R&D Project Manager – Biotechnology

Cranleigh Scientific; Norwich; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Job summary

Cranleigh STEM & Sustainability is partnering with QuberTech to recruit a Project Manager for Norwich Research Park. The role focuses on bringing clarity and structure to complex scientific programmes as Innovate UK projects progress toward commercial scale.

The position is a two-year fixed-term contract with potential to become permanent as funding grows. You’ll manage delivery, reporting, budgets and stakeholder coordination, with a hybrid arrangement (up to two days home per week).

Qualifications

• Experience managing technical, scientific or grant-funded projects with multiple stakeholders and budgets.
• Direct experience with Innovate UK, UKRI or similar public funding bodies is valuable.
• Ability to translate complex scientific activity into clear plans and reports.

Responsibilities

• Manage project plans, milestones, budgets, risks and dependencies.
• Track expenditure, forecasts and financial claims.
• Ensure project activity and reporting meet Innovate UK requirements.
• Coordinate consortium partners, funders and external collaborators.
• Keep scientific teams aligned around priorities, responsibilities and deadlines.
• Produce clear progress, financial and risk reporting for leadership.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Risk management

Reporting

Job description

Cranleigh STEM & Sustainability is partnering with QuberTech, a UK biotechnology business developing a more sustainable and traceable source of natural rubber through plant biotechnology and genome engineering.

We’re looking for a Project Manager to bring clarity and structure to complex scientific projects as QuberTech expands its R&D capabilities and progresses towards commercial scale.

This is an initial two-year fixed-term contract, with the potential to become permanent as the business grows and secures further funding.

What makes this opportunity interesting?

You’ll work closely with QuberTech’s CEO, CBO and scientific teams, taking ownership of the delivery and reporting of two live Innovate UK projects.

The business has grown quickly, so you’ll have the opportunity to improve how projects are planned, tracked and reported rather than simply inheriting a fixed system.

Your work will include:

• Managing project plans, milestones, budgets, risks and dependencies.
• Tracking project expenditure, forecasts and financial claims.
• Ensuring project activity and reporting meet Innovate UK requirements.
• Coordinating consortium partners, funders and external collaborators.
• Keeping scientific teams aligned around priorities, responsibilities and deadlines.
• Producing clear progress, financial and risk reporting for the leadership team.
• Supporting future grant applications and funding activity when required.
• Introducing practical improvements without creating unnecessary administration.

What experience will you need?

You’ll need experience managing technical, scientific or grant-funded projects involving multiple stakeholders, budgets and competing priorities.

Direct experience with Innovate UK, UKRI or another public funding body would be particularly valuable. We’re also open to experienced R&D Project Managers who can quickly learn the specific funding requirements.

You don’t need to be a scientist, but you must be comfortable working alongside technical teams and translating complex activity into clear plans and reports.

Experience within biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, agritech, research or another technology-led environment would give you a useful foundation.

Just as importantly, you’ll be able to challenge priorities constructively and keep projects moving without having direct authority over everyone involved.

Role: Project Manager

Contract: Two-year fixed-term contract, with the potential to become permanent

Location: Norwich Research Park, Norfolk

Working arrangement: Hybrid | up to two days working from home p/w

Hours: 37.5 per week, with 30+ hours considered

Benefits: 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.

Cranleigh STEM & Sustainability is managing this search in partnership with QuberTech