Senior Director, Clinical Outsourcing & Business Operations

Bicycle Therapeutics; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A clinical-stage pharmaceutical company in Cambridge is seeking a Senior Director of Clinical Outsourcing & Business Operations. This pivotal role will focus on driving outsourcing strategy and vendor management while leading a small team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in clinical outsourcing and a strong understanding of clinical development processes. The position offers a hybrid work model and competitive benefits.

Benefits

Competitive annual bonus

28 days annual leave

Employer contribution to pension

Life assurance cover

Private Medical Insurance

Health Cash Plan

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in clinical outsourcing within biotech or pharma.
• Strong knowledge of clinical development processes.
• Proven success in developing outsourcing strategies.

Responsibilities

• Drive outsourcing strategy and implementation.
• Oversee vendor management and governance.
• Provide leadership and development to team.

Skills

Clinical outsourcing experience

Vendor management skills

Negotiation skills

Leadership

Business acumen

Education

Degree in life sciences or related field

Job description

Bicycle Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing a novel class of medicines, referred to as Bicycle molecules, for diseases that are underserved by existing therapeutics. Bicycle molecules are fully synthetic short peptides constrained with small molecule scaffolds to form two loops that stabilize their structural geometry. This constraint facilitates target binding with high affinity and selectivity, making Bicycle molecules attractive candidates for drug development. The company is evaluating zelenectide pevedotin (formerly BT8009), a Bicycle Toxin Conjugate (BTC) targeting Nectin-4, a well-validated tumor antigen; BT5528, a BTC molecule targeting EphA2, a historically undruggable target; and BT7480, a Bicycle Tumor-Targeted Immune Cell Agonist (Bicycle TICA) targeting Nectin-4 and agonizing CD137, in company-sponsored clinical trials. Additionally, the company is developing Bicycle Radio Conjugates (BRC) for radiopharmaceutical use and, through various partnerships, is exploring the use of Bicycle technology to develop therapies for diseases beyond oncology.

Bicycle Therapeutics is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with many key functions and members of its leadership team located in Cambridge, Massachusetts US.

Culture is key and all Bicycle employees actively embrace and role model our company values:

• We are Adventurous. We believe it’s the way to deliver extraordinary results for our patients.
• We are Dedicated to our Mission. You can’t change the world if you don’t have determination.
• We are One Team. We only succeed when we work together.

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Clinical Outsourcing & Business Operations will play a critical leadership role within the Clinical Development organization. This individual will be responsible for driving outsourcing strategy and implementation, overseeing vendor management and governance, and leading a small, high-performing team. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker and hands-on operator who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced biotech environment, partnering across functions and with external CRO partners to enable the efficient execution of clinical programs.

Role is hybrid, with a split working location of Cambridge, UK and working from home.

Key Responsibilities

Outsourcing Strategy & Implementation

• Partner with functional business owners to design, implement, and refine outsourcing strategies that support clinical program objectives
• Lead the sourcing, selection, and negotiation of CROs and other key clinical vendors
• Ensure outsourcing models are aligned with program needs, budget, and timelines
• Drive best practices, processes, and tools to optimize vendor engagement and performance

Vendor Oversight & Governance

• Establish and lead governance forums with CROs and strategic vendors to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective communication
• Monitor vendor performance against KPIs, service-level agreements, and contractual obligations, proactively addressing issues and risks
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with external partners across all levels
• Partner with Clinical Operations, Finance, and Legal to ensure vendor contracts, budgets, and amendments are appropriately managed

Leadership & Team Management

• Provide leadership, coaching, and career development to a small team within the outsourcing and business operations function
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative culture that emphasizes accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth
• Serve as a trusted cross-functional leader, working closely with internal stakeholders across Clinical Development (e.g. Clinical Operations, Translational Science and Diagnostics, Regulatory, Quantitative Pharmacology, Biometrics, Safety), Finance, Legal

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in clinical outsourcing, vendor management, or related fields within biotech or pharma; advanced expertise in life sciences, business operations, or a related discipline is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of clinical development processes, outsourcing models, and CRO/vendor landscape, especially in oncology
• Proven success in developing and executing outsourcing strategies and managing complex vendor relationships
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and influencing skills across internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including direct line management and team development
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment
• Strong business acumen with ability to partner effectively with Finance and Legal functions

Additional Information

• State-of-the-art campus environment
• Competitive reward including annual company bonus
• 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays
• Employer contribution to pension (employee does not have to contribute)
• Life assurance cover 4x basic salary
• Private Medical Insurance, including optical and dental cover
• Health Cash Plan
• Eligibility for an option grant to subscribe to shares in Bicycle Therapeutics plc.
• Cycle to work scheme

Bicycle Therapeutics is committed to building a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. We recognize that diverse and inclusive teams build a stronger and more innovative company. Therefore, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability status, marital status, or veteran status.