Product Manager – Assay Kits

Exciting Instruments Limited; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A biotechnology company in Sheffield seeks a Product Manager (Assay Kits) to define, prioritize, and deliver a portfolio of assay kits for life sciences. This role requires a strong background in product management and assay development workflows, along with leadership in cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate will possess a PhD or MSc in a relevant field and will be responsible for all aspects of the product lifecycle, from market analysis to post-launch performance management. Join a rapidly growing company shaping the future of molecular assay technology.

Benefits

Share options

26 days annual leave

Role in a rapidly growing company

Qualifications

• Proven experience in product management or program ownership in life sciences.
• Strong operational and project management skills.
• Ability to synthesize complex technical data into actionable strategies.

Responsibilities

• Define product vision and strategy for assay kit portfolio.
• Act as primary interface across Product Management, Development, and Quality teams.
• Engage with customers to understand assay needs.
• Monitor product performance post-launch.

Skills

Product management

Assay development workflows

Cross-functional team leadership

Communication

Project management

Education

PhD or MSc in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry

Job description

Location: Sheffield, UK

On-site preferred; hybrid considered for exceptional candidates

About the Role

The Product Manager (Assay Kits) is responsible for defining, prioritising, and delivering Exciting Instruments’ portfolio of in-solution single-molecule assay kits for pharmaceutical and life sciences customers. This role connects scientific, commercial, and operational domains — transforming customer and market needs into precise product specifications and ensuring seamless execution from concept through to manufacturing release.

You will own the end-to-end product lifecycle, encompassing market analysis, technical definition, development planning, validation coordination, launch strategy and post-market surveillance. The position demands scientific fluency, operational precision, and the ability to translate technical potential into commercially viable, scalable products.

Core Responsibilities

1. Product Definition and Roadmapping

• Define product vision, strategy, and roadmap for Exciting Instruments’ assay kit portfolio.
• Translate customer and market requirements into clear technical specifications and development objectives.
• Prioritise assay development programs based on scientific opportunity, commercial value, and manufacturability.
• Maintain a forward-looking roadmap balancing innovation with standardisation and scalability.

2. Cross-functional Coordination and Execution

• Act as the primary interface between Product Management, Assay Development, Manufacturing, and Quality teams.
• Initiate and manage project briefs, ensuring technical feasibility, performance targets, and regulatory considerations are met.
• Drive execution of development milestones — feasibility, optimization, validation, and technology transfer — ensuring timelines and deliverables remain aligned with company objectives.
• Coordinate internal resources to ensure smooth progression from prototype to production-ready kit.

3. Customer and Market Insight

• Engage directly with pharmaceutical and academic customers to understand unmet assay needs, pain points, and performance expectations.
• Conduct competitive benchmarking and market analysis to guide portfolio strategy.
• Identify emerging assay applications and opportunities for differentiation within the single-molecule and high-sensitivity assay markets.

4. Product Launch and Lifecycle Management

• Oversee product validation and release planning, working with Marketing, Sales, and Manufacturing to ensure readiness.
• Develop product positioning, messaging, and supporting technical documentation.
• Monitor product performance post-launch, driving iterative improvement and lifecycle updates.
• Collaborate with Quality and Manufacturing to manage feedback, obsolescence, and revision control.

5. Documentation and Governance

• Own the product specification and design history files for assay kits.
• Ensure all documentation meets Exciting Instruments’ internal quality standards and is audit-ready.
• Contribute to the establishment of best practices in design control, risk management, and product traceability.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Advanced degree (PhD or MSc) in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry, or related discipline.
• Proven experience in product management or program ownership in a life sciences, diagnostics, or pharmaceutical tools context.
• Deep understanding of assay development workflows, including design, optimization, and validation phases.
• Strong operational and project management skills, with experience driving cross-functional teams to delivery.
• Ability to synthesise complex technical data into actionable product and market strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; clarity and precision in scientific and commercial documentation.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Background in single-molecule, fluorescence-based, or biophysical assay technologies.
• Prior experience in kit productisation, design transfer, or manufacturing interface roles.
• Familiarity with regulated development frameworks (GLP, ISO 13485, or equivalent).
• Experience engaging with pharmaceutical R&D, drug discovery, or biomolecular screening customers.
• Proficiency in managing external collaborations, partnerships, or technology evaluations.

About Exciting Instruments

Exciting Instruments, a University of Sheffield spinout, is transforming molecular analytics through its in-solution single-molecule detection platform. Our mission is to make single-molecule precision accessible, scalable, and impactful across life sciences and pharma.

Since our launch in 2022, we’ve enabled researchers to explore molecular interactions with unprecedented sensitivity — and are now expanding our product range to include a suite of high-performance assay kits built on our proprietary technology.

What We Offer

• Share options
• 26 days annual leave
• Role at the intersection of science, strategy, and execution in a rapidly growing company shaping the future of molecular assay technology