Strategic Business Development Lead in London

Key Information

• Reporting to: Head of Business Development
• Contract term: This is a full-time permanent position on Crick terms and conditions of employment.
• Working pattern: Monday – Friday.
• Application closing date: Monday 2nd February 2026.

About us

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe's largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world‐class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions. The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state‐of‐the‐art infrastructure, cutting‐edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We've removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher. This gives us the freedom to take risks and carry out high‐quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy.

About the role

The Crick Innovation and Business team has been created to establish an expanded translational and commercial offering from the Crick. There are four core functions: Translation & Entrepreneurship, Commercial Portfolio, Business Development and Business Operations. The Business Development team is responsible for driving the development and execution of the Crick's translation and commercial activity. This involves identifying partners for different translational and commercial opportunities, negotiating and concluding optimal deals and post‐signature management to ensure delivery of such agreements.

We are seeking a Strategic Business Development Lead (known internally as Senior Business Manager) with demonstrated expertise in innovation, commercialisation, intellectual property (IP), and due diligence to join this team. Working closely with the Head of Business Development and the Business Development team, you will ensure appropriate identification, negotiation, conclusion and post‐signature management of deals that further the Crick strategy, while protecting the charitable objectives.

You will be a commercially driven professional with a strong track record in opportunity assessment, licensing, and contract negotiation within the life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors. Highly skilled in stakeholder management across academic and commercial settings, you will be equipped with quantitative capabilities to support financial modelling and commercial evaluations. You will possess a background in bioscience or a related discipline and/or equivalent experience and be experienced in establishing spin‐out companies and partnering in the biomedical field and potentially incubator deals. Crucially you will have a dynamic and proactive energy that truly engages stakeholders and embeds relationships to unlock exciting opportunities.

What you will be doing

• Negotiate and secure deals, including undertaking the development and execution of the Crick's translation and commercial activity.
• Deliver market, competitor and financial analyses to support commercialisation of the translational pipeline and development of the overall commercial portfolio.
• Provide commercial and translational portfolio analysis (including resourcing and forecasting) across all Business Office team functions.
• Produce insight and analysis outputs, including reports, briefings, presentations, recommendations and analytics/data visualisation.
• Secure next stage investment for translational projects and spin‐outs emerging from Crick research.
• Work with the Business Office Operations team to ensure the collection and maintenance of appropriate and accurate commercial data and information.

About you

You will have:

• Strong liaison and negotiation skills with the ability to respond appropriately, confidently and sensitively in relation to academic and commercial partners/clients.
• Extensive experience of technology/opportunity assessment, marketing and licensing, as well as legal and technical aspects of contract, collaboration, licensing and corporate agreements. This needs to be evidenced through a deal sheet.
• An extensive network in the investment, pharmaceutical and biotech industry, gained through experience of working in or with such sector.
• Highly organised with comprehensive experience of working in a demanding environment, either academia or industry. Demonstrating the ability to command the confidence of all those reliant on the effective delivery.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and explain concepts clearly.
• Undergraduate degree in bioscience or related discipline, or equivalent experience.

About Working at the Crick

Our values: Everyone who works at the Crick has a valuable role to play in advancing the Crick's mission and shaping our culture. We are bold. We make space for creative, dynamic and imaginative ideas and approaches. We're not afraid to do things differently. We are open. We're highly collaborative and interactive, and make sure our activities are visible to the outside world. We are collegial. We show respect for one another, work cooperatively and support the wider community.

At the Francis Crick Institute, we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and scientific discovery. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or personal circumstances. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, abilities, and experiences. We are a Disability Confident: Committed employer and want to ensure that everyone can apply and be part of our recruitment processes and so we'll make reasonable adjustments if you need them - just let us know when you apply. If you need assistance with applying (i.e., would like to apply by phone or post) please email: ruby.oluwafemi@crick.ac.uk.

What will you receive?

At the Francis Crick Institute, we value our team members and are proud to offer an extensive range of benefits to support their well‐being and development:

• Generous Leave: 28 days of annual leave, plus three additional days over Christmas and bank holidays.
• Pension Scheme: Defined contribution pension with employer contributions of up to 16%.
• Health & Well‐being: 24/7 GP consultation services, occupational health services and mental health support programs, eye care vouchers and discounted healthcare plans.
• Work-Life Balance: Back‐up care for dependents, childcare support allowance, annual leave purchase options, Crick Networks offering diverse groups' support, community and inclusive social events.
• Perks: Discounted gym memberships, bike‐to‐work scheme, and shopping discounts, subsidised on‐site restaurant and social spaces for team interaction.

Please note you must meet the essential criteria listed within the Role Profile, to have your application reviewed. We reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any given time due to the number of applications received.