Group Manager, In-Vitro Science (Fixed term 13-14 months, maternity cover)

Novo Nordisk Group; Oxford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company in the UK seeks a Group Manager for In-Vitro Science to lead a team of researchers in a dynamic environment. This role involves managing scientific efforts for drug discovery, overseeing automation technologies, and collaborating with various stakeholders. Candidates should hold a PhD and have experience in high-throughput screening and team leadership. Join a team dedicated to innovating treatments for chronic diseases.

Benefits

Inclusive recruitment process

Opportunity for career development

Qualifications

• At least three years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on high-throughput screening.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in a scientific environment.
• Proficiency in developing and validating automated assays.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of research scientists and lab assistants.
• Oversee functional genomics screens and ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Drive technology adoption and optimize automation processes.

Skills

Experience in a high-pace environment

Collaborative mindset

Line management experience

Education

PhD in Life Science, Pharmaceutical Science, or Biotechnology

Tools

Dotmatics

Revity

D360

Job description

Group Manager, In-Vitro Science (Fixed term 13-14 months, maternity cover)

Category: Research

Location: Oxford, South East, GB

Oxford, UK

This role is more than team management — it’s about accelerating discovery at scale. You will lead a team of technology-driven scientists, advance in vitro innovation and automation, and transform data into insights that drive the next generation of target discovery.

Your new role

As the Functional Genomics Manager within the Technology Leaders team, you will lead and manage a group of research scientists (four scientists and one manager overseeing twelve lab assistants) who support medium- to high-throughput phenotypic functional genomics screens. You will oversee the application and development of in vitro technologies and automation needed to generate large-scale functional data for target selection, profiling, and validation within the In Vitro Science department.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Setting annual goals, managing performance reviews, compensation, and bonuses, overseeing onboarding, and coaching or mentoring junior scientists.
• Ensuring team skills align with business objectives through hiring, development planning, promotions or demotions, and assignments to cross-functional teams.
• Acting on employee survey results, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and maintaining effective performance management practices.
• Leading the team to deliver high-quality data packages aligned with In Vitro Sciences and therapy area priorities. Supporting data generation to advance innovative targets through effective planning, prioritization, and implementation of technologies across multiple parallel projects.
• Driving adoption, optimization, and expansion of screening and automation technologies for target identification and validation, and continuously evaluating emerging technologies.

Your new department

The In Vitro Sciences department, based at Novo Nordisk Research Centre Oxford (NNRCO), is part of Novo Nordisk Global Research. As a state-of-the‑art target discovery and validation research centre, it is responsible for identifying novel targets with mechanisms of action and diseases aligned with Novo Nordisk therapy area priorities. The centre uses innovative and unbiased in silico and in vitro human‑centric collaborative approaches to identify new therapeutic opportunities in cardiometabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, NASH, CKD, atherosclerosis, heart failure, and associated co‑morbidities.

The department also drives productive collaborations with academia (particularly the University of Oxford) and biotechnology partners. The In Vitro Science team is part of a global organization, including a team based at the Novo Nordisk research centre in Boston. Together, we work closely with our partners in the Global Research Therapy Areas in Boston and Denmark to progress novel targets into Novo Nordisk’s early project pipeline.

Your skills & qualifications

We are looking for a Group Manager who thrives in a high‑paced, dynamic environment. You will bring:

• A PhD in Life Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Biotechnology, or a related field.
• At least three years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry, working in a highly automated life science laboratory, developing, validating, and running assays for automated high-throughput screening in drug discovery.
• Line management experience and/or experience leading cross‑functional matrix teams. Experience with functional genomics screening for target discovery and/or mechanism of action studies.
• A collaborative mindset, working with both in vitro and computational scientists in matrix teams.
• Experience with Dotmatics, Revity, D360, or other scientific informatics platforms.

Working at Novo Nordisk

Every day we seek the solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. To do this, we approach our work with an unconventional collaborative spirit, a rare determination and a constant curiosity. For over 100 years this unordinary mindset has seen us build a company unlike any other. One where a collective passion for our purpose, mutual respect and a willingness to go beyond what we know delivers extraordinary results.

Deadline

4th January 2026.

Novo Nordisk is currently in the process of adjusting job titles globally. Please note that the job title listed in this advertisement may be subject to change. More detailed information will be provided during the recruitment process.

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.

We’re not your typical healthcare company. In a modern world of quick fixes, we focus on solutions to defeat serious chronic diseases and promote long‑term health. Our unordinary mindset is at the heart of everything we do. We seek out new ideas and put people first as we push the boundaries of science, make healthcare more accessible, and treat, prevent, and even cure diseases that affect millions of lives. Because it takes an unordinary approach to drive real, lasting change in health.