Global Research Operation Manager/Director

PFx Biotech, Lda; Lisboa; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Mission-driven work environment

Job summary

A biotechnology firm in Lisbon is seeking a Global Research Operations Manager/Director to enhance research operations. The role involves managing project execution, vendor relationships, and ensuring regulatory compliance while optimizing research processes and resources. Ideal candidates should have experience in R&D portfolios and documentation practices, with a strong understanding of data governance. This position offers the opportunity to drive meaningful impact within a mission-driven organization.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting or managing complex R&D or PF portfolios.
• Experience contributing to regulatory submissions is a strong plus.
• Proven vendor/CRO/contract lab management.

Responsibilities

• Build and run research operations infrastructure.
• Own vendor/partner management.
• Create and maintain integrated research plans.
• Ensure data quality and compliance readiness.
• Manage research budgets and forecasting.

Skills

Project management

Vendor management

Regulatory submissions

Data governance

Project planning & governance

Job description

Global Research Operations Manager/Director

PFx Biotech | Global Operations | Lisbon, Portugal

AtPFxBiotech,we’rebuilding sustainable protein solutions for healthier lives and a better planet. We unlock the power of biology and use precision fermentation to develop next‑generation sustainable bioactive protein ingredients for advanced nutrition markets, from infant formula and elderly nutrition to sports nutrition and nutraceuticals.

We’re looking for a Global Research Operations Manager/Director to bring structure, project management, speed, agility and excellence to our researchengine,helping our scientists and partners deliver high‑quality, dossier‑ready outputs that move our portfolio forward.

Role basics

Job title

Global Research Operations Manager/Director

Department / team

Global Operations

Reporting to

CEO/COO

Location

Lisbon, Portugal

Contract type

Permanent

Salary & benefits

Competitive

To be agreed

About PFx Biotech

Our mission is to unlock the power of biology using precision fermentation to developnext‑generation sustainable bioactive protein ingredients for advanced nutrition applications, from infant formula, to elderly nutrition, sports nutrition, and nutraceuticals.

The role

As Global Research Operations Manager/Director, you will build and run the operational backbone that enables world‑class research execution across our portfolio.You’llpartner closely with scientificleaders, external vendors, and cross‑functional stakeholders to ensure studies are planned well, run smoothly, and documented rigorously.

What you’ll do

• Build and run research operations infrastructure: Set up scalable processes for study intake, prioritisation, resourcing, documentation, and cross‑functional handoffs (e.g., R&D → preclinical/clinical, translational, bioinformatics), ensuring speed without sacrificing rigor.
• Own vendor/partner management: Identifyand qualify CROs/CMOs, academic collaborators, and platform vendors; negotiate scopes, timelines, and costs; track deliverables and performance; andmaintainclear communication to keep studies on schedule.
• Project and portfolio execution: Create andmaintainintegrated research plans (timelines, dependencies, milestones, risks), run regular research cadence meetings, unblock teams, and ensure on‑time completion of experiments and packages needed for leadership decisions.
• Ensure data quality, reproducibility, and compliance readiness: Implement SOPs, ELN/LIMS workflows, sample tracking, and data governance; standardise experiment documentation and audit trails; and support readiness for investor, partner, or regulatory diligence (e.g., traceability and validation whereappropriate).
• Budgeting, procurement, and lab enablement: Manage research budgets and forecasting, purchase orders and inventory, and lab services (equipment maintenance, consumables, access); optimise spend and capacity so scientists can focus on experiments rather thanlogistics.

What we’re looking for (must‑have)

• Experience supporting or managing complex R&D or PF portfolios(multiple strains/targets/products) with structured intake, prioritisation, stage‑gates, and executive decision forums, translating strategy into roadmaps, critical paths, and resourcing across biology, process development, analytics, and safety workstreams.
• Experience contributing to or supporting regulatory submissions (e.g. EU Novel Food) is a strong plus, building dossier plans that cover identity/characterisation, production process, compositional/specifications, proposed uses/use levels & intake, nutrition, allergenicity and safety, while managing submission mechanics and timelines under the applicable guidance/process.
• Exposure to global regulatory frameworks (e.g. EU, US, China) is a plus;
• Proven vendor/CRO/contract lab management for PF, SOWs, deliverables, change control and quality review, ensuring outputs are dossier‑ready (e.g., compositional/impurity profiling, micro/residuals testing, stability, allergenicity work) and captured in a traceable documentation system aligned to the submission processes used for novel foods.

Why PFx Biotech

You’lljoin a mission‑driven team working at the intersection of biology, engineering, and nutrition—building technology that can make a meaningful impact at global scale. In this role,you’llhave high ownership, direct visibility with leadership, and the opportunity to shape how our research organisationoperatesas we grow.

Hiring process & how to apply

How to apply:

• Email your CV anda short [e-mail], orapply via the LinkedIn advert.
• Questions? Contact: Harry J. Barraza ([e-mail])

Equal opportunities, safeguarding & data privacy

PFx Biotech is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to legally protected characteristics.

Safeguarding: PFx Biotech is committed tomaintaininga safe, respectful workplace. Where relevant to the role, pre‑employment checks may be requiredin line with applicable legal requirements.

Data privacy: We will process your personal data for recruitment purposes only andin accordance withapplicable data protection laws in Portugal. By applying, you acknowledge that PFx Biotech may store and review your application materials during the hiring process.