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- Tasks: Lead enterprise business development and build strategic partnerships in life sciences.
- Company: Pioneering life science organisation with a global reach and innovative technologies.
- Benefits: Autonomy, ownership, and the chance to shape commercial strategy in a high-growth environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving growth and innovation in the life sciences sector.
- Qualifications: Experience in life science sales and strong negotiation skills required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and collaboration with senior stakeholders.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced commercial leader who thrives in long-cycle, enterprise-level business development? Do you enjoy building high-value strategic partnerships within research-use life science markets? Are you motivated by autonomy, ownership, and the opportunity to shape commercial strategy in a high-growth environment?
Fraser Dove International is partnering exclusively with a pioneering life science organisation. Operating across Europe with global commercial reach, they are committed to advancing research innovation through differentiated technologies and strategic collaborations. Our client is seeking a senior, hands-on commercial leader to own and scale enterprise business development partnerships across academia, biopharma, and strategic industry partners.
Your objectives: As the Vice President of Business Development, you will be measured against the following objectives:
- Build and convert a high-quality enterprise opportunity pipeline that delivers predictable, long-term revenue growth.
- Structure and close strategic collaborations that balance near-term commercial value with long-term optionality.
- Establish disciplined, transparent business development processes that support forecasting, decision making, and cross-functional alignment.
What you will do: As the Vice President of Business Development, your duties and responsibilities will include:
- Own full-cycle enterprise business development from prospecting through negotiation, contracting, and post-signature execution.
- Engage senior stakeholders and C-suite decision makers across academia, biopharma, and strategic industry partners.
- Design and negotiate complex commercial structures, including value-based pricing, collaborations, and co-marketing models.
- Maintain rigorous Customer Relationship Management (CRM) discipline, ensuring accurate forecasting, documentation, and handover.
- Act as the senior commercial face to key partners while personally driving outreach, follow-up, and deal progression.
- Collaborate closely with Research and Development (R&D) and Operations to align partner needs with technical and operational delivery.
- Build and refine scalable business development processes suited to a lean, high-growth environment.
These are the skills and experience you will need to succeed as the Vice President of Business Development:
- Significant experience selling research-use life science technologies to academic and biopharma customers.
- A proven track record of closing long-cycle, enterprise-level commercial deals with complex stakeholders.
- Strong commercial and strategic judgement, with confidence in negotiation and deal structuring.
- High autonomy, resilience, and comfort operating in an evolving, startup-style environment.
- Excellent communication skills with credibility at senior and executive level.
- A Bachelor of Science (BSc) or equivalent degree in a relevant life science or commercial discipline.
- An advanced degree or postgraduate qualification is desirable.
Got what it takes? To apply for the Vice President of Business Development, click the ‘Apply’ button.
Vice President of Business Development in Edinburgh employer: Fraser Dove International
Contact Detail:
Fraser Dove International Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Vice President of Business Development in Edinburgh
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry leaders, attend conferences, and join relevant online forums. The more people you know in the life sciences space, the better your chances of landing that VP role.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Prepare a killer pitch that highlights your experience in closing complex deals and building strategic partnerships. When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure they see the value you bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out to companies you admire and express your interest in working with them. Sometimes, the best opportunities come from creating your own path.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got loads of resources to help you prepare for interviews and ace those tough questions. Plus, applying directly shows your enthusiasm and commitment to the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Vice President of Business Development in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Vice President of Business Development. Highlight your experience in long-cycle, enterprise-level business development and any strategic partnerships you've built in the life sciences sector.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to showcase your passion for advancing research innovation and how your skills align with the objectives of the role. Don’t forget to mention your autonomy and ownership in previous roles.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on quantifiable achievements. Did you close a significant deal or build a high-quality pipeline? Numbers speak volumes, so let us see the impact you've made in your previous positions.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a seamless application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fraser Dove International
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, dive deep into the life science market and understand the key players, trends, and challenges. This knowledge will help you speak confidently about how your experience aligns with the company's goals and how you can contribute to their growth.
✨Showcase Your Success Stories
Prepare specific examples of your past successes in closing long-cycle, enterprise-level deals. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, highlighting your strategic judgement and negotiation skills.
✨Engage with Senior Stakeholders
Since you'll be engaging with C-suite decision makers, practice articulating your ideas clearly and concisely. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully navigated complex stakeholder environments in the past and how you plan to do so in this role.
✨Demonstrate Process Orientation
Be prepared to discuss how you establish disciplined business development processes. Share examples of how you've maintained CRM discipline and ensured accurate forecasting, as these are crucial for the role and will show your commitment to structured growth.
