About the role
Ellison Institute of Technology and Chemistry Research Laboratory, Oxford
Applications are invited for a Senior Project Manager to support delivery of the Wellcome Synthetic Human Genome (SynHG) programme, a five-year, £10 million multi-centre research initiative led by Professor Jason Chin and funded by the Wellcome Trust.
The SynHG programme aims to develop the foundational and scalable tools, technology and methods needed to synthesise large sections of human genomes/chromosomes. Through programmable synthesis of genetic material the aim is to unlock a deeper understanding of life, leading to potential acceleration of the development of safe, targeted, cell-based therapies, and opening entire new fields of research in human health. The project aims to achieve reliable genome design and synthesis – engineering cells to have specific functions – which will be a major milestone in modern biology. The programme is also supported by a dedicated social science research strand that will explore the societal and ethical implications of synthetic human genome research.
The programme is delivered through a partnership between the University of Oxford and the Generative Biology Institute (GBI), part of the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), where Professor Chin serves as Founding Director. SynHG brings together a multidisciplinary consortium of researchers from the University of Oxford, the University of Manchester, Imperial College London, the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, and the University of Kent.
The Senior Project Manager will play a pivotal role in the planning, coordination, and delivery of the Wellcome SynHG programme across all sites. The successful candidate will work closely with Professor Chin and the programme’s co-investigators: Professor Patrick Cai (University of Manchester), Professor Tom Ellis (Imperial College London), Dr Julian Sale (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge), and Professor Joy Zhang (University of Kent), to oversee programme planning, milestone tracking, governance processes, budget monitoring, risk management, and funder reporting to ensure delivery of programme objectives on time and within budget.
The role will involve coordinating activities across multiple institutions and workstreams, maintaining programme plans and reporting frameworks, supporting governance committees and advisory boards, and providing high-quality analysis and reporting to support decision-making by programme leadership.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a pioneering scientific initiative at the forefront of genome engineering and synthetic biology.
Applicants should hold a degree-level qualification, or possess equivalent professional experience, in project management, science, engineering, life sciences, or a related discipline.
You will have experience managing complex projects or programmes involving multiple stakeholders, institutions, and workstreams. Experience supporting large-scale research programmes, scientific collaborations, or externally funded projects is highly desirable.
The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent organisational and communication skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. You will be comfortable working with senior academic leaders, researchers, operational teams, and external partners, and will have experience of budget monitoring, risk management, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
Experience of working within a university, research institute, or scientific innovation environment would be advantageous, as would familiarity with major research funders and multidisciplinary research programmes. Experience working in the field of synthetic biology, engineering biology, or molecular biology is highly desirable.
The post-holder will spend the majority of time in Oxford, and will also be expected to spend time at the other institutions.
The University of Oxford and The Department of Chemistry are Silver Athena SWAN holders. Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and ethnic minority candidates, who are under-represented in Chemistry research posts in Oxford.
Salary (£) : £49,119 – £58,265 per annum (inclusive of Oxford University Weighting)
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