An early stage cell and gene therapy business developing a proprietary delivery platform for a new generation of advanced therapies. Backed by recent private investment, the company is entering its next phase of growth, building development and licensing partnerships with established pharmaceutical organisations while advancing its lead programmes towards first in human studies. A growing platform based pipeline spans several therapeutic areas.

The Opportunity

The Head of Technical Operations owns the path from laboratory scale development through to manufacturing readiness, delivered largely through external manufacturers and specialist partners whose relationships the successful candidate will help shape from an early stage. The remit spans technology transfer, process scale up, CMC execution, quality and process controls, supply chain development and operational delivery across the platform and portfolio.

The role is deliberately broad and hands on, and calls for someone as comfortable interrogating process detail as managing a CDMO relationship, a programme timeline or a scientific handoff. The core mandate is to convert scientific know how into reproducible, partner executable and clinic ready technical operations.

Key responsibilities

• Own the operational pathway from research through process development, scale up and technology transfer, translating internal know how into documented processes that external partners can execute reproducibly.

• Define development plans, technical work packages, stage gates and readiness criteria for transfer from R&D into external manufacture.

• Drive process characterisation and improvement across yield, recovery, reproducibility, cycle time, scalability and cost of goods, ensuring processes and controls are suitable for future GMP manufacture, regulatory submissions and clinical supply.

• Lead the selection, onboarding and management of CMOs, CDMOs, CROs and specialist suppliers, establishing clear scopes of work, governance, timelines, budgets and escalation routes.

• Manage technical handovers, troubleshooting, change control and partner performance, and build resilient supply chains for critical materials and analytical services.

• Work with drug delivery and device partners to align formulation, product performance, device compatibility and clinical use requirements, ensuring device dependencies and timelines sit within overall programme plans.

• Build fit for stage quality systems, SOPs, process controls and analytical, in process, release and stability testing strategies.

• Act as the operational bridge between scientific teams, manufacturing partners, regulatory advisers, quality specialists and commercial stakeholders, working with the CEO to convert company priorities into practical development and resourcing plans.

• Support partnering, licensing, grant and investor activity with credible technical and operational plans, budgets, timelines and risk assessments, and help build the technical operations function over time.

Essential Experience

• A strong technical and programme management background with direct experience leading translational development, process scale up and technology transfer, ideally in biotechnology, biologics, cell and gene therapy or another complex regulated product environment.

• A track record of selecting and managing external manufacturers and technical partners, with a practical understanding of how these relationships succeed, fail and recover.

• Deep understanding of process development and manufacturing, supported by hands on experience with quality control, analytical development or process characterisation.

• The ability to own complex timelines, dependencies, budgets and technical risks across internal and external teams.

• Comfort in an early stage environment where priorities evolve, roles are broad and progress depends on pragmatic problem solving.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate between scientific, manufacturing, quality, regulatory and commercial audiences.

• A degree in life sciences, biochemical engineering, chemical engineering, pharmaceutical sciences or a related discipline.

Desirable Experience

• Cell and gene therapy, advanced therapy medicinal products or complex biologically derived products.

• Upstream production, downstream processing, sterile manufacture and biological product characterisation.

• Combination products or delivery device programmes.

• Process economics, capacity planning and cost of goods modelling.

• EU, UK or US quality and regulatory frameworks relevant to biologics and advanced therapies.

• Support of licensing or strategic partnering transactions.

Progression and Package

This is a pivotal role in building and industrialising a novel therapeutic platform, with direct influence over technical strategy, manufacturing partnerships and clinical translation. As the organisation, pipeline and technology mature, the successful candidate may progress into a Chief Operating Officer role, taking ownership of wider operational strategy and corporate execution, reflecting performance, capability and the evolving scale of the business. A competitive compensation package with potential equity participation is offered.