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Cancer Research UK

Babraham, United Kingdom

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c8d446fd7eb2

11

26.04.2025

10.06.2025

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At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer

We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That’s why we’re looking for someone talented, someone determined, someone like you.

We currently have an exciting opportunity within our Drug Discovery team for an experienced individual to lead the Cell Pharmacology team within Mechanistic Pharmacology, based at our Babraham Research Campus facilities in Cambridge.

We are seeking an accomplished scientific and people leader who can articulate a vision for our mission and set direction and inspire commitment for pre-clinical Discovery. This is an exciting opportunity to work with cross-functional teams both internally and externally to develop drugs to improve lives of cancer patients.

About CRUK Drug Discovery

As the world’s biggest medical research charity, we’ve helped bring eleven new cancer drugs to market. However, there is still an urgent need to bring more effective treatments to patients faster.

We have recently developed a new approach to driving therapeutic innovation through the creation of Cancer Research Horizons (CRH). We have brought together Cancer Research UK’s established drug discovery teams under one organisation and leadership team, combining our unique pipeline of world-class biology, cutting-edge technology platforms, and clinical expertise to 1) bring new treatments to patients faster and 2) tackle the biggest challenges in discovering cancer drugs by seeking out more radical ideas and embracing risk in our bid to achieve success.

What will I be doing?

Our new strategy aims to bring deeper mechanistic understanding at the molecular and cellular level to all stages of projects, from idea to pre-clinical candidate.

Reporting to the Associate Director, Mechanistic Pharmacology, you will set and lead the Cell Pharmacology vision to help identify the right drugs with the right mechanisms for the right patients, faster. You will also play a leadership role in the wider Molecular Sciences department, contributing to the strategic direction within CRH.

As the Group Leader, Cell Pharmacology, you will lead and drive a high-performing team (~9 colleagues) to provide all aspects of cellular assay development, SAR and SKR profiling, and impactful mechanistic insight to projects at the cellular level using quantitative cellular pharmacology.

You will be a recognized and passionate leader, able to represent the department across a broad range of therapeutic projects and cross-site initiatives, as well as externally (including in novel modalities aligned to our strategic direction), incorporating external collaboration and partnerships along with internal science builds.

What skills will I need?

The Group Leader should have the following skills and experience:

• Ability to lead internal expertise, capacity, and resources to drive governance and decision-making regarding scientific portfolio support and technology development for Cell Pharmacology.
• Future-oriented and strategic in thinking style.
• Ability to generate exceptional results by influencing, driving performance, and collaborating across projects and sites.
• Ensure equality and diversity are celebrated and considered as part of all decisions taken.

Essential Requirements

Education:

• PhD in Biological Science, or equivalent experience

Experience:

• Proven track record of recruiting, inspiring, and developing a high-functioning team, and optimizing team performance in a highly matrixed discovery project environment
• Proven expertise in quantitative cellular pharmacology in pre-clinical drug discovery, including detailed characterization of targets and their modulation by small molecules and drug mechanisms of action, applied to hit finding approaches, SAR, and SKR profiling and mechanism of action studies
• Significant experience of establishing and leading external academic and industrial collaborations, and technology change projects
• Track record of delivering results across a diverse project portfolio by driving strategic and scientific initiatives
• External reputation in cellular pharmacology and drug discovery, gained through professional recognition, external presentation, and publication in peer-reviewed journals

What will I gain?

Every one of our employees contributes to our progress and is supporting our work to beat cancer. We think that’s impressive.

In return, we make sure you are supported by a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities, and high-quality tools, policies, and processes to enable you to do your job well.

Our benefits include a substantial retirement plan, a generous and flexible leave allowance, discounts on travel and technology, gym memberships, and more.

We actively encourage a flexible working culture, recognizing that people have lives outside of work.

Our work—from funding cutting-edge research to developing public policy—aims to change the world. It’s exciting to be part of our team.

How do I apply?

We operate an anonymized shortlisting process to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; however, we won’t view them until an interview is scheduled. Please complete the work history section of the online application form for quick and fair assessment.

Please note: Cancer Research UK can consider visa sponsorship for this vacancy. If applicable, please clearly mark this on your application.

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels they belong, benefits from, and participates in our work. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented ethnic minorities.

We want every candidate to perform at their best during the application, interview, and employment. Please inform us of any needs or adjustments by contacting us at 0 20 3469 8400.

We do not recruit individuals under 18 to ensure health, safety, and safeguarding.