diff --git a/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pdos.py b/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pdos.py
index 231cabe3c..f23daf8b6 100644
--- a/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pdos.py
+++ b/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pdos.py
@@ -307,6 +307,13 @@ def define(cls, spec):
         spec.expose_outputs(DosCalculation, namespace='dos')
         spec.expose_outputs(ProjwfcCalculation, namespace='projwfc')
 
+    @classmethod
+    def get_protocol_filepath(cls):
+        """Return ``pathlib.Path`` to the ``.yaml`` file that defines the protocols."""
+        from importlib_resources import files
+        from . import protocols
+        return files(protocols) / 'pdos.yaml'
+
     @classmethod
     def get_builder_from_protocol(
         cls, pw_code, dos_code, projwfc_code, structure, protocol=None, overrides=None, **kwargs
@@ -324,11 +331,10 @@ def get_builder_from_protocol(
         :return: a process builder instance with all inputs defined ready for launch.
         """
 
-        args = (pw_code, structure, protocol)
 
         inputs = cls.get_protocol_inputs(protocol, overrides)
-        builder = cls.get_builder()
 
+        args = (pw_code, structure, protocol)
         scf = PwBaseWorkChain.get_builder_from_protocol(*args, overrides=inputs.get('scf', None), **kwargs)
         scf['pw'].pop('structure', None)
         scf.pop('clean_workdir', None)
@@ -338,6 +344,7 @@ def get_builder_from_protocol(
         nscf['pw']['parameters']['SYSTEM'].pop('degauss', None)
         nscf.pop('clean_workdir', None)
 
+        builder = cls.get_builder()
         builder.structure = structure
         builder.clean_workdir = orm.Bool(inputs['clean_workdir'])
         builder.scf = scf
diff --git a/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/protocols/pw/__init__.py b/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/protocols/pw/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/protocols/utils.py b/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/protocols/utils.py
index 709c01cef..2bfe3b509 100644
--- a/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/protocols/utils.py
+++ b/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/protocols/utils.py
@@ -1,36 +1,49 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 """Utilities to manipulate the workflow input protocols."""
-import functools
-import os
 import pathlib
+from typing import Optional, Union
 import yaml
 
+from aiida.plugins import DataFactory, GroupFactory
+
+StructureData = DataFactory('structure')
+PseudoPotentialFamily = GroupFactory('pseudo.family')
+
 
 class ProtocolMixin:
     """Utility class for processes to build input mappings for a given protocol based on a YAML configuration file."""
 
     @classmethod
-    def get_default_protocol(cls):
+    def get_protocol_filepath(cls) -> pathlib.Path:
+        """Return the ``pathlib.Path`` to the ``.yaml`` file that defines the protocols."""
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_default_protocol(cls) -> str:
         """Return the default protocol for a given workflow class.
 
         :param cls: the workflow class.
         :return: the default protocol.
         """
-        return load_protocol_file(cls)['default_protocol']
+        return cls._load_protocol_file()['default_protocol']
 
     @classmethod
-    def get_available_protocols(cls):
+    def get_available_protocols(cls) -> dict:
         """Return the available protocols for a given workflow class.
 
         :param cls: the workflow class.
         :return: dictionary of available protocols, where each key is a protocol and value is another dictionary that
             contains at least the key `description` and optionally other keys with supplementary information.
         """
-        data = load_protocol_file(cls)
+        data = cls._load_protocol_file()
         return {protocol: {'description': values['description']} for protocol, values in data['protocols'].items()}
 
     @classmethod
-    def get_protocol_inputs(cls, protocol=None, overrides=None):
+    def get_protocol_inputs(
+        cls,
+        protocol: Optional[dict] = None,
+        overrides: Union[dict, pathlib.Path, None] = None,
+    ) -> dict:
         """Return the inputs for the given workflow class and protocol.
 
