Job Description

Translation Manager (Oxford Region)

Salary: £48,000 - £58,000 plus benefits (dependent on experience)

Reports to: Senior Translation Executive

Department: Research & Innovation

Contract: 12-month, Fixed-Term Contract

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week

Location: Home-based with occasional on-site working primarily at the University of Oxford (with the requirement to work with other universities in the region).

Closing date: Sunday 8th November 2027

Interview process: Competency-based interview process

Interview dates: Approximately w/c 16th November

Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Translation Manager to join Cancer Research UK’s Commercial Partnerships (CP) team on a 12-Month Contract, our team is dedicated to the development and commercialisation of innovative research. The team accelerates the translation of new ideas into treatments by bringing together the expertise, capabilities, and resources of CRUK and its academic network with that of industry partners.

Working within the Search & Evaluation (S&E) team, this role will have responsibility for development and implementation of plans for translation of CRUK funded research at specified CRUK sites, including driving or supporting project acquisition, active project development, intellectual property strategy and managing overall portfolio balance.

Success in this role means that you have good scientific judgement, aligned with good knowledge and awareness of oncology drug/technology discovery, IP protection and development and associated science; and you are able to provide input and direction to the project-related axis of Commercial Partnerships operations and performance in order to maximise positive commercial and patient benefit outcomes.

You will work primarily with, and influence CRUK-funded academics and, where relevant, their technology transfer offices in the areas of drug discovery/development, biomarkers, diagnostics, medical devices, digital health/big data, and research reagents. It will also be important for you to build and maintain productive relationships with key stakeholder within the local translation ecosystem.

This role is ideally suited for a highly experienced scientist, with a passion for cancer research and previous hands-on experience of (or qualifications in) technology transfer, looking to transition into a more technology focused/translational role, and/or a technology transfer specialist with a strong scientific background looking to make a real difference for cancer patients.

What will you be doing?

Key Accountabilities:

• Responsibility for delivery of regional strategic objectives at specified Institute, Centre or University(s) to support the attainment of overall S&E targets.
• Accountability for opportunity sourcing and translation of CRUK-funded resource at allocated Institute, Centre or University(s), with support from line manager as needed.
• Play an active role in the management and development of regional translational project portfolio.
• Build and maintain strong, integrated relationships with senior management figures and CRUK-funded scientists at your specified Centre/Institute/University(s).
• Develop a deep understanding of the research landscape at allocated CRUK site(s) and identify increased collaborative and translational funding opportunities to accelerate progress.
• Provide appropriate technology transfer services and manage intellectual property protection for portfolio projects in a timely manner, with support from line manager as needed.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues from other S&E regions and CP core function teams to proactively seek collaborative interactions and deliver on CP’s overall operations, performance and strategies.
• Contribute to developing and implementing strategy to enhance and grow the entrepreneurial culture across CRUK-funded researchers, to maximise output of CRUK funding.
• Support CP, (including Cancertools) and R&I management with cross department activities as required.
• Provide scientific translational advice to scientists, major centres and institutions through well-developed communication links.

What skills are we looking for?

Key Technical Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours:

• PhD (or equivalent work experience) in a scientific or healthcare discipline, ideally oncology/technology-related.
• Experience in translating discovery research and pre-clinical science gained in sectors such as medical technologies, diagnostics, healthcare technologies and pharmaceuticals. This experience may have been gained in industry, healthcare, academia or in non-profit organisations.
• Ideally, a working knowledge and experience of the patent filing and prosecution process.
• Ability to drive an entrepreneurial spirit and think creatively.

Proven competences in:

• Driving to ensure that the best possible high standard of results is delivered to our stakeholders.
• Grasping technical concepts quickly, and translating these into commercially viable proposals.
• Working effectively with key stakeholders, showing excellent influencing skills and where appropriate having tenacity and persistence.
• Deploying excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbally and in writing with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships.
• Identifying strategies for transferring technologies to industry.
• Working collaboratively within a cross-functional team to deliver the scientific, commercial and operational objectives of the overall function
• Having knowledge and awareness of oncology drug/technology discovery, IP protection and development and associated science.
• Scientific judgement and project management skills, together with a talent for business acumen and operational delivery.

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 and take positive steps in your career.

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.