MI/26/10 Director of Scientific Core Facilities and Services

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 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