to hire a financial analyst.

The role involves budgeting, monitoring project spending, maintaining financial records, and ensuring compliance with accounting and tax requirements. Working closely with stakeholders across your business, the analyst provides insights that optimise CapEx investments while improving reporting processes and financial controls.

When hiring for the role, you need to find an individual with strong financial analysis skills, a focus on process improvement, and the ability to collaborate across teams to drive effective capital management.

How Will They Support Your Project?

• Develop and maintain the CapEx budget, aligning financial planning with strategic goals.
• Assess project proposals for financial viability, including RO1, payback period, and NPV.
• Track project progress against budget and timelines, identifying any variances.
• Support governance by ensuring compliance with approval processes and financial policies.
• Conduct financial modelling to assess CapEx impact on company performance.
• Maintain accurate fixed asset records, ensuring compliance with accounting and tax regulations.
• Partner with project managers, finance teams, and senior leadership to align CapEx priorities.
• Improve financial processes and reporting through systems enhancements and automation.

What Salary Will They Expect?

Due to their importance of ensuring a CapEx project stays within financial control, analysts will typically demand an average salary of $79,000.  

2.   Project Manager

Next, you’ll need someone who can oversee the CapEx project from initial feasibility studies through to execution, commissioning, and handover. A project manager's role is vital as it ensures that projects align with strategic business goals, are delivered on time and within budget, and adhere to safety, quality, and regulatory standards.

Collaborating with cross-functional teams and external partners, the project manager provides leadership, displays strong communication skills, drives efficiency, and ensures compliance with engineering and operational requirements.

How Will They Support Your Project?

• Develop and manage project plans, outlining scope, objectives, timelines, budgets, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Oversee project execution, ensuring alignment with budget and schedule while maintaining quality and safety standards,
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams, providing direction and vision to ensure project success.
• Communicate progress updates, manage expectations, and escalate critical issues when necessary.
• Develop, forecast, and manage project budgets.
• Ensure projects comply with company policies, regulatory standards, and engineering best practices.
• Conduct feasibility studies and business case evaluations for potential investments.
• Maintain proactive quality control across all aspects of the project, from design to commissioning. 

What Salary Will They Expect?

With their crucial role in overseeing the project completion, you should expect to pay a project manager an average salary of $90,000.

3.   CQV Engineer

The next addition to your CapEx team should be a CQV engineer who will ensure that equipment, systems, and facilities meet regulatory and performance standards.

The roles involve commissioning, qualification, and validating equipment and systems to ensure proper installation and functionality. The CQV eEngineer will manage extensive documentation, follow validation protocols, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to maintain compliance and operational excellence.

When hiring for the role, you must find a candidate with strong technical knowledge, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to work within structured processes while solving complex problems efficiently.

How Will They Support Your Project?

• Commission and qualify equipment and systems to meet design and operational requirements.
• Prepare and execute IQ, OQ, and PQ qualification protocols for equipment, instruments, piping systems, automation controls, and building facilities.
• Conduct P&ID walk-downs and verify system drawings.
• Investigate abnormal testing results and troubleshoot validation issues.
• Participate in internal audit and external inspection as required.
• Support maintenance and engineering teams with procedures, investigations, protocols, reports, and change controls.
• Apply risk management tools such as FTA, FMEA, PHA, and HAZOP to assess and mitigate potential issues.

What Salary Will They Expect? 

Due to their niche skill set and vital role in meeting performance and regulatory standards, CQV engineers demand an average salary of $121,000.

4.  Procurement Specialist 

Another addition to your team should be a need for an expert who can develop and implement procurement strategies that optimise large-scale engineering and drive CapEx project success.

A procurement specialist’s role involves strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, and cost optimisation to ensure efficient procurement processes. They will work closely with cross-functional teams to align procurement activities with project goals, ensuring the timely and cost-effective acquisition of goods and services.

Hiring a procurement specialist ensures that your company’s procurement activities are strategically aligned with its growth objectives. They also work closely with cross-functional teams to drive efficiency and cost savings in CapEx project execution.

How Will They Support Your Project?

• Develop and implement strategic sourcing plans to optimise procurement spend and ensure cost-effective supplier partnerships.
• Manage the end-to-end procurement process, from supplier selection to contract negotiation and execution.
• Conduct market analysis and supplier evaluations to identify the best sourcing options for capital projects.
• Negotiate contract terms, pricing, and delivery schedules to maximise value and mitigate risks.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, including project managers and engineers, to align procurement activities with business objectives.
• Monitor supplier performance and ensure compliance with contract terms, resolving issues as necessary.

What Salary Will They Expect?

If you are considering hiring a procurement specialist, you should know that the average salary demanded for the role is $109,000.

5.   Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Officer

Last on our list, but equally as important, is an Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Officer. They are vital in ensuring a safe and compliant working environment while driving environmental, health, and safety initiatives.

The role involves implementing company health, safety, quality, and environmental policies, procedures, and management systems. The EHS manager will ensure compliance with legal regulations, promote a strong safety culture, and proactively mitigate risks.

When hiring for the role, you need to find a candidate with strong leadership, technical expertise, and the ability to drive continuous improvement in EHS performance while collaborating across teams.

How Will They Support Your Business?

• Develop and implement EHS policies, procedures, and management systems to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Conduct regular site inspections, audits, and risk assessments, ensuring immediate corrective actions are taken where necessary.
• Lead safety training and development programmes to enhance workforce competencies and reinforce a strong safety culture.
• Investigate incidents, conduct root cause analyses, and implement corrective and preventive measures to mitigate risks.
• Oversee hazardous material handling, ensuring compliance with chemical safety regulations, COSHH, and REACH requirements.
• Collaborate with leadership and stakeholders to drive EHS performance improvements, tracking KPIs and implementing best practices.

What Salary Will They Expect?

Playing such a crucial role in ensuring a compliant and safe work environment for a CapEx project, you should expect to compensate an EHS officer around the average salary of $136,000.

The Top 5 Roles You Need for Your Next CapEx Team: The Final Word

The complexity of large-scale capital investments requires professionals who balance strategic planning with real-time problem-solving, ensuring that projects stay on track, risks are mitigated, and resources are used efficiently. Without this alignment, businesses risk delays, budget overruns, and compliance challenges that can undermine even the most promising investments.

By prioritising expertise in financial management, procurement strategy, project execution, and workplace safety, businesses can future-proof their capital projects and drive long-term value. Investing in the right talent today lays the foundation for transformative projects shaping the future of life sciences and beyond.

Don’t Risk a Poor Hire. Recruit your CapEx team with NES Fircroft

If your life science CapEx project needs specialised talent, NES Fircroft is here to support you every step of the way. With our extensive global network, we provide tailored workforce solutions to meet your project’s unique needs, ensuring you have the right experts at the right time.

Get in touch with us today to explore how we can help you achieve your project goals. Whether it’s contract staffing or end-to-end project support, we’re committed to delivering the best talent to drive your success.