LifeArc
Principal Scientist, Preclinical External Innovation
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Principal Scientist, Preclinical External Innovation
Location: London, with travel to Stevenage
Job Type: Permanent with hybrid working (3 days in the office required)
Closing date: 19 October 2026
Agencies: We will only work with recruitment partners on our preferred supplier list and will not engage with speculative CVs submitted.
Are you passionate about making life science life changing and delivering impact for patients? We want to hear from you.
About The Role
This is a new role within our Preclinical pillar, joining LifeArc at an exciting stage of our development.
The Preclinical pillar brings together expertise in disease biology, drug discovery, translational science, diagnostics, and external innovation, creating a more connected approach to preclinical development.
As Principal Scientist, Preclinical External Innovation you will be accountable for ensuring funded preclinical external projects progress through key data milestones and deliver their agreed objectives, including identifying and resolving project issues and working with funding recipients to modify project plans where needed.
You will lead and support the delivery of funded external projects and will work closely with the Director, External Innovation to implement new funding and partnership opportunities that will deliver the Preclinical strategy.
You will also provide high-quality support and advice on the development of funded project plans, ensuring that projects are approved and funded in line with strategic priorities and operational standards, while contributing to the delivery of long-term strategic goals.
This will help us progress high-potential science more effectively, accelerating the transition from discovery to development through to clinical trials, while maximising the impact of our strong scientific capabilities.
About You
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead and support the delivery of high-quality funding programmes and innovation projects that accelerate scientific research and improve outcomes for patients
- Build strong partnerships with researchers, funding recipients, and external organisations, acting as a trusted relationship lead throughout the project lifecycle
- Effectively collaborates across LifeArc's multidisciplinary teams including Preclinical, Clinical, Business Development, Insights and Ecosystem functions to maximise project impact and deliver strategic priorities
- Manage funded projects from initiation to delivery, proactively monitoring progress, identifying risks and opportunities, and ensuring successful outcomes
- Identify and develop funding and collaboration opportunities by maintaining awareness of the external research, policy and innovation landscape
- Use data, KPIs and evaluation frameworks to measure impact, track delivery and drive continuous improvement across programmes and projects
- Provide expert advice on project planning, funding and innovation management, ensuring projects are robustly assessed and positioned for success
- Work closely with Business Development and Legal teams to support intellectual property and technology transfer considerations, helping maximise patient benefit and organisational impact
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Essential Experience Required
- Demonstrable experience of delivering projects with clear go/no-go milestones, with a strong understanding of the challenges, opportunities and solutions involved in progressing new innovations to patients
- Demonstrable experience of contributing to the review and prioritisation of proposals for funding and implementing funding calls
- Ability to critically assess scientific proposals, seek relevant expert advice when required, utilising internal and external subject matter experts, and apply sound judgement to make informed, balanced decisions based on available scientific evidence
- Demonstrable experience of funding and grant management, with the credibility and judgement to advise and support applicants/stakeholders confidently and independently
- High levels of self-awareness, with the ability to recognise strengths and development areas and actively seek feedback on impact and effectiveness
Desirable
- Strong financial and commercial acumen
- Knowledge of intellectual property and ability to identify, manage and advise on IP implications for a range of stakeholders
Education
- PhD in a relevant life science discipline, preferably with additional relevant post-doctoral research experience
Skills & Abilities
- Ability to influence internal cross-functional teams and external stakeholders
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to establish strong relationships with a broad range of R&D stakeholders at different seniority levels
- Deep scientific excellence, critical and analytical thinking, experienced problem solver
- Skilled at building relationships and fostering cross-functional teamwork in a matrix environment
- Exceptional planning and progress monitoring skills, with a delivery mindset and excellent attention to detail
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About Us
LifeArc is a not-for-profit life science organisation, leading the way for change in rare diseases in the UK and supporting promising initiatives in global health. We seek out research in areas of unmet need that has great potential, providing support to help it become breakthroughs that change lives.
What We Can Offer You
Focused on finding life changing solutions for underserved patients, our people thrive in an inclusive, and supportive environment that prioritises their health and wellbeing. Our multidisciplinary approach guarantees our people growth opportunities, while our culture of innovation and collaboration drives the impact we make delivering on our purpose of ‘putting patients at the centre of everything we do’.
LifeArc is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences. As a Disability Confident Employer, we guarantee an interview to candidates with a disability or long-term health condition who meet the essential criteria for the role.
Please note that in certain situations, such as high volumes of applications, it may not be practical to interview all eligible candidates. In these cases, we may need to select those who best meet the essential criteria. (At LifeArc, the Disability Confident Scheme’s ‘minimum criteria’ is referred to as ‘essential criteria’).
Salary will be determined by qualifications and experience along with other exceptional benefits. Because we understand everyone has different requirements, our flexible benefits allow you to choose those which are important to you. Our pension scheme offers employer contributions of up to 12%, private health insurance, and annual leave of 31 days PLUS bank holidays.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds, for example, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At LifeArc we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so whatever your background or lived experience, if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. Our top priority is finding the best candidate, and you may be just right for this or other roles.
We all have potential. At LifeArc, you’ll discover what you can really do with it.
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