Senior Project Manager

University of Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

University Of Oxford invites applications for a Senior Project Manager to support delivery of the Wellcome SynHG programme across multiple sites. You will oversee project planning, milestone tracking, governance processes, budget monitoring and funder reporting to ensure delivery of programme objectives on time and within budget.

The role requires exceptional organisational and communication skills, experience managing complex, multi‑institution projects and strong stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex projects or programmes with multiple stakeholders and workstreams.
• Experience supporting large-scale research programmes or externally funded projects is desirable.
• Familiarity with major research funders and multidisciplinary research programmes is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate and deliver the SynHG programme across all sites.
• Oversee milestone tracking, governance processes and reporting to funders.
• Monitor budget, manage risks and support decision-making by programme leadership.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Budget monitoring

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience in project management

Job description

Ellison Institute of Technology and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Oxford

About the role

Applications are invited for a Senior Project Manager to support delivery of the Wellcome Synthetic Human Genome (SynHG) programme, a five-year, £10 million multi-centre research initiative led by Professor Jason Chin and funded by the Wellcome Trust. The SynHG programme aims to develop the foundational and scalable tools, technology and methods needed to synthesise large sections of human genomes/chromosomes. Through programmable synthesis of genetic material the aim is to unlock a deeper understanding of life, leading to potential acceleration of the development of safe, targeted, cell‑based therapies, and opening entire new fields of research in human health. The project aims to achieve reliable genome design and synthesis – engineering cells to have specific functions – which will be a major milestone in modern biology. The programme is also supported by a dedicated social science research strand that will explore the societal and ethical implications of synthetic human genome research. The programme is delivered through a partnership between the University of Oxford and the Generative Biology Institute (GBI), part of the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), where Professor Chin serves as Founding Director. SynHG brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of researchers from the University of Oxford, the University of Manchester, Imperial College London, the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, and the University of Kent.

The Senior Project Manager will play a pivotal role in the planning, coordination, and delivery of the Wellcome SynHG programme across all sites. The successful candidate will work closely with Professor Chin and the programme's co-investigators: Professor Patrick Cai (University of Manchester), Professor Tom Ellis (Imperial College London), Dr Julian Sale (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge), and Professor Joy Zhang (University of Kent), to oversee programme planning, milestone tracking, governance processes, budget monitoring, risk management, and funder reporting to ensure delivery of programme objectives on time and within budget. The role will involve coordinating activities across multiple institutions and workstreams, maintaining programme plans and reporting frameworks, supporting governance committees and advisory boards, and providing high-quality analysis and reporting to support decision‑making by programme leadership. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a pioneering scientific initiative at the front‑end of genome engineering and synthetic biology.

Find out more about SynHG at: Find out more about the GBI at:

About you

Applicants should hold a degree‑level qualification, or possess equivalent professional experience, in project management, science, engineering, life sciences, or a related discipline. You will have experience managing complex projects or programmes involving multiple stakeholders, institutions, and workstreams. Experience supporting large-scale research programmes, scientific collaborations, or externally funded projects is highly desirable. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent organisational and communication skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment. You will be comfortable working with senior academic leaders, researchers, operational teams, and external partners, and will have experience of budget monitoring, risk management, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. Experience of working within a university, research institute, or scientific innovation environment would be advantageous, as would familiarity with major research funders and multidisciplinary research programmes. Experience working in the field of synthetic biology, engineering biology, or molecular biology is highly desirable. The post‑holder will spend the majority of time in Oxford, and will also be expected to spend time at the other institutions.