Scientific Project Associate

Contract type: 12 months fixed term with the possibility of extension.

Location: The role calls for remote working with face-to-face meetings 1-2 times per month in central London.

No. of line reports: None.

Line Manager: The Scientific Project Associate (SPA) reports to the Scientific Project Manager. Noted that the SPA also has a dotted line into the Chief Executive and Director of Finance & Business Operations (DFBO) and will support the whole Foundation team.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

• This is an entry level position for a motivated, proactive and detail-conscious individual to gain experience working in a busy medical research charity that funds and facilitates research into the rare genetic condition PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome (PHTS).  
• In partnership with the Scientific Project Manager responsible and other Foundation staff members, the SPA will work with global key opinion leaders in the field and the Foundation’s commercial partners to support the implementation of the Foundation's Scientific Strategy.
• The incumbent must have a willingness to wear "multiple hats" in a small team to ensure delivery of the Foundation's goals including taking ownership of administrative/transactional activities as well as other delegated tasks outside of the job description.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Development

Supports the Foundation team members to explore potential external partnerships aligned with Foundation strategy. Activities may include scheduling meetings, support preparation of meeting materials and minute taking. 

Academic Collaborations and Granted Work

For assigned projects (Research, Translational Medicine, and Clinical Development), and in partnership with the Scientific Project Manager responsible, and other Foundation team members, undertakes the day-to-day management and tracking of:

• grant applications received by the Foundation; 
• monitoring and evaluation of research projects with a focus on deviation from agreed timelines and costs. 
• regular updates of individual project tracking tools (including Gantt charts, spreadsheets, checklists etc) for assigned projects;
• project documentation filing in line with the Foundation’s project management processes;
• the Foundation’s project management document templates.

Pharma/Biotech and Other Commercial Collaborations

For assigned projects, supports Foundation team members in the day-to-day management of relationships for Pharma/Biotech and other commercial collaborations.  Activities may include scheduling meetings, support preparation of meeting materials and minute taking.

Scientific Advisory Board (SAB)

Supports the Scientific Leadership Team (SLT) undertaking discussions with the SAB including scheduling of meetings, tracking of charters, conflict of interest declarations etc.

Contract Negotiation

In partnership with the Foundation’s Scientific Director(s) responsible, Legal advisor(s), and the DFBO, supports development of contracts and agreements based on Foundation precedents by scheduling internal and external contract review meetings, tracking meeting actions and the expiration dates of existing contracts.

Finance

Longer Term Financial Planning: With supervision from the DFBO, supports a twice annual revision of the Longer-Term Financial Plan (LTFP) and spend forecast with input from the Directors & Scientific Project Managers, and updates the LTFP on a running basis to reflect changes in contractually-committed spend.

Programme Management: With supervision from the DFBO, undertakes monitoring of the financial status of approved projects, ensuring they are tracked in liaison with the Scientific Project Manager responsible. Prepares documentation to support project payments according to contractual milestones. 

Foundation’s Payments: With supervision of the DFBO, ensures the timely and accurate execution of the Foundation payments. 

Deputisation

From time to time, may deputise specific tasks from Scientific Project Managers or other Foundation staff team members.

Knowhow

• Actively builds knowledge of the published literature on PHTS/PTEN as well as rare disease drug development more generally.
• May undertake literature searches.  
• Builds familiarity with the Charity Governance Code and its appropriate application to the Foundation.
• Shares knowledge gained with other team members.

External Communication

May support the Scientific Project Manager responsible and other Foundation team members in the development of slide decks, newsletters, social media posts and other materials used for external communications. Ensures contact details of the Foundation’s key stakeholders are kept up to date.  

Other

Works collaboratively to support other Foundation activities including but not limited to: 

• Scheduling, coordinating & minuting Foundation meetings including helping to create materials for meetings.
• Maintaining the Foundation’s website with input from colleagues.
• Supports the organisation of the Foundation’s supported events with supervision from the Scientific Project Managers or other Foundation staff. Activities may include event scheduling, management of event communications, project planning and event management. 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• A degree in a relevant scientific discipline. (A higher qualification or relevant work experience is preferred.)
• Prior work experience in a scientific or medical research environment (as university industrial placement or other work experience) would be highly desirable.
• Proven ability to successfully track, manage and deliver multiple projects in parallel to agreed timelines.
• Proficiency in standard MS Office software including, Outlook, Teams, Excel, Powerpoint and Word. 
• Demonstrated experience in reviewing and summarising scientific data to support presentation, discussion and decision making.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Sound motivational skills.
• Developing ability as a strategic and analytical thinker.
• Sound interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Demonstrated presentation skills.
• Demonstrated organisational, planning and time management skills.
• Collaborative with good relationship-building skills.
• Open to assessing alternative solutions to problems and working with degrees of ambiguity and uncertainty.
• Demonstrated problem-solving abilities. 
• Proactive, positive and self-motivated. Able to work independently in a home-based environment but seek guidance from colleagues appropriately. 
• Able to navigate through a range of software and online tools and utilise them to achieve goals efficiently.
• Flexible and pragmatic approach with a “can do” attitude.
• Engenders a culture of continuous improvement and scientific excellence.
• Unquestionable integrity in the workplace.
• High attention to detail.
• Able to work outside normal working hours when required.

ABOUT PTEN RESEARCH FOUNDATION

PTEN Research is a UK based charity which funds and facilities research in the rare genetic condition PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome (PHTS) that originates as result of germline heterozygous loss of expression of the tumour suppressor PTEN.

Whilst UK-based, we grant agnostic of geography and currently have open around over 20 projects with academic institutions. For more information, please see: www.ptenresearch.org

What we offer

• Growth Opportunities: Work with global experts and gain skills in project management and scientific communication. Unique opportunity of being exposed to innovative scientific/medical research.
• Development: Access to training and career growth resources.
• Supportive Team: Collaborative environment with a direct impact on our mission.
• Purposeful Work: Contribute to research making an impact on the lives of individuals and families with PHTS.

TO APPLY

Submit a CV and covering letter (combined into one file for upload via LinkedIn, or via email research@ptenresearch.org). In your covering letter, include:

• Your reasons for applying to the role of Scientific Project Associate, highlighting your interest in contributing to the PTEN Research Foundation’s mission.
• Relevant experience and skills that make you a strong candidate for this position.
• Your salary expectations and availability to start a new position.

PTEN Research Foundation requests that recruitment agencies do not speculatively submit CVs to the Foundation unless explicitly requested to do so. Any CVs sent to any member of our team on a speculative basis will not be recognised and we will not accept liability for any fee or commission should we subsequently employ a candidate who applied to us directly or was introduced by an instructed agency that may also have been submitted speculatively by an uninstructed agency.

Industry

Research Services

Employment Type

Contract