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- Tasks: Lead the growth of Life Sciences, generating new business and managing client relationships.
- Company: Join Cambridge Design Partnership, a pioneering innovation partner in life sciences.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, private healthcare, and a generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the life sciences sector with innovative projects.
- Qualifications: Degree in relevant field and experience in diagnostics or life sciences required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
CDP designs and develops point-of-care, home and lab-based in vitro diagnostics (IVD) systems and life science tools for some of the world’s leading diagnostics and life-sciences companies, developing innovative products from early-stage concept through to product launch. The role involves supporting the Head of Life Sciences and Operational Lead in growing and nurturing the Life Sciences sector team. This role is responsible for generating new leads, new business, growing accounts in existing business, and delivering high-quality project work to support this. The Commercial Lead, along with the Operational Lead, will represent Life Sciences and lead by example by fulfilling the roles of Sales Leader, Client Manager, and Project Leader as the work requires. The role will involve regular travel for client meetings and conferences, including local and international travel.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Sales and Delivery
- Contribute towards growth objectives agreed with the Head of Life Sciences.
- Work with the Head of Life Sciences and the wider team to identify, qualify, and maximize opportunities.
- Manage lead engagement through pitched presentations, workshops, and tailored outreach, reinforcing CDP’s value through evidence-based positioning and success narratives.
- Drive opportunity-to-contract progression by shaping proposals, refining value propositions, and negotiating terms in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
- Act as a Client Manager for selected accounts within Life Sciences.
- Support Client Managers in delivering and growing client accounts.
- Maintain the CRM, and attend Life Sciences sales meetings.
- Upskill project teams to quickly understand client challenges.
- Strategy & Planning
- Contribute to the long-term growth strategy of the sector both internally and externally.
- Develop and execute account growth plans for designated clients.
- Identify key market trends and client needs to inform marketing campaigns and thought leadership.
- Represent the sector at industry events to build market presence and client relationships.
- Marketing
- Identify key market themes and client challenges to inform marketing priorities.
- Collaborate with the Head of Life Sciences and marketing team to design and execute targeted campaigns.
- Develop compelling sales materials, proposals, case studies, and thought leadership content.
- Develop plans for conferences and participate at industry-specific events.
- Coordinate sector representation at industry events, conferences, and webinars.
- Partner with marketing to track campaign performance and refine strategies for lead generation.
- Maintain market intelligence to ensure messaging reflects current trends and opportunities.
- Capability Collaboration
- Partner with the Head of Life Sciences and Operational Lead to align sector capabilities with market opportunities.
- Coordinate with Capability Leads on training priorities, hiring needs, and skills development.
- Build and maintain relationships with key suppliers and strategic partners.
About You
To succeed in this role you will be able to demonstrate the following:
Skills and Attributes
- Expert knowledge in the in vitro diagnostics and life sciences market and landscape, able to understand specialist technologies and applications to help identify compelling opportunities for CDP and clients.
- Expertise designing systems that implement complex biochemical assays; able to navigate the technical, user and cost trade-offs to develop ‘well balanced’ products.
- Leadership and communication skills to empower the team and drive £multi-million development projects efficiently and effectively towards well-defined goals.
- Creative and highly technical ability in many of the following areas: concept generation of consumables and reader systems; assay implementation, prototyping techniques, detail design; design of experiments; design for high volume manufacture, IVD V&V.
- Familiar with industry regulations IVDR, MDR and standards ISO 13485, 21CFR part 820 and ISO14971.
- Comfortable presenting to clients and groups, with confident, clear and compelling communication style.
- Confident working in a fast-paced consultancy environment.
Experience and Education
- Degree-level education in relevant subject such as Mechanical Engineering, Physics or Natural Sciences.
- Career experience at medical or in vitro diagnostic device or life science tools companies, ideally having played a significant role in product launch of an in vitro diagnostic device.
- Alternatively, experience at a product/technology development consultancy working in the same field.
- Track record of planning and leading £multi-million development projects, taking responsibility for quality, time, and cost.
- Proven experience in account management activities, acting as technical lead in sales meetings, proposal writing and presenting.
About Us
Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is an end-to-end innovation partner, propelling global brands and ambitious start-ups to success. We build breakthrough products and services – from insight to ideas, prototypes to production – bringing innovation to life. Our teams are multi-disciplinary, uniting scientific rigor, design ingenuity, and engineering excellence for consumer and healthcare clients. People-centred, deeply collaborative, and – above all – expert, we’re uniquely positioned to shape the future for consumers, patients, and industry. Even our ownership model is innovative: We’re 100% owned by our employees, ensuring an open culture and a total commitment to our projects’ success.
As part of our benefits package, we offer:
- Flexible working
- A discretionary bonus
- Excellent learning and development opportunities
- A 12% non-contributory pension
- Private healthcare
- Electric vehicle lease salary sacrifice scheme
- Share incentive plan
- 33 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays
Commercial Lead - Life Sciences in Cambridge employer: Cambridge Design
Contact Detail:
Cambridge Design Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Lead - Life Sciences in Cambridge
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events and conferences where you can meet potential clients and partners. Don’t be shy – introduce yourself, share your passion for life sciences, and make those connections that could lead to new opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio of your past projects and successes in the life sciences sector. When you’re chatting with potential clients or at networking events, use this as a conversation starter to demonstrate your value and experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up! After meeting someone at an event or having a chat, send them a quick email or LinkedIn message to thank them for their time. This keeps you on their radar and shows you’re genuinely interested in building a relationship.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals who want to make a difference in the life sciences field. By applying directly, you’ll have a better chance of standing out and getting noticed by our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Lead - Life Sciences in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Commercial Lead - Life Sciences role. Highlight your experience in the in vitro diagnostics market and how it aligns with our goals at CDP. We want to see how you can contribute to our growth!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of how you've driven sales or managed projects successfully. We love seeing numbers and results that demonstrate your impact.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Avoid jargon unless it's relevant to the role. We appreciate straightforward communication, so make sure your passion for the role shines through without unnecessary fluff!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our innovative team at CDP!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cambridge Design
✨Know Your Market
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of the in vitro diagnostics and life sciences market. Understand the latest trends, technologies, and challenges that companies like CDP are facing. This will not only help you answer questions confidently but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Commercial Lead, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership and communication skills. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led projects or teams. Highlight how you empowered others and drove projects towards well-defined goals.
✨Tailor Your Pitch
When discussing your experience, tailor your pitch to align with the specific responsibilities of the role. Talk about your experience in generating leads, managing client accounts, and delivering high-quality project work. Use evidence-based success narratives to reinforce your value.
✨Prepare for Client Engagement Scenarios
Since the role involves client meetings and presentations, practice how you would engage with clients. Think about how you would present proposals or lead workshops. Being able to communicate clearly and compellingly will set you apart during the interview.