Vice President, Bioscience

Vice President, Bioscience (under the leadership of Rachel Grimley)

Reports to: SVP Drug Discovery

Directorate: Research & Innovation

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 35 hours per week (other flexible-working requests will also be considered if it meets business needs)

Location: Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge OR CRUK Scotland Institute, Glasgow . Lab-based with flexibility (3 days minimum per week onsite at the laboratory site). There will be regular travel to the second site every 4-6 weeks.

Closing date: Sunday 12th July 2026 23:55

If there are any changes or adjustments that would make it easier for you to apply, please contact [email protected] or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible.

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: Initial telephone screening interview, followed by onsite F2F assessment for successful candidates.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

To support our mission, we are looking for a passionate and dedicated scientific professional with extensive experience in pre-clinical drug discovery in an industrial setting to join us as Vice President, Bioscience.

As the world’s biggest medical research charity, we’ve helped bring fourteen new cancer drugs to market. However, there is still an urgent need to bring more effective treatments to patients faster.

Cancer Research Horizons (CRH) is CRUK’s internal translation engine. CRUK’s established drug discovery teams operate under one organisation and leadership team. Our unique combination of cancer biology expertise and access to CRUK’s world-class academic network, coupled with cutting edge technology platforms and clinical expertise enables us to 1) bring new treatments to patients faster and 2) tackle the biggest challenges in discovering cancer drugs by seeking out more radical ideas and embracing risk in our bid to achieve success. 

Based at sites in Cambridge, the CRUK Scotland Institute in Glasgow, and Newcastle University, Cancer Research Horizons employs ~180 staff from both industrial and academic backgrounds

What will I be doing?

Reporting to the SVP, Drug Discovery, you’ll set the vision and lead a ~45-strong Bioscience team, accelerating breakthrough therapies into clinical development. As a key Leadership Team member, you’ll also shape the wider strategic direction of CRH Therapeutic Innovation.

You’ll inspire a high-performing oncology biology function, driving projects from early target validation through to pre-clinical candidates with clear clinical positioning. A recognised leader, you’ll champion innovation (including novel modalities), build impactful internal science, and leverage external partnerships to advance the portfolio.

Key accountabilities include:

• Defining the strategy for, and implementation of, underlying biology to support and drive drug discovery from target validation through to delivery of pre-clinical candidates with defined clinical positioning.

• Be a recognised and passionate scientific leader in the Oncology space, able to represent the department across a broad range of therapeutic projects and cross-site initiatives, and also externally. Exploit a strong personal network to impact on innovation and future directions.

• Accountable for managing performance, and leading and developing an inclusive and high functioning bioscience department (~45 colleagues).

• 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.

• Ensure equality and diversity is celebrated and considered as part of all decisions taken.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for an outstanding people leader with proven expertise in delivering novel oncology therapies to the clinic. An ability to think “outside of the box” coupled with strategic thinking and a laser-focus on the key challenges to be addressed.

You will also bring:

• PhD in Biology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry (or equivalent) with extensive industry experience in pre-clinical oncology drug discovery

• Proven track record of delivering innovative pre-clinical candidates across diverse and challenging target classes

• Experience (or strong awareness) of cutting-edge AI technologies in drug discovery

• Recognised leader in oncology, with a strong professional network, publications, and external visibility

• Demonstrated success building, leading, and developing high-performing, diverse teams in matrix environments

• Extensive experience driving external academic/industry collaborations and technology innovation

• Strong track record of delivering across complex portfolios, balancing scientific, strategic, financial, and people priorities

• Strategic, forward-thinking leader with sound judgement, integrity, and a commitment to equity, diversity & inclusion

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.

Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination  

Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism   

Human: Act to have a positive impact on people  

Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively

We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.

What will I 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 do I apply?

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but 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 or contact us at [email protected].  

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

There’s a place for everyone at Cancer Research UK. Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We're committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. 

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented, and believe that a diverse workforce will help us to beat cancer sooner. 

If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we’d still love to hear from you. We don’t expect everyone to meet all of the criteria listed.

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 by emailing us at [email protected]. 

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.