         :param cls: the workflow class.
@@ -39,7 +52,7 @@ def get_protocol_inputs(cls, protocol=None, overrides=None):
             maintain the exact same nesting structure as the input port namespace of the corresponding workflow class.
         :return: mapping of inputs to be used for the workflow class.
         """
-        data = load_protocol_file(cls)
+        data = cls._load_protocol_file()
         protocol = protocol or data['default_protocol']
 
         try:
@@ -48,17 +61,26 @@ def get_protocol_inputs(cls, protocol=None, overrides=None):
             raise ValueError(
                 f'`{protocol}` is not a valid protocol. Call ``get_available_protocols`` to show available protocols.'
             ) from exception
-
         inputs = recursive_merge(data['default_inputs'], protocol_inputs)
         inputs.pop('description')
 
+        if isinstance(overrides, pathlib.Path):
+            with overrides.open() as file:
+                overrides = yaml.safe_load(file)
+
         if overrides:
             return recursive_merge(inputs, overrides)
 
         return inputs
 
+    @classmethod
+    def _load_protocol_file(cls) -> dict:
+        """Return the contents of the protocol file for workflow class."""
+        with cls.get_protocol_filepath().open() as file:
+            return yaml.safe_load(file)
 
-def recursive_merge(left, right):
+
+def recursive_merge(left: dict, right: dict) -> dict:
     """Recursively merge two dictionaries into a single dictionary.
 
     If any key is present in both ``left`` and ``right`` dictionaries, the value from the ``right`` dictionary is
@@ -84,28 +106,6 @@ def recursive_merge(left, right):
     return merged
 
 
-def load_protocol_file(cls):
-    """Load the protocol file for the given workflow class.
-
-    :param cls: the workflow class.
-    :return: the contents of the protocol file.
-    """
-    from aiida.plugins.entry_point import get_entry_point_from_class
-
-    _, entry_point = get_entry_point_from_class(cls.__module__, cls.__name__)
-    entry_point_name = entry_point.name
-    parts = entry_point_name.split('.')
-    parts.pop(0)
-    filename = f'{parts.pop()}.yaml'
-    try:
-        basepath = functools.reduce(os.path.join, parts)
-    except TypeError:
-        basepath = '.'
-
-    with (pathlib.Path(__file__).resolve().parent / basepath / filename).open() as handle:
-        return yaml.safe_load(handle)
-
-
 def get_magnetization_parameters() -> dict:
     """Return the mapping of suggested initial magnetic moments for each element.
 
@@ -115,7 +115,11 @@ def get_magnetization_parameters() -> dict:
         return yaml.safe_load(handle)
 
 
-def get_starting_magnetization(structure, pseudo_family, initial_magnetic_moments=None):
+def get_starting_magnetization(
+    structure: StructureData,
+    pseudo_family: PseudoPotentialFamily,
+    initial_magnetic_moments: Optional[dict] = None
+) -> dict:
     """Return the dictionary with starting magnetization for each kind in the structure.
 
     :param structure: the structure.
diff --git a/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/bands.py b/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/bands.py
index 5940f60ac..1a68f46ce 100644
--- a/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/bands.py
+++ b/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/bands.py
@@ -112,6 +112,13 @@ def define(cls, spec):
             help='The computed band structure.')
         # yapf: enable
 
+    @classmethod
+    def get_protocol_filepath(cls):
+        """Return ``pathlib.Path`` to the ``.yaml`` file that defines the protocols."""
+        from importlib_resources import files
+        from ..protocols import pw as pw_protocols
+        return files(pw_protocols) / 'bands.yaml'
+
     @classmethod
     def get_builder_from_protocol(cls, code, structure, protocol=None, overrides=None, **kwargs):
         """Return a builder prepopulated with inputs selected according to the chosen protocol.
@@ -124,10 +131,9 @@ def get_builder_from_protocol(cls, code, structure, protocol=None, overrides=Non
             sub processes that are called by this workchain.
         :return: a process builder instance with all inputs defined ready for launch.
         """
-        args = (code, structure, protocol)
         inputs = cls.get_protocol_inputs(protocol, overrides)
-        builder = cls.get_builder()
 
