Associate Director, Research Project Leader

Associate Director, Research Project Leader

• Full-time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Department: Therapeutics

Bicycle Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing a novel class of medicines, referred to as Bicycle molecules, for diseases that are underserved by existing therapeutics. Bicycle molecules are fully synthetic short peptides constrained with small molecule scaffolds to form two loops that stabilize their structural geometry. This constraint facilitates target binding with high affinity and selectivity, making Bicycle molecules attractive candidates for drug development. The company is evaluating zelenectide pevedotin (formerly BT8009), a Bicycle Toxin Conjugate (BTC) targeting Nectin-4, a well-validated tumor antigen; BT5528, a BTC molecule targeting EphA2, a historically undruggable target; and BT7480, a Bicycle Tumor-Targeted Immune Cell Agonist (Bicycle TICA) targeting Nectin-4 and agonizing CD137, in company-sponsored clinical trials. Additionally, the company is developing Bicycle Radio Conjugates (BRC) for radiopharmaceutical use and, through various partnerships, is exploring the use of Bicycle technology to develop therapies for diseases beyond oncology.

Bicycle Therapeutics is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with many key functions and members of its leadership team located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US.

Culture is key, and all Bicycle employees actively embrace and role model our company values:

• We are Dedicated to our Mission . You can’t change the world if you don’t have determination.
• We are One Team . We only succeed when we work together.

We’re seeking a Research Project Leader (PL) with experience in advancing preclinical programs to join the Bicycle team on a permanent, full-time basis. In this role, the successful candidate will provide leadership of projects spanning the drug discovery process from Lead ID to the selection of clinical candidate molecules.

In this leadership role, the PL will lead a matrix team with accountability for defining, implementing, and overseeing the discovery strategy for Bicycle molecules. Collaboration, influence, and strong communication skills are critical to this position since the role requires working with various stakeholders across the Research organization, obtaining and managing resources, and delivering evidence to support candidate discovery and go/no-go decisions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Closely work with subject matter experts to develop a plan to deliver on the medicine vision for the potential targeted radiopharmaceutical drug candidate.
• Lead the multidisciplinary matrix team to plan and execute the project.
• Responsible for establishing the inflection points that enable data-driven project decision-making.
• Efficiently work with the project team to identify core risks and mitigation plans for the delivery of the candidate molecule.
• Define and execute the lead identification and lead optimization strategies for your projects.
• Drive urgency across your project team(s) to deliver timely data-driven project recommendations.
• Present project plans, progress, risks, and issues to senior management and governance boards.

Cultural Fit:

• Promote innovative approaches to problem-solving, communicate ideas persuasively, decisively confront and resolve issues, and work constructively under pressure.
• Excellent communication and people skills; collaborate effectively with stakeholders across functions to align on priorities and ensure that interdependencies are clear.
• Embrace rapid change and ambiguity, proactively identifying opportunities for improving ways of working within the program.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.
• Communicate effectively with senior leadership in a clear, concise, and confident manner.

This is a hybrid role, with expectations for you to work onsite at least 1-2 days per week.

Minimum Requirements:

• Educated in a scientific discipline of relevance to drug discovery and/or equivalent demonstrable industry experience.
• Project leadership experience delivering clinical candidates preferably in the area of oncology.
• A demonstrable ability to influence in a highly matrixed environment.
• Experience leading projects in the area of radiopharmaceuticals.
• Proven ability to think and plan strategically, to lead and work with members of other functions within a matrix environment.
• Ability to integrate and lead a team of multi-discipline experts including chemistry, biology, DMPK, nonclinical toxicology, translational scientists, and others.
• Ability to identify resource gaps and secure appropriate resources to deliver on objectives.
• Create and lead an empowered, motivated team where diversity of thought is encouraged.
• Experience of all phases of early drug discovery from Lead ID to candidate selection.
• Previous leadership of project(s) that have delivered candidates for clinical progression.

Benefits:

• State-of-the-art campus environment with on-campus restaurant and Montessori nursery.
• Flexible working environment.
• Competitive reward including annual company bonus.
• 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays + option to buy up to 5 additional days annually.
• Employer contribution to pension (employee does not have to contribute).
• Life assurance cover 4x basic salary.
• Private Medical Insurance, including optical and dental cover.
• Group income protection.
• Employee assistance program.
• Health Cash Plan.
• Access to company subsidized gym membership.
• Eligibility for an option grant to subscribe to shares in Bicycle Therapeutics plc.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Bicycle Therapeutics is committed to building a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. We recognize that diverse and inclusive teams build a stronger and more innovative company. Therefore, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability status, marital status, or veteran status.

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