Candidate Program Manager (UK)

Overview

In this role you drive the delivery of late-stage candidate programs from research through proof-of-concept, turning strategy into executable plans. You coordinate timelines, budgets and resources while anticipating risks and guiding decisions with cross-functional partners. You act as the integration point across science, clinical, regulatory, and operations to ensure timely, objective progress. You will also share best practices to strengthen the broader program management community and support colleagues. This opportunity places you at the heart of UCB’s innovation engine, contributing to patient-centric development at scale.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of candidate programs from late research through proof-of-concept with alignment to portfolio goals
• Translate strategy into an integrated operational roadmap covering scope, timelines, resources and costs
• Plan and execute programs, focusing on critical path, decisions, dependencies, and milestones
• Proactively manage risks, issues, assumptions, and performance metrics with timely escalation
• Serve as the single point of integration across scientific, clinical, regulatory, CMC, finance and operations
• Enable governance and decision-making with clear insights and recommended options
• Collaborate with Project Coordinators and functional teams to ensure efficient execution and accountability

Key requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; postgraduate qualification preferred
• At least five years in program or project management or related field
• Extensive pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical industry experience
• Experience supporting cross-functional work across R&D and product commercialization
• Proven ability to work with global, multicultural teams on complex deliverables and tight timelines
• Strong planning, scheduling, budgeting, resource coordination and performance reporting
• Facilitate collaboration, clear communication, change management and conflict resolution
• Program or project management qualification or experience with structured and agile delivery methods (preferred)

• collaboration
• clear communication
• leadership
• program management
• project planning and scheduling
• budgeting and resource coordination

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