Post Title: Head of Program Management
Company: Scancell Ltd
Responsible To: Head of Development
Location: Hybrid, with one day per week at the Oxford Science Park.
Job Type: Full-time (Permanent)
Summary of Post
The Head of Program Management will lead and shape the program management function at Scancell Ltd, playing a pivotal role in the strategic planning, execution, and successful delivery of the company’s product development programs. This leadership position carries end-to-end responsibility across all stages of development - from early research through to clinical development and regulatory submission.
Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, the Head of Program Management will help define strategic program plans, timelines, and risk mitigation strategies. They will drive cross-functional coordination and ensure seamless alignment across Research, Development, Clinical, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Finance and Operations. This role is critical to ensuring that programs are efficiently delivered on schedule, and in alignment with corporate objectives, as well as regulatory and commercial requirements.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
* Define and lead the overarching program management strategy in alignment corporate goals.
* Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team to shape strategic development plans, from discovery to commercialisation.
* Support decision-making at the executive level.
* Oversee the execution of all product development programs, ensuring milestones are met on time, within budget, and to expected quality standards.
* Maintain a high-level view across all programs to identify risks, dependencies, and resource constraints, and implement effective mitigation strategies.
* Lead cross-functional program teams across Research, Development, Clinical, Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Finance and Operations.
* Ensure the seamless integration of functional input into program planning and execution.
* Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, accountability, high performance and trust across internal teams and external partners.
* Track progress against timelines and deliverables, escalating critical issues and bottlenecks proactively.
* Establish and oversee program governance structures, such as steering committees, project review boards, and stage-gate processes.
* Ensure clear communication of program status, risks, and progress to key stakeholders, including the Senior Leadership Team.
* Develop and maintain standardised tools, templates, and KPIs for program tracking and reporting.
* Promote a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and operational excellence within the team.
* Anticipate, assess, and manage risks across all program stages, developing contingency plans where appropriate.
* Manage change effectively across program scope, timelines, and resource allocations, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities.
* Support strategic partnerships, alliances, and collaborations by aligning program goals with partner expectations and deliverables.
* Partner with Finance and functional leads to monitor expenditure against project plans, ensuring efficient use of resources across the portfolio.
Essential requirements
* Advanced degree (e.g., PhD) in life sciences, medicine, biotechnology, or a related field.
* Additional qualifications in project/program management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, Agile certification) are highly desirable.
* A minimum of 10 years' experience in program or project management within the biopharmaceutical industry.
* At least 5 years in a leadership or senior program management role, ideally within vaccine development, infectious diseases, or immunotherapy.
* Demonstrated success in leading complex, cross-functional programs from discovery through clinical development.
* Strong understanding of the product development lifecycle, including preclinical research, clinical trial execution, product development, regulatory processes and commercial considerations.
* Proven ability to manage cross-functional teams and align diverse stakeholders toward shared program objectives.
* Excellent leadership, organisational, and team-building skills, with the ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams.
* Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing at all levels, from operational teams to executive leadership and board members.
* Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a proactive and solution-oriented mindset.
* Expertise in program governance, resource planning and risk management.
* Skilled in the use of project management tools and systems for planning, tracking, and reporting.
* Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, agile, and evolving environment.
Health & Safety
* All Scancell employees are required to support and comply with the company’s Health and Safety policies and any local procedures.
If you are interested in applying for this position, please e-mail to jobs@scancell.co.uk with a cover letter and CV.
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