At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive new business growth and lead a high-performing sales team in life sciences.
- Company: Established life sciences services company with a strong reputation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and influence over commercial strategy.
- Why this job: Shape the future of the company while making a real impact on revenue.
- Qualifications: Proven sales experience in life sciences and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Opportunity to expand the team and influence market strategies.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
This organisation is an established life sciences services company with over a decade of experience supporting biobanking, early‑stage research, and contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) clients. It operates a life science and biotech portfolio across the UK, Europe, and the US. The business is recognised for its operational reliability, quality standards, and customer‑focused approach.
The Head of Sales will be responsible for driving new business growth, shaping the commercial strategy, and leading a small, high‑performing sales team. This is a player–coach role, combining personal responsibility for winning new business with coaching, motivating, and structuring the sales team to deliver sustained growth. The role offers significant influence over how the business engages with customers, expands into new markets, and strengthens its commercial position within the life sciences sector.
Direct reports
- Two salespeople sharing responsibility for the portfolio across defined territories.
The Head of Sales will work closely with the marketing manager, marketing executive, and customer engagement manager, with reporting lines flexible depending on the structure established by the new hire.
Key responsibilities
- Sales growth and new business
- Develop and execute the commercial strategy, with a strong focus on new business acquisition across the UK, Europe, and the US.
- Personally secure strategic and high‑value customer contracts.
- Maintain disciplined pipeline management, forecasting, and deal progression.
- Leadership and team development
- Lead, motivate, and develop the UK sales team.
- Introduce structured coaching, training, and performance management processes.
- Encourage knowledge sharing and consistency across sales activity.
- Support recruitment and onboarding as the team grows.
- Strategic contribution
- Partner with the CEO to define and deliver the commercial strategy.
- Provide market insight and customer feedback to inform service development and positioning.
- Contribute to longer‑term planning around market expansion and new service offerings.
The ideal profile
- Proven track record as a high‑performing salesperson in a services‑led life sciences environment.
- Demonstrated ability to build pipeline and win new business from scratch.
- Hands‑on experience leading, coaching, or developing sales teams.
- Strong commercial credibility with senior stakeholders.
- Comfortable selling intangible, outcome‑focused service offerings.
- Able to introduce structure, process, and discipline to support scale.
- Engaging and motivating leader with a collaborative approach.
Why this role stands out
- Opportunity to shape and lead the commercial strategy at a key stage of growth.
- True player–coach role with direct impact on revenue and team performance.
- Leadership of a focused sales team with scope to expand.
- Able to influence how the business approaches customers and develops new markets.
Head of Sales - Global in London employer: Harrington Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Harrington Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Sales - Global in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry professionals on LinkedIn or at events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their values, recent projects, and challenges in the life sciences sector. This will show them you’re genuinely interested and ready to contribute to their growth.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You’ll want to clearly articulate your experience and how it aligns with the role of Head of Sales. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your delivery and boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for the position. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Sales - Global in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Sales Savvy: When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your proven track record in sales, especially in the life sciences sector. We want to see how you've built pipelines and secured high-value contracts, so don’t hold back on those success stories!
Be a Team Player: Since this role is all about leading and developing a sales team, let us know about your experience in coaching and motivating others. Share examples of how you've structured training or performance management processes to help your team thrive.
Craft a Compelling Commercial Strategy: We’re looking for someone who can shape our commercial strategy, so in your application, discuss your approach to market expansion and customer engagement. Show us how you’ve contributed to strategic planning in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Harrington Recruitment
✨Know Your Numbers
As the Head of Sales, you'll need to demonstrate a strong grasp of sales metrics and performance indicators. Be prepared to discuss your past achievements in terms of revenue growth, pipeline management, and customer acquisition. Bring specific examples that showcase your ability to drive results.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role requires a player-coach approach, so be ready to talk about how you've led and developed sales teams in the past. Share stories that highlight your coaching methods, how you motivate your team, and any structured processes you've implemented to enhance performance.
✨Understand the Market Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the life sciences sector, especially the trends affecting biobanking and CDMO services. Research the company's position within the market and be prepared to discuss how you would contribute to their commercial strategy and market expansion efforts.
✨Engage with Strategic Thinking
The interviewers will want to see your strategic mindset. Prepare to discuss how you would partner with the CEO to define and deliver the commercial strategy. Think about potential new service offerings or market insights you could bring to the table that align with the company's goals.