Programme Operations Lead

Have you helped scale a startup or growing SME, bringing structure and operational clarity as the business evolved? Do you thrive in fast-paced environments where priorities shift quickly, projects move at speed, and leadership relies on you to keep everything aligned and on track? Programme Operations Lead Location: Cambridge Salary: £60,000 – £85,000 DoE + benefits A growing medical equipment manufacturer is looking for an Programme Operations Lead to work directly with the R&D Director, helping bring structure, visibility, and operational clarity to a scaling product development function. This is a newly created role within a fast-moving and evolving environment focused on new product development, innovation, and modernising the way the business operates. The position is ideal for someone who thrives on creating structure, improving delivery, keeping teams aligned, and ensuring momentum is maintained as priorities shift and the business continues to grow. You’ll operate as a key partner to the R&D Director, supporting the day-to-day running of the function and helping ensure projects, actions, and operational priorities stay on track. The Role This is a hands-on operational leadership role within a fast-paced engineering and product development environment. You’ll help create visibility across projects, improve coordination, drive accountability, and ensure important work doesn’t get lost in a busy and constantly evolving landscape. The role requires someone highly organised, proactive, commercially aware, and comfortable operating in an environment where priorities can change quickly. Responsibilities * Establish and manage the operating rhythm across the R&D function * Run weekly and monthly planning, delivery, and coordination meetings * Improve visibility across projects, priorities, risks, and delivery timelines * Track actions, commitments, and key deliverables across the team * Support leadership with planning, coordination, and operational execution * Identify bottlenecks, risks, or gaps early and help drive resolution * Help improve processes, communication, and operational structure as the team grows * Support onboarding, team coordination, and cross-functional alignment * Ensure follow-through on critical activities within a high-volume environment * Translate discussions and ideas into clear actions and next steps Background & Experience We’re interested in people from programme management, operations, delivery, consulting, or scaling SME/startup environments. You may have experience in: * Programme or project leadership * Business operations * Product development operations * Startup or scale-up environments * Engineering or manufacturing businesses * Consulting or transformation roles Exposure to technical, engineering, manufacturing, hardware, or regulated environments would be beneficial but not essential. The Successful Person * Highly organised and operationally strong * Comfortable managing multiple moving priorities * Calm and reliable under pressure * Strong communicator with good stakeholder management skills * Proactive and solutions-focused * Able to bring structure into evolving environments * Commercially aware with strong judgement * Comfortable working closely with senior leadership * Confident driving accountability and follow-through Why Apply? This is a rare opportunity to join a growing product development and engineering business in a newly created position with genuine long-term potential. You’ll work closely with senior leadership, play a key role in shaping how the R&D function operates, and have the opportunity to grow into a broader operational or strategic leadership role over time