Research Development Manager

London, United Kingdom

Job title

Research Development Manager

The opportunity

We are seeking a new Research Development Manager to support the development and delivery of strategic funding proposals. The postholder will proactively establish a programme of activities to prioritise funding opportunities which have clear and compelling potential for Hypervision Surgical (HVS). The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience and success in securing competitive research grants ideally across sectors (including higher education, industry, and/or the NHS). In-depth knowledge of funding organisations supporting healthcare engineering and translational research in the UK is essential. Familiarity with international funding opportunities available to UK-based SMEs is an advantage. The ideal candidate will be able to prioritise tasks and monitor and manage multiple projects simultaneously, all to a high standard.

Key responsibilities

These include but are not limited to:

• Research & Development: Directly support the company leadership and other individual team members to develop complex funding proposals (including writing bid elements, estimating proposal/project costs and coordinating partner involvement). An understanding of various funder requirements/regulation is essential.
• Strategic Planning: Work with the company leadership team to set strategic R&D goals that fits our go-to-market strategy.
• Horizon Scanning: Monitor the international and national research landscape, identifying opportunities for funding and collaboration in line with HVS’s values and objectives.
• Project Management: Analyse HVS’s research programmes and provide regular overviews and reports of activities, issues and progress, taking actions or escalating as necessary to ensure minimum impact on project delivery. Manage grant budgets and daily operations (e.g. funder reporting).
• Collaboration and Networking: Support and develop relationships with current and prospective partners (collaborators, funders (e.g., UKRI), other research sector stakeholders such as NGOs), to support company-wide, strategic research initiatives and identify new opportunities for research funding.

About us

Hypervision Surgical Ltd is a spin-out company formed from King’s College London and was founded by a team of clinicians, medical imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) experts. Based on safe light alone, our goal is to equip clinicians with advanced computer-assisted tissue analysis for improved surgical precision and patient safety.

We have developed a computational Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) system for improved intraoperative surgical guidance. HSI is a safe optical imaging modality perfectly suited for the clinic. By splitting light into multiple wavelengths far beyond what the naked eye can see, HSI carries diagnostic information about tissue properties ideal for objective tissue characterisation. This will objectively enhance the surgeon’s ability to visualise and characterise tissue intraoperatively without injecting any toxic contrast agents. In addition, our system can monitor vital physiological tissue properties, thereby increasing surgical precision and patient safety while optimising resection.

Following successful in-patient clinical studies, we are now working on converting our patent-pending technology into a commercial medical device for surgery.

We are building our company at the intersection of surgery, machine learning and interventional image computing for optical systems to increase surgical precision and patient safety. We are backed by a highly experienced syndicate of European and American HealthTech investors, including the corporate venture arm of ZEISS, a multinational technology leader. In addition, we are supported by the British Royal Academy of Engineering, Innovate UK, NIHR (National Institute for Health Research), the Creative Destruction Lab, and King’s Health Partners MedTech Innovations to improve surgical care.

Come make an impact with us and help shape our story.

A bit about you

Required Experience and Competencies

• PhD degree or MSc in Engineering or a healthcare related field.
• Experience in proposal development with evidence of outstanding writing abilities and a track record of success within a funding environment.
• Previous experience of partnership and relationship management.
• Excellent communication, negotiating and interpersonal skills, able to engage with people at all levels internally, with partners and externally.
• Experience in project management, including setting timelines, allocating resources, and managing budgets.
• Comfortable with rapid innovation cycles and constant growth that comes with working in a spin-out.
• Proactive and flexible to take on new tasks and challenges.
• Ability to work independently and with a team: You will be collaborating and often contributing to discussions amongst internal teams; you also work effectively without a lot of support or structure.
• Problem-Solver. A self-starter, able to apply expertise in diagnosing inefficiencies, determining root causes, and recommending solutions to complex challenges.
• Show a strong sense of creating an inclusive environment (Bonus points if you bring a special talent, interest, new language, or unique life experience to the team)

Desirable Experience and Competencies

• Significant and demonstrable understanding and/or experience at a strategic level in a MedTech SME or equivalent.
• PRINCE2.
• Have up-to-date knowledge/experience with EU funding opportunities.
• Be knowledgeable about healthcare associated project requirements.

What we offer

• We offer an opportunity to work at and shape a MedTech start-up uniquely positioned to develop next-generation technology for surgical guidance.
• Our board includes serial entrepreneurs for MedTech companies in surgery and surgical robotics, including Martin Frost CBE, Founder and former CEO of CMR Surgical – a globally recognised unicorn in the field of surgical robotics, and we are supported by highly experienced European and American HealthTech VC investors. You will work closely with thought leaders in healthcare engineering to develop and scale an early-stage MedTech start-up.
• As a King’s College London spin-out and member of the King’s MedTech ecosystem, we have key access to crucial resources for R&D and product development for surgery, including access to hospitals, a mock operating room, lab spaces, and computational facilities.
• A 2-year clinical observational neurosurgery study involving 81 patients commenced in April 2022 and an investigational clinical study involving 40 patients at 3 UK centres for laparoscopic abdominal surgery is scheduled to commence in Q3 2024: Your work will directly impact the studies we run and the product we build.
• Building on a highly multidisciplinary background (surgeons, computer scientists, mathematicians, biomedical engineers, regulatory affairs specialists, and KOLs for surgical healthcare technology) our team consists of world-leading experts in machine learning / AI for medical imaging, interventional imaging and medical devices for surgical guidance.
• We pride ourselves on an environment at the intersection between industry, academia and hospitals that cultivates curiosity, creativity and autonomy to develop innovative technologies for the patient and public benefit.
• We offer flexible working arrangements, including flexible hours and remote working.
• We are committed to growing our employees and offering equal opportunities for advancement.

Apply

To apply, send your CV and Cover Letter to [email protected]. Detail how your knowledge, skills, and abilities meet the job requirements.