Head of Business Development

Head of Business Development

Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Latent Labs

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Drive strategic pharma partnerships and shape innovative commercial models in AI-for-bio.
  • Company: Join Latent Labs, pioneers in generative AI and biology with a collaborative culture.
  • Benefits: Competitive pay, private health insurance, generous leave, and hybrid working options.
  • Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for travel and professional growth.
  • Why this job: Make a global impact by transforming the future of synthetic biology.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in pharma partnerships and AI-enabled services.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

At Latent Labs, we are building frontier models that learn the fundamentals of biology. We pursue ambitious goals with curiosity and are committed to scientific excellence. Before building Latent Labs, our team co-developed DeepMind’s Nobel-prize winning AlphaFold, invented latent diffusion, and built pioneering lab data management systems as well as high throughput protein screening platforms. At Latent Labs you will be working with some of the brightest minds in generative AI and biology. Our team is committed to interdisciplinary exchange, continuous learning and collaboration. Team offsites help us foster a culture of trust across our London and San Francisco sites. We’re looking for innovators passionate about tackling complex challenges and maximizing positive global impact. Join us on our moonshot mission.

The Opportunity

You will provide hands‑on business development support to help close and scale strategic pharma partnerships and grow new verticals. You will take ownership of moving qualified opportunities through the deal process: researching target organisations, identifying and reaching decision‑makers, developing back‑channel relationships, managing follow‑ups, and keeping momentum through meetings, calls, conferences, and in‑person engagement. You will bring a strong pharmaceutical network, credible domain knowledge, and proven experience negotiating enterprise pharma deals, while also helping shape new commercial models for AI‑for‑bio partnerships. A key part of the role will be designing scalable, modular deal structures that balance emerging value and risk considerations, such as data rights, trained model weights, exclusivity, and long‑term growth potential. Ultimately, you will help turn a strong pipeline into closed partnerships, while building a repeatable sales and deal‑making process for the company.

What sets you apart

You have a track record of growing early‑stage commercial relationships into long‑term, multi-year partnerships. You have helped develop or commercialise AI‑enabled services, products, or partnership models for pharmaceutical customers. You have created or introduced novel deal structures that helped unlock new types of commercial relationships.

Your Responsibilities

  • Own and actively progress qualified pharma partnership opportunities, ensuring each deal has clear next steps, timelines, stakeholders, and follow‑up actions.
  • Build a strong understanding of target organisations, including their priorities, decision‑makers, partnership history, and fit with our AI services.
  • Use your pharma network and targeted outreach to reach decision‑makers, influencers, and internal champions within target companies.
  • Drive negotiations from early interest to signed agreement, helping shape deal terms that balance value, risk, speed, and long‑term growth.
  • Create repeatable sales materials, qualification criteria, deal templates, and follow‑up processes to help scale pharma partnerships.
  • Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and hosted sessions to build visibility, relationships, and new commercial opportunities.
  • Create weekly reporting on pipeline health, deal progress, conversion, and commercial activity, using clear metrics to create visibility and drive action.
  • Bring insight from pharma partners and prospects back into the company to help shape product strategy, positioning, and future AI service offerings.

Apply

We offer strongly competitive compensation and benefits packages, including:

  • Private health insurance
  • Pension/401(K) contributions
  • Generous leave policies (including gender neutral parental leave)
  • Hybrid working
  • Travel opportunities and more

We also offer a stimulating work environment, and the opportunity to shape the future of synthetic biology through the application of breakthrough generative models. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and we are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

Head of Business Development employer: Latent Labs

At Latent Labs, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a stimulating work environment where innovation thrives. Our commitment to scientific excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration fosters a culture of trust and continuous learning, particularly in our vibrant London location. With competitive compensation, generous leave policies, and opportunities for professional growth, we empower our team to tackle complex challenges and make a meaningful global impact.

Latent Labs

Contact Details:

Latent Labs Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Business Development

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Use your existing connections in the pharma industry to get introductions to decision-makers. Don’t be shy; reach out on LinkedIn or attend industry events to make those valuable connections.

Tip Number 2

Do your homework! Research target organisations thoroughly. Understand their priorities and past partnerships so you can tailor your pitch and show them exactly how we can add value to their business.

Tip Number 3

Follow up like it’s your job! After meetings or calls, send a quick email summarising key points and next steps. Keeping the momentum going is crucial in moving deals forward, so don’t let opportunities slip through the cracks.

Tip Number 4

Showcase your expertise! Create engaging sales materials that highlight our unique offerings and success stories. This will not only help in negotiations but also position us as thought leaders in AI-for-bio partnerships.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Business Development

Business Development
Pharmaceutical Network
Negotiation Skills
Partnership Management
Deal Structuring
Market Research
Stakeholder Engagement

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role and our mission shine through. We want to see that you're genuinely excited about tackling complex challenges in the pharma space and how you can contribute to our moonshot mission.

Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in business development and partnerships, especially in the pharmaceutical sector. We’re looking for specific examples of how you've grown relationships into long-term partnerships, so don’t hold back!

Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so use bullet points or short paragraphs to make it easy for us to see your qualifications and achievements at a glance.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Latent Labs

Know Your Stuff

Before the interview, dive deep into Latent Labs' work and their impact on the pharmaceutical industry. Familiarise yourself with their projects, especially those related to AI and biology, so you can speak confidently about how your experience aligns with their mission.

Network Like a Pro

Leverage your existing pharmaceutical network to demonstrate your connections and influence. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've engaged with decision-makers in the past and how you plan to use these relationships to benefit Latent Labs.

Showcase Your Deal-Making Skills

Prepare to share concrete examples of successful partnerships you've developed. Highlight any innovative deal structures you've created and how they led to long-term relationships, as this will resonate well with their focus on scalable, modular deals.

Ask Insightful Questions

During the interview, ask questions that show your understanding of the challenges in the pharma sector and how AI can address them. This not only demonstrates your knowledge but also your genuine interest in contributing to their moonshot mission.