Head of Discovery Operations

Based at Alderley Park, Medicines Discovery Catapult is a national Life Sciences service dedicated to turning drug discovery into commercial breakthroughs.By transforming drug discovery, we can improve patient lives, increase the impact of the UK Life Sciences sector, and create a healthier society and economy. Our interventions work. Since we started, we have helped over 300 companies raise over £1bn of R&D investment. We seek passionate individuals who are eager to collaborate, innovate, and make a tangible difference in the field of drug discovery.
The Discovery organisation is at the heart of MDC strategy, delivering high quality data to enable our partners to progress their assets to the clinic or their technologies to market. Through our three laboratory capabilities – Cellular Sciences, Biomarkers and Translational Imaging – our expert teams deploy advanced technologies to generate decision-making data that advance our collaborators’ drug discovery programmes. This role is essential in ensuring that we deliver our large and complex portfolio of partnered drug discovery projects.
We areseeking an experienced leader to establish and lead a high-performing Delivery Operations function. Reporting directly to the Chief Scientific Officer, the individual will work closely with our Heads of Lab Capability andpartners across MDC to ensure the delivery of our project portfolio. Through effective business analytics and high-quality operational support, they will ensure that excellence in operational delivery is allied with high-quality science and innovation. They will be responsible for portfolio-level planning, risk analysis and issueresolution and through effective leadership of the Discovery Operations function they will drive consistency in study planning and reporting.
The Head of Discovery Operations, will be a strategic thinker who has delivered large and complex programmes coupled with a strong background in laboratory management within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry. The individual will have expertise in line management and of leading teams in a matrix environment andhave experience of developing and working with business analytics to drive insights and performance improvement. Extensive knowledge of drug discovery processes and laboratory best practice is essential and prior leadership experience gained in the pharmaceutical industry or the CRO sector is essential. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills are essential for success in this role, as are an attention to detail and a passion for operational excellence. This is an outstanding opportunity to join a high-profile organisation and support the delivery of an exciting and diverse suite of partnered drug discovery projects.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Leadership of an effective Delivery Operations function within the Discovery labs organisation.
Member of the MDC Discovery Leadership team, with accountability to the Chief Scientific Officer for business analytics, operational support and process improvement, working in collaboration with the Heads of Lab Capabilities, scientific and technical leads.
Establish and maintain a high performing Delivery Operations function to enable and support the collection, analysis and interpretation of data to drive informed decision making and delivery excellence, ensuring appropriate governance and compliance.
Line management of team members with a range of experience and technical backgrounds, providing ongoing coaching, development and performance management.
Work with Chief Scientific Officer and Heads of Lab Capabilities to ensure that excellence in operational delivery is allied with innovation and new capability development to enhance the MDC offering.
Work with MDC leadership to track progress against study plans and agreed targets, and make recommendations as required to support effective delivery.
To ensure that all scientific projects have robust plans in place and drive consistency of approach across the portfolio.
To improve and monitor the utilisation of people and lab resources to provide accurate and timely capacity data, to inform operational decision making.
Work in close partnership with Health, Safety and Facilities function to ensure that activities associated with lab infrastructure, including facility maintenance, equipment lifecycle, consumables management, and safety protocols are delivered in an efficient and effective manner.
To propose, promote and implement process improvements that provide a positive impact on delivery to time, quality and cost.
To manage a process for analysis of issues when they arise and development and implementation of corrective and preventative actions.
Liaise with colleagues across MDC including, Finance, Compliance & Risk and Commercial functions to ensure seamless working across the business to drive effective and efficient delivery.
To update and report on the Discovery risk register, ensuring that risks are captured and recorded accurately, appropriate controls are defined, and actions are completed in a timely manner.
Management of the Discovery Labs capital plan, developing high quality business cases for consideration and approval, liaising with Procurement and Facilities functions to ensure the timely mobilisation to realise business benefits.
Experience:
Extensive experience of working in the Medicines Discovery sector, including experience of working in a commercial environment; experience of working in the pharmaceutical industry or CRO sector.
A deep understanding of the drug discovery process is essential.
Significant experience in laboratory operations, with extensive experiencein a leadership role in a biotech or pharmaceutical setting.
Experience of working in a regulated environment would be beneficial.
Demonstrated expertise in lab planning, compliance, H&S and operational excellence methodologies (e.g., Lean, 5S).
Extensive experience of managing and delivering large and complex project portfolios, gained through operational leadership of functions in the drug discovery industry.
Extensive experience of line management and of leading teams in a matrix environment.
Experience of developing and working with business analytics to drive insights and performance improvement.
Experience of managing and developing high performing teams in a lab-based operational environment.
Extensive knowledge of drug discovery processes and best practice.
Knowledge of current trends in drug discovery and ability to align this knowledge to MDC strategy and operations to ensure optimal decision making.
Sound knowledge of the UK’s research environment for life sciences, experience of working in partnership with SMEs and Biotech would be an advantage.
Knowledge of automation technologies and digital transformation in laboratory settings.
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence internal stakeholders of a range of seniority and subject matter knowledge.
Closing date: Friday 4th July 2025
Please note the closing date for applications may be brought forward if a high volume of applications are received.

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