Associate Scientific Project Manager

Company Overview

At Better Dairy, we are dedicated to harnessing the bioactive components of milk to create ingredients uniquely suited to our bodies and needs. Our proprietary precision fermentation technology enables us to create nutritious and sustainable dairy ingredients that are biologically indistinguishable from their traditional counterparts, all without relying on animals or harming our planet. These can become the foundation of a new generation of products, from infant formula to dietary supplements – setting a new benchmark for science‑based nutrition!

Role Summary

We’re searching for an Associate Scientific Project Manager with a natural sciences, biotechnology or chemistry background to join our mission to create a more sustainable future. The successful candidate will manage various projects within Better Dairy, principally related to R&D activities. This is a critical role to design, and manage cross‑team collaboration in our protein and end‑product production journey to ensure timely delivery of key milestones.

We are looking for project management skills, experience with structured approaches (e.g. Agile, PRINCE2, As Is – To Be, MoSCoW etc.) and the ability to manage commercial milestones within scope, budget, and timeline constraints whilst establishing constructive working relationships with internal project teams and external stakeholders. A significant advantage would be a comprehensive understanding of the experimental process and its inherent risks and considerations, ideally gained through prior hands‑on experience in a laboratory research environment. Influencing effectively without direct authority and successful stakeholder management are so important in this role. The successful candidate will also be comfortable presenting at every level and enjoys a high accountability / high autonomy environment.

Responsibilities

• Internal Project Management: Manage & coordinate R&D, commercial and regulatory projects; coordinate technical reviews and meetings; gather input for progress updates; own cross‑functional reporting and Gantt; improve communication and reporting; drive strategic internal projects.
• External Project Management: Support management of external R&D projects with partners; support scale‑up or manufacturing activities with external partners such as contract manufacturing organizations; oversee administration of active grants, ensuring compliance, timely reporting, and coordination across project teams.

Essential Skills & Experience

• A minimum of 1–2 years of project management experience in a scientific setting.
• Natural Sciences undergraduate/masters degree, ideally Biology or Chemistry.
• Strong scientific acumen, with an interest in the interface between science and business functions.
• Experience working with cross‑functional teams.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to effectively synthesize technical information and translate it to commercial contexts, and vice‑versa.
• Proactive, self‑driven and results‑oriented with the ability to work with high levels of ambiguity.

Desirable Experience

• Project Management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2).
• Practical experience in a laboratory environment.
• Experience with Project Management tools/software.
• Experience within a startup environment.

Working at Better Dairy

At Better Dairy you will join a dynamic and diverse team that is excited and motivated to build this future for dairy. We have been ranked #7 on the 2024 Startups 100 Index and featured in the Europas 100 Hottest Startups list in 2024. We cultivate a fast‑paced, enjoyable environment, believing it to be an exceptional platform for career growth. Everyone here is dedicated to addressing a monumental challenge and we embrace the journey with enthusiasm and have fun along the way. We’re proud to have been featured in a range of global publications and programs – visit our Media Page to learn more about us. Our state‑of‑the‑art lab and office facilities are situated in Hackney Wick. We pride ourselves in a genuinely diverse and collaborative culture.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we guarantee that all qualified applicants will receive impartial consideration for employment, irrespective of any protected characteristics.

Benefits

• A competitive salary.
• 25 days of holiday, plus bank holidays.
• Access to Private Healthcare & Mental Health support services.
• A stakeholder pension.
• Share Option Scheme.
• Weekly team lunch.
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• Free on‑site gym.
• Cycle2Work.
• Eye‑care vouchers.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We also celebrate our diverse workforce, striving to foster a climate where mutual respect flourishes, varied perspectives are valued, and every individual feels empowered to bring their authentic self to work and thrive. We champion an agile working culture across all our roles.