About the role:

The Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute is seeking an exceptional scientific leader to shape and deliver the future of its world-class core facilities. This is a rare and influential opportunity to lead an integrated portfolio of advanced technology platforms that underpin cutting-edge cancer discovery and translational research, and to position the Institute as a global leader in scientific infrastructure and services.

Reporting directly to the Institute Director, you will provide strategic, scientific, and operational leadership across all core facilities, developing and implementing a bold, long-term vision for integrated, data-driven, and responsive scientific services. Your work will directly enable researchers to address the most challenging questions in cancer biology.

We are looking for a leader with substantial experience managing complex scientific operations at scale — whether in an academic, industry, or major research organisations. You will bring the credibility, authority, and ambition to drive transformation, whilst working collaboratively with faculty and maintaining the independence to innovate in service delivery, technology investment, and organisational design.

This role offers significant scope to influence institutional strategy, guide major capital investment decisions, secure and deploy strategic funding, develop external partnerships, and build a high-performing culture across the facilities.

About the Scientific Core Facilities & Services 

Please visit our website to view information about our Facilities: https://www.cruk.manchester.ac.uk/facilities/

About you: 

You should have:

• PhD in a relevant life sciences discipline or equivalent senior experience in scientific operations
• Substantial experience leading complex, multi-disciplinary scientific facilities or research infrastructure
• Demonstrated success in managing large-scale operations, budgets, and capital investments
• Experience securing and managing strategic funding for infrastructure or major initiatives
• Experience developing and executing strategic plans and organisational change
• Strong understanding of the needs of modern biomedical or translational research
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills

We are particularly interested in candidates who bring:

• A track record of delivering operational excellence in either academia, industry, or major research organisations
• Experience transforming services, infrastructure, or technology platforms
• A bold vision for how scientific facilities can accelerate discovery and translation
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with practical execution
• Credibility to engage effectively with senior scientists, institutional leaders, funders, and external partners

Why choose Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute?

The CRUK Manchester Institute (www.cruk.manchester.ac.uk), an Institute of The University of Manchester (www.manchester.ac.uk), is a world-leading centre for excellence in cancer research. The Institute is core funded by Cancer Research UK (www.cancerresearchuk.org), the largest independent cancer research organisation in the world. In spring 2023, the Institute moved into the new Paterson Building, a £150 million flagship purpose-built biomedical research centre directly attached to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust (www.christie.nhs.uk), in South Manchester.

We are partnered with The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest cancer treatment centres in Europe. These factors combine to provide an exceptional environment in which to pursue basic, translational and clinical research programmes.

Our aim is to understand the fundamental basis of cancer and apply that knowledge to developing new treatment strategies for cancer patients.  Our advanced research programmes span a spectrum of cancer research, from the molecular and cellular basis of cancer through to drug discovery, translational research and clinical trials. 

The Institute has access to outstanding laboratory facilities and exceptional core services, including next generation sequencing, microarrays, confocal microscopy, bioinformatics, histology and mass-spectrometry.  

How to apply? 

To apply for this position please visit our website: https://www.cruk.manchester.ac.uk/careers/Please ensure you detail the names of three referees and ensure you submit your application before 18:00 hours on 17 May 2026 (UK British Summer Time).

For any informal enquiries about this post, please contact Samra Turajlić: email: samra.turajlic@cruk.manchester.ac.uk