+        args = (code, structure, protocol)
         relax = PwRelaxWorkChain.get_builder_from_protocol(*args, overrides=inputs.get('relax', None), **kwargs)
         scf = PwBaseWorkChain.get_builder_from_protocol(*args, overrides=inputs.get('scf', None), **kwargs)
         bands = PwBaseWorkChain.get_builder_from_protocol(*args, overrides=inputs.get('bands', None), **kwargs)
@@ -142,6 +148,7 @@ def get_builder_from_protocol(cls, code, structure, protocol=None, overrides=Non
         bands.pop('kpoints_distance', None)
         bands.pop('kpoints_force_parity', None)
 
+        builder = cls.get_builder()
         builder.structure = structure
         builder.relax = relax
         builder.scf = scf
diff --git a/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/base.py b/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/base.py
index ad974d171..4ecbf35f4 100644
--- a/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/base.py
+++ b/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/base.py
@@ -117,6 +117,13 @@ def define(cls, spec):
             message='Then ionic minimization cycle converged but the thresholds are exceeded in the final SCF.')
         # yapf: enable
 
+    @classmethod
+    def get_protocol_filepath(cls):
+        """Return ``pathlib.Path`` to the ``.yaml`` file that defines the protocols."""
+        from importlib_resources import files
+        from ..protocols import pw as pw_protocols
+        return files(pw_protocols) / 'base.yaml'
+
     @classmethod
     def get_builder_from_protocol(
         cls,
@@ -160,7 +167,6 @@ def get_builder_from_protocol(
         if initial_magnetic_moments is not None and spin_type is not SpinType.COLLINEAR:
             raise ValueError(f'`initial_magnetic_moments` is specified but spin type `{spin_type}` is incompatible.')
 
-        builder = cls.get_builder()
         inputs = cls.get_protocol_inputs(protocol, overrides)
 
         meta_parameters = inputs.pop('meta_parameters')
@@ -202,6 +208,7 @@ def get_builder_from_protocol(
             parameters['SYSTEM']['starting_magnetization'] = starting_magnetization
 
         # pylint: disable=no-member
+        builder = cls.get_builder()
         builder.pw['code'] = code
         builder.pw['pseudos'] = pseudo_family.get_pseudos(structure=structure)
         builder.pw['structure'] = structure
diff --git a/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/relax.py b/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/relax.py
index 6428b1acf..561d329b0 100644
--- a/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/relax.py
+++ b/aiida_quantumespresso/workflows/pw/relax.py
@@ -95,6 +95,13 @@ def define(cls, spec):
             help='The successfully relaxed structure.')
         # yapf: enable
 
+    @classmethod
+    def get_protocol_filepath(cls):
+        """Return ``pathlib.Path`` to the ``.yaml`` file that defines the protocols."""
+        from importlib_resources import files
+        from ..protocols import pw as pw_protocols
+        return files(pw_protocols) / 'relax.yaml'
+
     @classmethod
     def get_builder_from_protocol(
         cls, code, structure, protocol=None, overrides=None, relax_type=RelaxType.POSITIONS_CELL, **kwargs
@@ -112,10 +119,9 @@ def get_builder_from_protocol(
         """
         type_check(relax_type, RelaxType)
 
-        args = (code, structure, protocol)
         inputs = cls.get_protocol_inputs(protocol, overrides)
-        builder = cls.get_builder()
 
+        args = (code, structure, protocol)
         base = PwBaseWorkChain.get_builder_from_protocol(*args, overrides=inputs.get('base', None), **kwargs)
         base_final_scf = PwBaseWorkChain.get_builder_from_protocol(
             *args, overrides=inputs.get('base_final_scf', None), **kwargs
@@ -153,6 +159,7 @@ def get_builder_from_protocol(
         if relax_type in (RelaxType.CELL, RelaxType.POSITIONS_CELL):
             base.pw.parameters['CELL']['cell_dofree'] = 'all'
 
+        builder = cls.get_builder()
         builder.base = base
         builder.base_final_scf = base_final_scf
         builder.structure = structure
diff --git a/setup.json b/setup.json
index 92efdf62f..fbbe8cba2 100644
--- a/setup.json
+++ b/setup.json
@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@
         "packaging",
         "qe-tools~=2.0rc1",
         "xmlschema~=1.2,>=1.2.5",
-        "numpy"
+        "numpy",
+        "importlib_resources"
     ],
     "license": "MIT License",
     "name": "aiida_quantumespresso",