Project Manager - Pathogens

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) Oxford tackles humanity’s greatest challenges by turning science and technology into impactful global solutions. Focused on areas like health, food security, sustainable agriculture, climate change, clean energy, and AI-driven government innovation, EIT Oxford blends groundbreaking research with practical applications to deliver lasting results.

A cornerstone of EIT Oxford’s mission is its upcoming 300,000-square-foot research facility at the Oxford Science Park, set to open in 2027. This cutting-edge campus will feature advanced labs, an oncology and preventative care clinic, and collaborative spaces to strengthen its partnership with the University of Oxford. It will also host the Ellison Scholars, driving innovation for societal benefit.

The Pathogen Mission highlights EIT’s transformative approach, using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and Oracle’s cloud technology to create a global pathogen metagenomics system. This initiative aims to improve diagnostics, provide early epidemic warnings, and guide treatments by profiling antimicrobial resistance. The goal is to deliver certified diagnostic tools for widespread use in labs, hospitals, and public health.

EIT Oxford fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and resilience, valuing diverse expertise to drive sustainable solutions to humanity’s enduring challenges.

EIT is looking for a Project Manager to play a key role in structuring and driving execution within the Implementation team. This role ensures that projects are planned, tracked, and adapted effectively, supporting both internal execution and external partner delivery. The individual will help establish a scalable, structured approach to project management, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and organisational OKRs.

This role is critical in supporting our early-stage but rapidly scaling programme, which includes establishing a formal global network of collaborators in infectious disease genomics. The Programme and Project Manager will refine and optimise project structures, tools (e.g., Asana), and cross-functional collaboration processes, ensuring they serve both immediate priorities and long-term scalability.

Key Responsibilities:

Internal Project and Programme Planning & Execution

• Work with Implementation team members to develop and refine structured project and work plans at the appropriate level of detail, balancing organisational consistency with the flexibility required for different workstreams.
• Translate ideas and team discussions into clear, actionable project plans, ensuring coherence across teams.
• Establish and drive practices to proactively identify risks and bottlenecks, supporting teams in resolving them.
• Optimise Asana as the core project management platform, ensuring it supports both high-level strategic oversight and effective daily execution.
• Lead project management activities or enable others to manage their own projects, depending on project needs.
• Foster a culture of outcome-oriented execution and accountability across the team.
• Continuously refine project execution approaches as the team scales.

Partner Delivery Management

• Develop tools and processes to enable the team to effectively manage delivery by contracted partners.
• Establish structured mechanisms for monitoring progress, managing risks, and ensuring accountability in external partnerships.

Reporting, Communication & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Develop structured reporting mechanisms for leadership to enable rapid decision-making, risk management, and issue resolution.
• Ensure that project management approaches enhance cross-functional collaboration between Implementation and other divisions.
• Work closely with the Head of Programme Operations to align project management practices with broader cross-organisational frameworks and strategic priorities.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Project management professional qualifications.
• Proven expertise in programme and project management within a fast-moving, cross-functional environment.
• Experience in a startup/scaling environment, and/or in environments at different scales.
• Strong ability to structure and manage projects with a balance of rigor and flexibility.
• Strong experience in Asana setup, structuring, and best practices for managing projects.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills.
• Experience managing internal execution and external partner delivery.
• Familiarity with multi-stakeholder projects, preferably in global health, research, or technology-driven settings.

We offer the following salary and benefits:

• Salary: £70,000 - £80,000 + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric car scheme

Why work for EIT:

At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!

Terms of Appointment:

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary.
• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford.
• During peak periods, some longer hours may be required and some working across multiple time zones due to the global nature of the programme.