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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 at the forefront of synthetic biology and AI.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work options and the chance to influence groundbreaking science.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission-driven team making a global impact in biotech.
- Qualifications: Experience in biotech leadership, protein expression, and startup environments required.
- Other info: Opportunity for advisory role before full-time transition; all discussions are confidential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 84000 £ per year.
A variety of soft skills and experience may be required for the following role. Please ensure you check the overview below carefully.
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 Science and Commercial Officer (CSCO) 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
- 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.
Seniority level: Executive
Employment type: Full-time
Job function: Sales and Management
Industries: Business Consulting and Services
Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) (London) employer: HannaSophiaCo
Contact Detail:
HannaSophiaCo Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) (London)
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the biotech and techbio sectors. Attend industry conferences, webinars, or local meetups to connect with potential collaborators and investors who can provide insights into the company’s landscape.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership experience by discussing specific examples of how you've built and mentored scientific teams. Highlight your ability to foster a collaborative culture that aligns with the company's mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to articulate your vision for bridging scientific strategy with commercial goals. Think about how you can leverage your technical expertise to create business models that resonate with investors and partners.
✨Tip Number 4
Familiarise yourself with the latest advancements in AI applications within protein design and synthetic biology. Being well-versed in these areas will help you stand out as a candidate who can drive innovation in the company.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your scientific leadership experience, particularly in biotech or biopharma. Emphasise any roles where you've defined scientific strategy or led teams, as this is crucial for the Chief Scientific Officer position.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, clearly articulate your vision for bridging scientific and commercial goals. Discuss your experience with protein expression systems and how it aligns with the company's mission. Show enthusiasm for their innovative approach in techbio.
Highlight Relevant Experience: When detailing your work history, focus on your startup-stage operating experience. Mention specific projects where you navigated from proof-of-concept to market readiness, showcasing your ability to manage both computational and wetlab functions.
Demonstrate Visionary Thinking: Use examples from your past roles to illustrate your visionary thinking and commercial acumen. Discuss how you've successfully translated technical capabilities into business models or platform strategies, which is essential for this role.
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 deep understanding of protein expression systems and therapeutic R&D.
✨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 in managing both computational and wetlab functions.
✨Communicate Your Visionary Thinking
Articulate how you can translate technical capabilities into a strategic business model. Prepare to discuss your experience engaging with investors and partners, showcasing your ability to guide external-facing R&D initiatives.
✨Emphasise Team Building and Mentoring
Highlight your experience in building and leading multi-functional scientific teams. Share examples of how you've mentored talent and fostered a strong team culture, which is crucial for scaling high-calibre scientific talent.
