Discovery/R&D Program Manager

Key Details

• London-based role with 4 days per week on site / 1 day remote
• Permanent, full-time position
• Small, venture-backed biotech environment
• Broad programme ownership spanning early discovery through late preclinical and into early clinical development
• Strong exposure to senior R&D and executive leadership

Overview

We are recruiting a Program Manager on behalf of a London-based biotech developing novel small-molecule therapeutics.

The company is moving from platform validation toward a defined path to the clinic, and this role will take ownership of programme planning across the full development journey. It is a hands-on position in a lean organisation, with responsibility for aligning scientific, operational and external workstreams and ensuring programmes progress against clear milestones, timelines and decision points.

Key responsibilities

• Lead integrated programme planning across discovery and development
• Coordinate activities across biology, chemistry, DMPK, toxicology, CMC and translational functions
• Manage timelines, dependencies, critical path, risks and key decision points
• Support candidate selection and IND/CTA-enabling activities
• Manage CROs, vendors and external development partners against scope, timelines, quality and budget
• Prepare programme updates, governance materials and senior leadership reporting
• Drive accountability across internal and external stakeholders
• Help establish and improve programme management tools, cadence and reporting standards

Essential requirements

• Strong biotech or pharma project/programme management experience
• Demonstrable experience supporting programmes from discovery into preclinical and early clinical development
• Confident ownership of outsourced CRO and vendor relationships
• Proven experience managing programme milestones, critical path and decision-point planning
• Good working understanding of the drug development pathway, ideally within small molecules
• Strong scientific fluency and ability to work closely with discovery and development scientists
• Comfortable operating independently in a small, fast-moving biotech environment
• Able to work from the London office four days per week
• Full right to work in the UK

Preferred

• Small-molecule programme experience
• Oncology or CNS exposure
• Experience preparing board, investor or governance-level programme materials
• Experience in a biotech making its first transition from discovery into the clinic
• Formal project management training, although practical delivery experience is more important