Product Manager

Cambridge UK

Job description

Functional area: Product Management

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Travel required: Minimal; primarily Cambridge‑based (approximately 1–3 weeks per year)

CN Bio Innovations (CN Bio) is a modern life sciences company delivering human‑focused research and discovery, enabled by a unique and proven Organ‑on‑a‑Chip (OOC) platform. We work at the interface of engineering and cell biology to develop human biomimetic platforms for the testing and development of therapeutics for serious human diseases. Our mission is to be the world’s leading provider of organ‑on‑a‑chip solutions which accurately predict human responses to medicines.

Role Description

The Product Manager is responsible for the end‑to‑end management of a defined product portfolio, from strategy and roadmap through to delivery, launch, and commercial success.

This is a hands‑on product management role, focused on understanding customer needs, defining product requirements, setting product direction, and ensuring products deliver measurable value for customers and the business. It is not a product marketing or communications role, and it is not a senior leadership or director‑level position.

The role is an influence position, with no direct line management responsibility, working with R&D, Sales, Marketing, Product Development, Manufacturing, and external stakeholders to ensure CN Bio delivers scientifically robust, commercially successful products aligned with market needs.

Specifically, in this role you will:

• Own the product strategy and roadmap for a defined portfolio, aligned with CN Bio’s corporate and commercial objectives.
• Develop and maintain an annual product plan informed by customer insight, market dynamics, and competitive analysis.
• Lead new product introductions (NPIs) end‑to‑end, including product definition, requirements, pricing, positioning, launch readiness, and post‑launch performance.
• Translate customer and market needs into clear, prioritised product requirements for R&D and product development teams.
• Act as the internal product authority, supporting sales through training, tools, and direct customer engagement.
• Work in close collaboration with marketing to ensure external messaging accurately reflects product value, while retaining ownership of product definition and strategy.
• Be the pivotal conduit between the Sales Team and Product Development to ensure a streamlined and consistent communication process

Specific Job Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Define and maintain the product roadmap, balancing short‑term commercial needs with long‑term strategic opportunities.
• Analyse market trends, customer workflows, and competitor offerings to guide investment and development decisions.
• Own product positioning, value propositions, and lifecycle management decisions.
• Define pricing models aligned with revenue and margin objectives.

New Product Introduction & Delivery

• Lead NPIs from concept through launch, ensuring clear requirements, cross‑functional alignment, and commercial readiness.
• Take accountability for the customer and financial success of new products.
• Support development teams with clear problem statements, priorities, and success criteria.

Cross‑Functional & Customer Engagement

• Work closely with R&D, Sales, Manufacturing, and Marketing to ensure products are delivered effectively and supported post‑
• Engage directly with customers to gather insight, validate assumptions, and resolve unmet needs.
• Support sales through training, collateral input, and joint customer visits where required.

Important Clarification

This role requires demonstrated experience in product management. Experience limited primarily to product marketing, marketing communications, campaign management, or collateral creation is not sufficient for this position. We are seeking candidates who have owned products and product decisions, not only promoted them.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or a related discipline (required).
• MSc or PhD in the Life Sciences (desirable).
• Proven experience as a Product Manager within life sciences, biotechnology, or drug discovery tools.
• Formal product management training or certification (e.g. Pragmatic Institute certification or equivalent) is required.
• Experience working with complex scientific products or workflows; experience with organ‑on‑a‑chip technologies is advantageous.
• Demonstrated success working cross‑functionally in matrix organisations.

Skills

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking, combined with practical execution.
• Ability to define clear priorities and make trade‑offs with incomplete information.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to distil complex concepts clearly.
• Comfortable in influencing and challenging stakeholders at different levels without direct authority.
• Highly organised, detail‑oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Commercially aware, with a clear understanding of how products create customer and business value.

The Benefits

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension with Standard Life
• Private Healthcare with AXA
• Cashback for Dental and Optical Care
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Recruitment referral scheme (£500)
• Flexible working hours to support work‑life balance

What’s Next?

We will review your application and, whilst we would love to get back to every applicant, this is not always possible. If you haven’t heard from us within four weeks, please note that your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Please note applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK for the duration of the role. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.