Hlx Life Sciences
Discovery/R&D Program Manager
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Key Details
London-based role with 4 days per week on site / 1 day remote
Permanent, full-time position
Small, venture-backed biotech environment
Broad programme ownership spanning early discovery through late preclinical and into early clinical development
Strong exposure to senior R&D and executive leadership
Overview
We are recruiting a Program Manager on behalf of a London-based biotech developing novel small-molecule therapeutics.
The company is moving from platform validation toward a defined path to the clinic, and this role will take ownership of programme planning across the full development journey. It is a hands-on position in a lean organisation, with responsibility for aligning scientific, operational and external workstreams and ensuring programmes progress against clear milestones, timelines and decision points.
Key Responsibilities
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- Lead integrated programme planning across discovery and development
- Coordinate activities across biology, chemistry, DMPK, toxicology, CMC and translational functions
- Manage timelines, dependencies, critical path, risks and key decision points
- Support candidate selection and IND/CTA-enabling activities
- Manage CROs, vendors and external development partners against scope, timelines, quality and budget
- Prepare programme updates, governance materials and senior leadership reporting
- Drive accountability across internal and external stakeholders
- Help establish and improve programme management tools, cadence and reporting standards
Essential Requirements
- Strong biotech or pharma project/programme management experience
- Demonstrable experience supporting programmes from discovery into preclinical and early clinical development
- Confident ownership of outsourced CRO and vendor relationships
- Proven experience managing programme milestones, critical path and decision-point planning
- Good working understanding of the drug development pathway, ideally within small molecules
- Strong scientific fluency and ability to work closely with discovery and development scientists
- Comfortable operating independently in a small, fast-moving biotech environment
- Able to work from the London office four days per week
- Full right to work in the UK
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Preferred
- Small-molecule programme experience
- Oncology or CNS exposure
- Experience preparing board, investor or governance-level programme materials
- Experience in a biotech making its first transition from discovery into the clinic
- Formal project management training, although practical delivery experience is more important
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