R&D Operations Lead in Orwell

Location: Orwell, Cambridge

Salary: £60,000 – £85,000 DoE + benefits

Accora is a family-owned medical device manufacturer with operations across the UK, France, Canada and the Nordics. With a growing R&D function, the business is focused on developing new products and adopting modern tools and technologies.

We’re expanding our R&D function and are looking for an R&D Operations Lead to work directly with the R&D Director. This is a hands-on role suited to someone who brings structure, keeps work on track, and ensures consistent follow-through. Working closely with the R&D Director, you will support the day-to-day operation of the function, enabling them to focus on strategy, product, and growth. This is a fast-paced environment and you’ll be operating at speed, helping the team stay aligned, focused, and organised even as priorities shift and new work is introduced.

What you’ll lead & deliver:

• Run the R&D rhythm – Set up and run weekly and monthly meetings, ensuring clear structure and follow-through
• Keep everything visible – Bring together updates from systems in a fast-moving environment where information changes quickly
• Track commitments – Make sure anything promised, internally or externally, is logged, tracked, and delivered, even as priorities evolve
• Stay ahead of issues – Maintain a clear view across the team and flag key risks early in a constantly changing project landscape
• Bring structure to the team – Support onboarding, maintain org structure, and improve how the team operates as it grows and adapts
• Drive follow-through – Pick up important work that risks being missed in a busy, high-pace environment and ensure it gets completed
• Turn ideas into actions – Capture thoughts and translate them into clear, actionable next steps, often at speed

Requirements:

Experience / background:

• Experience in a programme, project, or operations role
• Background in a fast-moving or growing business
• Exposure to technical or engineering-led environments
• Experience improving structure, tracking work, and keeping teams aligned in environments where priorities shift

Nice to have:

• Consulting, startup, or operations background
• Experience in manufacturing, hardware, or regulated environments

The successful person:

• Strong judgement and confidence – Able to challenge constructively and communicate clearly
• Highly proactive – Takes initiative and identifies issues early
• Exceptionally organised – Manages multiple priorities without letting anything slip
• Comfortable operating at pace – Thrives in an environment where priorities can change quickly
• Calm and reliable – Brings stability in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Trustworthy and discreet – Handles sensitive information with professionalism
• Comfortable with ambiguity – Brings clarity and structure where it’s missing
• Strong relationship builder – Works closely and effectively with senior stakeholders

This role may suit someone who has:

• Been a Senior Project / Programme Manager and wants something broader
• Worked in operations within a scaling SME or startup
• Moved from consulting into a hands-on role
• Worked closely with senior leadership and is looking for more impact

Benefits:

What success looks like:

This is a newly created role to support the growth of the R&D function. In the first 3 months, you’ll establish a clear operating rhythm, improve visibility across the team, and ensure commitments are consistently delivered, while quickly adapting to the pace of the team and changing project priorities. Longer term, you’ll help build a more structured and efficient R&D function, bringing consistency and clarity to a fast-evolving environment, and enabling the Director to focus on strategy, product development, and team growth. This is an important role within the team with real long-term potential. As R&D grows, there is scope to step into a broader operations or strategy position.