Chief Technologist — Diagnostics (Fixed Term — 18 months)

CPI helps make great ideas and inventions a reality. We’re a team of intelligent people using advances in science and technology to solve the biggest global challenges in healthcare and sustainability.

Through our incredible people and innovation infrastructure, we collaborate with our partners in industry, academia, government, and the investment community to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative products.

From health technologies and pharmaceuticals to sustainable food and materials innovations, we turn the entrepreneurial spirit and radical thinking of our people and partners into incredible impact that makes our world a better place.

CPI has an exciting opportunity for an individual with experience across a wide range of diagnostic technologies, to join its HealthTech team on a fixed-term basis to help shape the future of diagnostics innovation. This role critically enables global innovation in diagnostics, leading on the cutting edge of science and technology.

Reporting to the Director of HealthTech, the successful candidate will drive technical leadership, strategic insight, and collaborative innovation across CPI’s diagnostics portfolio. This is a unique opportunity to elevate CPI’s global credibility and contribute to cutting-edge R&D in genomics, molecular biology, and clinical assay development.

Some exciting projects the team have recently been involved in are:

Next-generation cancer diagnostics showcase event

The Role

Key tasks in the role will include (but are not limited to the below), please download the job description for full details available on the CPI careers page:

• Driving CPI’s diagnostics strategy and translating technology into business objectives
• Providing technical leadership in genomics, molecular biology, and clinical assay development
• Shaping diagnostic workflows, instrumentation, and digital data architecture
• Managing and preparing biological samples to support diagnostic development
• Building strategic partnerships and representing CPI in national and global networks
• Collaborating with Business Development to assess technical and commercial opportunities
• Mentoring and guiding teams, promoting continuous capability development
• Maintaining compliance with SHE, quality, and best practice standards

The successful candidate will be educated to PhD level (or equivalent) in a relevant life sciences discipline (e.g., Molecular Biology, Genomics, Biomedical Subject) and have;

• Significant industrial experience in diagnostics, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical sectors

• Deep technical expertise in clinical assay development, genomics, and molecular diagnostics

• A proven track record in technical leadership of complex product development programmes
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement skills

It would also be advantageous if the successful candidate had:

• Experience of evidence generation and knowledge of regulatory processes (IVD‑R, FDA, UK-CA)
• Experience with multi-omics diagnostics, data architecture, or AI in healthcare
• A network of senior stakeholders through collaboration with industry leaders
• Experience in targeted therapies or immuno-therapies
• Experience in technical leadership of cross-functional teams and sample preparation technologies

At CPI, we offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, this includes:

• Up to 36 days holiday, including bank holidays – Plus a holiday purchasing scheme
• Generous pension scheme
• Life assurance and accident insurance schemes
• Flexible working
• Learning and Development Opportunities
• Free parking

Find out more about our culture and benefits.

CPI is an organisation based in the UK. Commencement of employment is conditional to demonstrating right to work in the UK, sponsorship may be available.