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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead scientific strategy and execution while aligning with commercial goals.
- Company: Join a pioneering techbio company merging synthetic biology and AI.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model and potential relocation support.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission-driven team shaping the future of biotech.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in biotech, with expertise in protein expression and R&D.
- Other info: Opportunity to start in an advisory role before transitioning full-time.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Client: Confidential (early-stage techbio platform company)
Location: Hybrid | Relocation planned
Timing: Target hire aligned with next financing milestone
About Our Client
Our client is a highly ambitious, founder-led techbio company operating at the intersection of synthetic biology and AI. The company is addressing a critical bottleneck in modern biotech: the persistent disconnect between protein design and expression. With a proprietary platform, strong early traction, and multidisciplinary in-house capabilities across data science, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, the team is now preparing to scale. They operate under stealth and hold all IP internally. This is not a spinout or academic offshoot, but a purpose-built company with platform potential.
The Opportunity
We are looking for a Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) to lead scientific strategy and execution, while bridging that work to commercial and strategic goals. The right person will bring strong leadership experience, technical depth, and the ability to communicate a scientific vision internally and externally. This is a pivotal executive hire who will help define the next chapter of the company’s growth. The individual will join a team that has already achieved proof-of-concept and now seeks to build market readiness, strategic partnerships, and long-term differentiation.
3 Key Selection Criteria
- Established Scientific Leadership in Industry
- Material experience in biotech or biopharma
- Significant experience in a scientific leadership role (e.g. CSO, Director, Head level)
- Deep understanding of protein expression systems, biomanufacturing, or therapeutic R&D
- Startup-Stage Operating Experience
- Experience in early-stage or scaling biotech/techbio
- Familiar with navigating from PoC to MVP to commercial readiness
- Comfortable managing across both computational and wetlab R&D functions
- Visionary Thinking with Commercial Acumen
- Proven ability to translate technical capability into platform strategy or business models
- Strong external presence; experience engaging with investors, partners, or regulators
- Track record of guiding partnerships or external-facing R&D initiatives
3 Core Requirements
- Hybrid Scientific & Commercial Mindset
- Ability to define scientific roadmap aligned with commercial drivers
- Strategic thinking that connects technical feasibility with market opportunity
- Builder of Teams and Culture
- Experience building and leading multi-functional scientific teams
- Strong mentoring instincts; ability to scale high-calibre scientific talent
- Grit, Agility, and Growth Drive
- Comfortable in early-stage, fast-paced environments
- Not too senior to get hands-on; thrives in ambiguity and opportunity
- Operates with urgency, ambition, and adaptability
Key Responsibilities
- Define and lead long-term scientific strategy across platform and product development
- Act as a public-facing scientific spokesperson in stealth-phase partner/investor settings
- Grow, structure, and mentor the internal scientific team (computational and wetlab)
- Align scientific execution with evolving business needs and fundraising milestones
- Build relationships with potential collaborators, industry leaders, and future customers
Desirable Additional Experience
- Familiarity with AI-driven applications in protein design, drug discovery, or synthetic biology
- Knowledge of regulatory and IP frameworks in biopharma or biomanufacturing
- Previous experience in investor communications, VC-backed company leadership, or strategic partnerships
Why This Role, Why Now?
- Foundational executive role in a highly differentiated platform company
- Rare opportunity to influence category-defining science at an inflection point
- Chance to join a company with a meaningful, global-impact mission
- Operate with autonomy, clarity of purpose, and strong early technical validation
Process & Timeline
- Initial conversation with retained search representative
- Follow-up call with founding team (schedule-dependent)
- Deeper session (e.g. working session or whiteboard)
- Final round discussions, aligned with next funding milestone
- There is scope for the successful candidate to begin in an advisory capacity ahead of full-time transition.
All conversations will be held in strict confidence. We encourage early expressions of interest ahead of formal financing close.
Contact Detail:
HannaSophiaCo Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the biotech and techbio sectors. Attend industry conferences, webinars, and meetups to connect with potential collaborators and investors who may be involved with early-stage companies like ours.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership experience by sharing specific examples of how you've successfully led scientific teams or projects in the past. Highlight your ability to bridge scientific and commercial goals, as this is crucial for the CSO role.
✨Tip Number 3
Familiarise yourself with our proprietary platform and the latest advancements in synthetic biology and AI. Being well-versed in these areas will help you articulate a compelling vision that aligns with our company's mission.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your strategic thinking and how you've previously translated technical capabilities into successful business models. This will demonstrate your visionary thinking and commercial acumen, which are key for this role.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, ensure you have a clear understanding of the Chief Scientific Officer role. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and selection criteria outlined in the job description.
Tailor Your CV: Craft your CV to highlight relevant experience in biotech or biopharma, particularly in scientific leadership roles. Emphasise your understanding of protein expression systems and any startup-stage operating experience.
Write a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, articulate your vision for the role and how your background aligns with the company's goals. Showcase your ability to bridge scientific strategy with commercial acumen and your experience in building teams.
Prepare for Interviews: Anticipate questions related to your leadership style, experience in early-stage biotech, and how you would approach defining a scientific roadmap. Be ready to discuss your past successes in engaging with investors and partners.
How to prepare for a job interview at HannaSophiaCo
✨Showcase Your Scientific Leadership
Prepare to discuss your previous leadership roles in biotech or biopharma. Highlight specific examples where you successfully led scientific teams and projects, demonstrating your ability to bridge scientific strategy with commercial goals.
✨Demonstrate Startup Experience
Be ready to share your experiences in early-stage biotech environments. Discuss how you've navigated the transition from proof-of-concept to market readiness, and your comfort level managing both computational and wetlab functions.
✨Communicate Your Vision
Articulate a clear scientific vision that aligns with commercial drivers. Prepare to explain how you can translate technical capabilities into business models, showcasing your strategic thinking and understanding of market opportunities.
✨Build Relationships and Culture
Emphasise your experience in building and mentoring high-calibre scientific teams. Be prepared to discuss how you foster a collaborative culture and your approach to scaling talent within a fast-paced environment.
