Therapeutic Lead; Portfolio Generation

£58,400 - £76,000 plus benefits

Department: Therapeutic Innovation, R&I

Reports to: Vice President of Portfolio Generation

Location: CRUK Scotland Institute, Glasgow with high flex (1 to 2 days per week in the office)

Contract type/hours: Permanent, Full time 35 hours per week (flexible working requests will be considered)

Closing date: Sunday 8th March 23:55pm

Interview Date: Approximately week commencing 23rd March

Interview process: Competency based interview with task/presentation

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer. We’re seeking a Therapeutic Opportunities lead to join our Portfolio Generation team in Glasgow. In this key, high-impact role you’ll assess new therapeutic opportunities from academic partners and the Network Translation Team, as well as more advanced cancer drug discovery projects that could be accelerated toward the clinic. This includes creating and delivering straightforward workplans to de‑risk each opportunity, supporting due‑diligence activities, and helping drive decisions about what enters the TI portfolio.

You’ll also support the Therapeutic Catalyst schemes by reviewing EOIs, advising which should progress, helping PIs shape proposals, and coordinating approved projects. The role will also contribute to assessment processes for wider CRUK/CRH initiatives such as C Further, ensuring rigorous scientific evaluation.

Alongside this, you’ll help maintain a balanced pipeline of opportunities by building strong relationships with academic groups and external partners. You’ll also work closely with Commercial Partnerships colleagues to understand the wider scientific and commercial landscape. Every role at CRH (Cancer Research Horizons) is united by a single mission: beating cancer sooner. We carry out work that matters—impacting patients, families, and the future of science.

• Development of multiple new opportunities from concept review, through evaluation and de-risking to a decision point on drug discovery portfolio entry (in collaboration with key drug discovery stakeholders)
• Lead on the development and delivery of multiple workplans to agreed inflection points
• Part of team exploring and evaluating drug discovery opportunities (more advanced assets) from 3rd party organisations (notably Bio Pharma)
• Act as a primary point of contact between academic collaborators and CRH-TI within Portfolio Generation space as required.
• Assist the triage of Therapeutic Catalyst expressions of interest and the development of full proposals
• Lead multiple Therapeutic catalyst projects to required/approved endpoints including option to accelerate via additional TI support.
• Matrix manage drug discovery activities and interactions with PI’s in conjunction with key drug discovery stakeholders (Target Validation and Project Enabling leads)
• Make strategic recommendations to relevant review groups/leadership teams
• Support strategic development of the overall balance/risk of Portfolio Generation opportunities
• Management and development of Portfolio Generation staff
• Ensure equality and diversity is celebrated and considered as part of all decisions taken
• Representation of Therapeutic Innovation (notably Portfolio Generation) at relevant external meetings/conferences
• Interface with Commercial Partnerships around wider considerations for any opportunities

• PhD or equivalent experience in relevant cancer field
• Significant experience of cancer drug discovery including early drug target discovery and the evaluation process (target selection, validation, technical feasibility etc) and assessment of more advanced therapeutic opportunities; developed in a drug discovery environment.
• Appreciation of commercial landscape in terms of drug discovery and onward development
• Previous experience of working with PIs and helping to deliver early translation projects in cancer discovery
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to network and build strong working relationships
• Proven people management skills with experience line managing a team and supporting development, ideally in a matrix environment.
• Strong scientific and strategic understanding of what it takes to drive…