Scientific Director, Program Leader

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Job Title: Scientific Director, Program Leader (Global Health Infectious Diseases) Location: London Job Type: Permanent

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:

Within the Translational Science Matrix function, this role will work closely with the Global Health TC Leadership, to lead the planning, integration, execution and delivery of GH-focused initiatives. This role requires a strong background in strategic thinking, championing, and enabling cross-institute networks, collaborations and potentially consortia, to deliver lasting patient impact.

To build and facilitate 'cohesive ecosystems', the role requires an experienced science leader capable of drawing together diverse groups, functions, and stakeholders, across industry, academia, and charitable sectors, to drive common goals and deliverables. The role will be underpinned by a strong scientific background in infectious diseases, ideally with experience in N&TD. The role holder will be capable of distilling and integrating complex science into operational plans, aligned with overarching ambition of the GH TCs and LifeArc.

Within the Translational Science Department, and the Translational Matrix Group, the role will join other science leaders, alongside similar roles for other TC's, with an opportunity to influence overall TC strategy, execution, and long-term vision.

Hybrid working models can be accommodated with 3 days minimum on site and some international travel required.

• Collaborate with the external scientific community, acting as an ambassador for LifeArc, promoting, creating and maintaining strategic partnerships, and when necessary, acting a primary lead with external stakeholders.
• With critical scientific input, lead workstreams, programs and/or projects, within GH, infectious diseases ensuring deliverables are timely, within budget and high quality, to drive key decision making.
• Drive strategic thinking and contribute technical guidance e.g. to TC external funding calls, identifying key areas of need and leading development of appropriate plans for projects (internal/external/hybrid)
• Contribute to the formation and delivery of LifeArc's overall science portfolio, and working within a matrix environment, align objectives focused particularly on GH TCs.
• Actively contribute to overall portfolio management by thorough preparation of materials/follow-up activities such as progress versus key milestones, and actively engage with monitor/control governance processes.
• Actively follow current progress in the GH /N&TD field, scanning the external landscape of scientific and technical capabilities, with a view to identifying and bringing in house new capabilities that build our ability to deliver current and future projects.
• Drive synergies between programs and projects and develop capabilities accordingly.
• Develop, implement, and lead/contribute towards strategy development in areas including new therapeutic development, diagnostics, early detection & monitoring tools, biomarkers, and stratification approaches.
• Create knowledge from early validation studies, through to the generation of Target Product Profiles, leading on interactions with KOLs and patient focus groups.
• Identify and present project proposals to senior stakeholders, balancing the portfolio with Translational needs and impact.
• Through matrix working, collaborate on and influence the direction of research in scientific areas of importance to LifeArc's TCs, both internally and externally.
• Contribute to project planning and resourcing, from early project inception through to delivery phase.
• Drive a delivery and commercial mindset, where we deliver against our promises and commitments.
• Critically review project outcomes, endorsing or challenging as appropriate to ensure the portfolio is successful and each project is compliant.
• Drive a culture of innovation across LifeArc, challenging approaches and the status quo, looking for new ways of working and opportunities that will advance our Science, GH TCs and wider LifeArc ambitions.
• Share knowledge of and contribute to current scientific literature and developments within area of expertise.
• Apply extensive scientific knowledge to significant and critical business issues that address future concepts and services that impact on the success of the organisation.
• Provide control of the LifeArc project portfolio, using verbal and written reports/presentations, sitting in on key meetings when required.

Education & experience required:

• PhD plus relevant experience/equivalent in global infectious diseases medicines or diagnostic discovery field
• Excellent knowledge and experience in the field of drug discovery and development, especially in early preclinical development.
• Track record delivering drug and/or diagnostic projects within Global Health field.
• Project leadership experience of progressing assets beyond clinical candidates beneficial.
• Experience managing and resourcing multiple projects
• Experience of matrix management of a portfolio of projects.
• Start-up experience, tech transfer experiences beneficial.
• Experience working with/in third party CROs to deliver virtual drug discovery programmes to time and budget with proactive risk management.
• Experience of dealing with stakeholders with diverse levels of experience and seniority.

Skills & abilities:

• Strong planning and excellent attention to detail.
• Highly collaborative, with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to deal with ambiguity, solve problems and work under pressure to tight deadlines.
• Strong team player with a can-do attitude and a consistent track record of high impact delivery
• Demonstrated track record of coaching and mentoring others.
• Passionate about supporting the innovation ecosystem through working closely with entrepreneurs in academia and SMEs.

About us:

At LifeArc, our ambition is to make life science life changing. We do this by advancing scientific discoveries beyond the lab, faster, so that they can shape the next generation of diagnostics, treatments, and cures.

Working at the cutting edge of translational science and as the early-stage translation specialists, we progress scientific discoveries on their journey to becoming a medicine, diagnostic or intervention that improve patients' lives. Our work begins by seeking out innovative science, then helping to develop this to a point where there is a clinical and commercial pathway for others to invest the time and money to take it further forward.

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'.

We are dedicated to creating a diverse, flexible, equitable and happy work environment so our colleagues can thrive as their truest selves. We act with courage, curiosity, care & commitment to deliver quality & excellence for our patients and each other. Join us, and you'll be given the scope to develop your professional skills and experience in a safe, supportive and challenging environment.

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.