Therapeutic Opportunities Lead (Portfolio Generation)

Therapeutic Opportunities Lead (Portfolio Generation)

• locations
• Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute

• time type
• Full time

• posted on
• Posted Today

• time left to apply
• End Date: March 9, 2026 (16 days left to apply)

• job requisition id
• R032702

Therapeutic Opportunities Lead (Portfolio Generation)

£58,400 - £76,000 plus  benefits

Department: Therapeutic Innovation, R&IReports 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 23:55pmInterview 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.

About Cancer Research Horizons 

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

We have recently developed a new approach to driving therapeutic innovation through the creation of Cancer Research Horizons (CRH). We have brought together Cancer Research UK’s established drug discovery teams under one organisation and leadership team, combining our unique pipeline of cancer biology expertise and access to CRUK’s world-class academic network, cutting edge technology platforms and clinical expertise 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, you’ll be joining over 200 staff from both industrial and academic backgrounds, all dedicated to bringing forward the day we cure cancer.

What will you be doing? 

• 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 advance assets) from 3rd party organisations (notably BioPharma)

• 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

 What skills will you need? 

• 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 advance 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 exciting opportunities towards advanced drug discovery and appreciation of the use of preclinical cancer models to support therapeutic discovery

• Proven ability to contribute at a technical level across multiple programmes simultaneously

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.

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.

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 recruitment@cancer.org.uk.  

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

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. Please contact recruitment@cancer.org.uk or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible. 

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.