Senior Principal Scientist (Project Enablement)

Senior Principal Scientist (Project Enablement) under the leadership of Agnes Martin.

£58,400 - £76,000 plus benefits (includes up to 12% pension contribution and income protection).

Reports to: Associate Director, Mechanistic Pharmacology.

Contract: Permanent.

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week (4 day week would be considered).

Location: Cambridge, Babraham Research Campus (minimum 3 days on site).

Closing date: 25 January. This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received or once a suitable candidate is found, therefore we strongly recommend that you apply early to avoid disappointment.

Visa sponsorship: Cancer Research UK can consider visa sponsorship for this vacancy. If this applies to you, please ensure that this is clearly marked on your application.

Recruitment process: 1st stage Teams technical and competency based interview, 2nd stage in person interview including pre prepared presentation. Interview date: 2nd stage is planned for 10/11 February.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer. We are looking for a passionate and dedicated scientific professional with extensive experience in pre‑clinical drug discovery in an industrial setting.

Key Accountabilities:

• Provide deep expertise in assessing target feasibility, including reagent generation, mechanistic characterisation, ligandability, druggability.
• Work at the intersection between portfolio generation, molecular sciences, chemistry and biosciences to define and prosecute strategies that deliver clear, early go / no‑go decisions across a range of challenging target classes.
• Provide scientific and strategic leadership for the assessment of novel targets and mechanisms, to drive innovation and portfolio success.
• Communicate effectively, to influence multiple stakeholders and collaborate across projects and sites.
• Promote scientific excellence, through external publication, presentations, and membership of conference committees and Scientific Advisory Boards.

Qualifications:

• A PhD in Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Chemistry or equivalent experience, with extensive pre‑clinical drug discovery experience in industry.
• Deep intellectual and practical knowledge of methods to assess target feasibility and druggability (e.g. computational modelling, protein characterisation, assay development, affinity‑based methods such as DEL, ASMS).
• Proven track record of innovative scientific delivery through driving impactful insight into target characterisation across a range of challenging target classes.
• Demonstrated scientific and project leadership in highly matrixed environments, with extensive experience inspiring, developing, and guiding a diverse world‑class team through effective matrix management.
• Significant experience of establishing and leading external academic and industrial collaborations, and technology change projects, to advance organisational capability.
• Track record of delivering results across a diverse project portfolio by leading strategic and scientific initiatives.
• Strong external reputation in drug discovery, evidenced through a wide personal network, external presentation and publication in high‑impact journals, and influential roles on relevant external committees.
• Strategic, credible, and future‑thinking leader with strong prioritisation, sound decision making under uncertainty, integrity, openness, and a commitment to EDI.

What will you gain?

We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high‑quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work‑life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals. You can explore our benefits by visiting our careers web page.

How to apply:

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; however we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively.

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website. Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under‑represented.

We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen.

Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.