Project Manager - Drug Discovery

Barrington James Drug Discovery & Preclinical; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Barrington James Drug Discovery & Preclinical is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead delivery across multiple drug discovery and preclinical programmes in a fast-paced biotech setting. The role involves cross-functional collaboration with project leaders and scientific teams to hit milestones from concept through to Development Candidate nomination.

You will coordinate timelines, manage critical paths, and ensure deliverables are achieved while supporting evolving processes as the

Qualifications

• Proven project management experience in drug discovery or preclinical development.
• Experience coordinating multiple discovery programmes and cross-functional teams.
• Familiarity with stage-gate governance and IND-enabling studies is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate multiple drug discovery and preclinical development programmes, ensuring progress against timelines and milestones.
• Establish and monitor project plans, critical paths, deliverables and key milestones.
• Own programme timelines, identify delays and risks, and drive actions to keep projects on track.
• Work with project leaders and scientists to drive progression and inform decision-making.
• Organise project meetings, prepare updates, and document key decisions.

Skills

Project management

Drug discovery

Preclinical development

Biotech industry

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Smartsheet

MS Project

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Project Manager to join an innovative, early-stage biotech company working across drug discovery and preclinical development. Our client has several exciting programmes in the pipeline, including projects within autoimmune research, and is looking for a Project Manager who can take ownership of programme delivery and support the progression of multiple discovery projects.

This is a hands-on position working closely with project leaders and scientific teams, managing timelines, coordinating activities and ensuring key milestones and deliverables are achieved. You will support programmes from initial concept through to Development Candidate (DC) nomination, with some involvement in later-stage activities.

The successful candidate will have established project management experience within drug discovery or preclinical research, ideally within a fast-paced biotech environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate multiple drug discovery and preclinical development programmes, ensuring projects progress against agreed timelines and milestones.
• Establish, monitor and maintain project plans, critical paths, deliverables and key milestones.
• Take ownership of programme timelines, proactively identifying potential delays, risks and challenges and ensuring appropriate actions are taken.
• Work closely with project leaders and cross-functional scientific teams to drive programme progression and support decision-making.
• Organise project meetings, prepare programme updates, document key decisions and ensure actions are followed through.
• Support programmes from initial concept and target identification through to Development Candidate nomination.
• Coordinate activities across multiple programmes, balancing competing priorities and ensuring effective delivery.
• Contribute to the development of project management processes, reporting structures and planning tools as the organisation continues to grow.

What Are We Looking For?

• Proven Project Management experience within drug discovery and/or preclinical development, within a biotechnology
• Experience managing non-clinical drug discovery programmes, with an understanding of the progression from target identification and lead optimisation through to Development Candidate nomination.
• A strong understanding of preclinical research, including in vivo and ex vivo pharmacology, cell-based assays, DMPK and toxicology.
• Demonstrable experience setting, managing and tracking project timelines, milestones and deliverables across multiple programmes.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work closely with project leaders and coordinate scientific teams.
• A proactive approach to project management, with the confidence to identify issues, ask questions, challenge timelines and drive accountability.
• Comfortable managing several programmes simultaneously within a fast-paced biotech environment.

Experience working within autoimmune drug discovery programmes is essential. Familiarity with stage-gate governance, IND-enabling studies and project management tools such as Smartsheet or MS Project would also be beneficial.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to join a growing biotech organisation where you will have genuine ownership and influence over how discovery programmes are managed. You will work closely with project leaders and senior stakeholders, helping shape project management processes and supporting the progression of multiple drug discovery programmes.