Job Description

Salary: Unpaid (except expenses)

Location: National

Type of Contract: Three years

Closing Date: 14 September 2026

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) is on a mission to protect clean sport and currently has an exciting opportunity available for you to join us.

We are looking to recruit a Bioanalytical / Pharmaceutical Sciences expert to join UKAD’s Innovation Commission.

The purpose of the Innovation Commission (IC) is to harness expertise, perspective, and insight from within the United Kingdom’s (UK) private and public-sector science industries to safeguard the UK’s position at the forefront of international efforts to detect, deter and prevent doping within sport.

Together with the Insight & Innovation team at UKAD, the IC play an active role in implementing UKAD’s Research & Innovation Strategy, with a particular focus on facilitating engagement and collaboration with potential external industry contacts, to help UKAD adapt approaches taken in other sectors towards embedding innovation.

In addition, the IC plays a vital role in coordinating opportunities for funding that supports the development of research and innovation prospects that enhance our evidence-based anti-doping operations.

Our purpose

• To ensure doping-free sport, promoting and protecting clean sport through education, testing and enforcement.

Our values:

• Integrity – We do what is right for clean sport, we are equitable and ethical, ensuring everyone is treated fairly and with respect.

• Collaboration – We work together and with others, sharing knowledge and building relationships to better tackle doping.

• Excellence – We strive to achieve high standards in the protection of clean sport, evolving with the times and finding solutions.

• Passion – We are dedicated to keeping sport clean, are proud of what we do and know it matters.

Members of the IC currently include representation from high performance sport, academia (social sciences), data ethics, policy experts, and public research institutes. Commission members include representation from UKAD’s Head of Insight and Innovation, Research and Innovation Lead and Director of Education, Insight and Global Engagement, and is chaired by UKAD Board Member Prof Caitlin Notley.

Non-UKAD members of the Commission are appointed for a term of three years, with the option of extension for a second and final three-year term in the interest of preserving continuity of the Commission’s activity.

IC members are required to attend meetings 2-3 times a year, either in-person, virtual or a hybrid of the two.

For more information on the role and responsibilities of IC members, please review the Innovation Commission Terms of Reference.

Essential Qualifications, Experience and Knowledge:

• A strong academic background in laboratory or analytical sciences, ideally with expertise in bioanalytical chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, or related disciplines.

• Demonstrated experience in developing or validating analytical methods for the detection of biological and chemical substances.

• Proven track record of working within or alongside accredited laboratories, research institutes, or regulatory bodies focused on substance detection and control.

• Deep understanding of the scientific and technical challenges associated with doping detection, including emerging threats and novel substance identification.

• Knowledge of the drug approval and regulatory environments governing medicines and biologics, including familiarity with the roles and requirements of agencies such as the MHRA, EMA, FDA, and international standards relevant to pharmaceutical development and safety monitoring.

• Understanding of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug metabolism, and biomarker development, and their application in bioanalytical method development, therapeutic monitoring, and substance detection.

• ·Experience in collaborative, multi-disciplinary research environments, particularly those involving sport science, forensic science, or public health.

• Evidence of translating complex laboratory research into practical applications that enhance testing protocols, detection sensitivity, or regulatory compliance.

Desirable Attributes:

• Familiarity with WADA-accredited laboratory standards, anti-doping testing protocols, or international regulatory frameworks.

• Experience in securing or contributing to research funding, particularly for innovation in detection technologies or laboratory methodologies.

• Awareness of current trends and emerging technologies within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, including novel therapeutic modalities, gene and cell therapies, peptide therapeutics, and personalised medicine approaches.

• Ability to think strategically about innovation opportunities in laboratory science and their application to anti-doping.

• Commitment to the values of clean sport and ethical scientific practice.

Please click on the apply button to send an expression of interest (max. one page A4) plus your CV.

Deadline for applications is Monday 14 September 2026