Programme Manager

RBW Consulting; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biotech start-up in the UK seeks an experienced Programme Manager to oversee development programs and manage vendor interactions. The ideal candidate has over 5 years of experience in biotech or CRO environments, focusing on CMC and preclinical development. This remote role requires a proactive individual comfortable with ambiguity and capable of thriving in a high-accountability environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years as a Programme/Project Manager in biotech or CRO environments.
• Proven experience coordinating CMC and/or preclinical development programmes.
• Strong CRO/vendor management across multiple concurrent workstreams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate an accelerated development programme.
• Manage interactions with CROs across CMC and preclinical studies.
• Own Gantt charts and budget tracking.

Skills

Programme/Project Management

CRO/vendor management

Communication skills

Organisational discipline

Flexibility

Job description

Programme Manager

Location: Remote (UK) – occasional face‑to‑face meetings
Start: ASAP
Reports to: CEO
Status: Full‑time

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Programme Manager to lead and coordinate an accelerated development programme through CMC, preclinical, and IND‑enabling phases. This is a unique opportunity to join a fast‑moving biotech start‑up in its build phase, driving execution across multiple CROs and workstreams. The role is remote, requiring a highly flexible, hands‑on approach and the ability to operate beyond rigid functional boundaries.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Leadership:

• Maintain and drive the integrated development plan (CMC → PK → tox → IND).
• Own critical path, dependencies, risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Lead weekly operational cadence across internal teams and CROs.
• Adapt execution structure as the programme scales.

Vendor & CRO Management:

• Manage interactions with CROs across CMC, enzyme engineering, PK/PD, and in‑vivo studies.
• Oversee SOWs, change orders, deliverables, budgets, and issue escalation.
• Ensure structured communication and alignment across all vendors.

CMC & Preclinical Coordination:

• Coordinate execution across analytics, linker/payload activities, formulation strategy, biodistribution, PK studies, and GLP tox planning.

Timeline, Budget & Documentation:

• Own Gantt charts, budget tracking, and deliverable logs.
• Ensure complete documentation and data‑room organisation.
• Prepare operational materials for investors, advisors, and Board.

Regulatory Readiness:

• Coordinate packages and timelines supporting IND‑enabling activities.
• Liaise with regulatory consultants to ensure programme alignment.

Build‑Phase Flexibility:

• Operate effectively in a lean, high‑intensity start‑up environment.
• Contribute to establishing processes, templates, and operational cadence.
• Comfortable working outside narrow functional boundaries when needed.

Candidate Profile

Essential Experience:

• 5+ years as a Programme/Project Manager in biotech or CRO environments.
• Proven experience coordinating CMC and/or preclinical development programmes.
• Strong CRO/vendor management across multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Experience managing complex development timelines and budgets.
• Familiarity with biologics/ADC/large molecule workflows.

Desirable Experience:

• Exposure to ADCs or antibody‑based therapeutics.
• Experience in early‑stage or lean biotech settings.
• Contribution to IND‑enabling packages.

Personal Attributes:

• Highly structured, delivery‑focused, and operationally rigorous.
• Independent, proactive, and comfortable with ambiguity.
• Strong communicator with excellent organisational discipline.
• Thrives in a remote‑first, high‑accountability environment.

Ready to take ownership of a high‑impact development programme and help bring first‑in‑class therapeutics to patients? Apply now by sending your CV today.