Contract Project Manager – Drug Discovery & Preclinical Development

Barrington James; Greater London; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

Barrington James is partnering with a biotechnology organisation to identify an experienced Project Manager with a strong background in drug discovery and preclinical development for a nine-month contract.

You will coordinate scientific programmes, own project planning, timelines and delivery, working closely with project leaders and multidisciplinary teams to drive progress against milestones in a fast-paced R&D environment.

Qualifications

• Proven project management experience within drug discovery or preclinical development.
• Experience working within biotechnology or a comparable research and development environment.
• A good understanding of the drug discovery process and progression towards Development Candidate selection.
• Demonstrable experience establishing and managing project timelines, milestones and deliverables.
• The ability to identify risks, resolve issues proactively and keep programmes on track.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, particularly when working with project leaders and scientific teams.
• Excellent meeting coordination, action tracking and follow-up capabilities.
• Experience managing multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, coordination and monitoring of drug discovery and preclinical development projects.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, milestones and deliverables.
• Monitor progress against agreed objectives, proactively identifying risks, delays and dependencies.
• Take ownership of project schedules and drive activities forward to maintain delivery.
• Work closely with project leaders and scientific teams to coordinate activities and manage priorities.
• Support multiple programmes simultaneously within a dynamic biotechnology environment.
• Organise project meetings, prepare agendas, document minutes and communicate clear actions.
• Track outstanding actions, follow up with stakeholders and promote accountability for delivery.
• Support programmes from early-stage discovery through to Development Candidate selection.
• Coordinate activities relating to later-stage preclinical development, where required, including toxicology and CMC.

Skills

Project management

Drug discovery

Preclinical development

Stakeholder management

Meeting coordination

Job description

We are partnering with a biotechnology organisation to identify an experienced Project Manager with a strong background in drug discovery and preclinical development for an initial nine-month contract.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in coordinating scientific programmes within a fast-paced research and development environment. Working closely with project leaders and multidisciplinary teams, you will take ownership of project planning, timelines and delivery, helping ensure programmes progress efficiently against agreed milestones.

The successful candidate will bring proven project management expertise within non-clinical drug development, combining strong organisational and stakeholder management skills with a proactive, delivery-focused approach.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, coordination and monitoring of drug discovery and preclinical development projects.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, milestones and deliverables.
• Monitor progress against agreed objectives, proactively identifying risks, delays and dependencies.
• Take ownership of project schedules and drive activities forward to maintain delivery.
• Work closely with project leaders and scientific teams to coordinate activities and manage priorities.
• Support multiple programmes simultaneously within a dynamic biotechnology environment.
• Organise project meetings, prepare agendas, document minutes and communicate clear actions.
• Track outstanding actions, follow up with stakeholders and promote accountability for delivery.
• Support programmes from early-stage discovery through to Development Candidate selection.
• Coordinate activities relating to later-stage preclinical development, where required, including toxicology and CMC.

Essential Experience

• Proven project management experience within drug discovery or preclinical development.
• Experience working within biotechnology or a comparable research and development environment.
• A good understanding of the drug discovery process and progression towards Development Candidate selection.
• Demonstrable experience establishing and managing project timelines, milestones and deliverables.
• The ability to identify risks, resolve issues proactively and keep programmes on track.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, particularly when working with project leaders and scientific teams.
• Excellent meeting coordination, action tracking and follow-up capabilities.
• Experience managing multiple projects and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.