At a Glance
- Tasks: Engage with biotech clients and support drug discovery projects while leveraging your scientific expertise.
- Company: Join o2h discovery, a leading integrated drug discovery organisation with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work flexibility, competitive salary, mentorship, and exposure to global clients.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and travel across the US for client engagement.
- Why this job: Transition from bench science to commercial leadership in a dynamic biotech environment.
- Qualifications: PhD in relevant fields and experience in drug discovery are preferred.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Company - o2h discovery (o2h group) - www.o2hdiscovery.co
Location - Hybrid — Remote (UK/Europe, US East Coast | US West Coast) with Travel Required
Territories – UK/Europe, US East Coast | US West Coast
Reports To - VP Business Development (regional)
Level - Junior — (Scientist-to-BD Transition Role)
Qualification - PhD Preferred
About Company
o2h discovery is a multi-award-winning integrated drug discovery Contract Research Organisation (CRO), headquartered at The Mill SciTech Park, Cambridge, UK, with a world-class research centre in Ahmedabad, India, with over 800+ scientists across synthetic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, analytical chemistry, in vitro biology, DMPK, ADME, PK studies, peptide synthesis, and IND-enabling capabilities.
Founded in 2005 and part of the o2h group, our DNA is centered on seeding new ideas in life science and technology — co-investing, co-creating, and co-executing with our partners. Alongside o2h Ventures (early-stage life science investment) and o2h co-work labs (Cambridge incubation hub), we offer a uniquely integrated innovation ecosystem spanning discovery, capital, and incubation.
Our key markets — UK, Europe, and the United States — represent a rapidly growing share of our discovery revenues, with strong momentum across both US coasts and major European biotech clusters. As part of our next phase of growth, we are expanding our commercial footprint across these regions, building a new generation of scientist-led business development talent to accelerate client partnerships and programme delivery globally.
About the Role
We are looking for a Medicinal Chemist – Scientific & Business Development Lead to support our integrated drug discovery projects across the UK/Europe and the US, working at the interface of science, project delivery, and client engagement. This role is ideal for someone with 5–7+ years of industrial experience in a multidisciplinary biotech or pharma environment who wants to stay close to the science while taking on broader responsibilities. This is a scientist-first BD role, where your technical expertise remains central to every client interaction and decision.
We are expanding our team and are looking to hire three Business Development Executives across key regions UK/Europe, US East Coast, and the US West Coast to support our growing global footprint.
You will work closely with senior VP BD leaders for respective regions to:
- Engage with biotech and pharma clients on cutting-edge drug discovery programmes
- Contribute to the development of scientific proposals and partnership discussions
- Coordinate discovery programmes between clients and global delivery teams
- Build and nurture relationships across key biotech ecosystems
This role is a structured pathway from bench science to commercial leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Business Development & Outreach- Support the regional VP of BD in identifying and cultivating new client relationships across biotech, pharma, and academic drug discovery groups
- Co-develop and expand client relationships across biotech, pharma, and academic drug discovery groups within your assigned region
- Leverage your network to generate leads and introductions
- Assist in preparing and delivering compelling scientific proposals, capability overviews, and responses to RFPs and RFQs
- Attend client meetings, site visits, and scientific conferences to represent o2h discovery in the field
- Maintain accurate CRM records, including contacts, opportunities, proposals, follow-up actions, and pipeline status
- Act as a key liaison between US clients and the o2h scientific delivery team in Ahmedabad, India and UK, ensuring clear communication of project scope, timelines, and expectations
- Support onboarding of new collaborations across chemistry, biology, DMPK/ADME, and integrated drug discovery programmes
- Assist in milestone tracking, progress reporting, and client communication throughout active programmes
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of BD workflows and client experience processes
- Stay current with drug discovery trends, therapeutic area developments, and the biotech funding landscape
- Contribute to capability presentations, case studies, scientific blog content, and conference materials
- Participate in internal scientific and BD knowledge-sharing sessions to deepen understanding of o2h's expanding service portfolio
- Support the BD team in preparing for client visits, due diligence meetings, and partnership discussions
Qualifications & Experience
Preferred- PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Biology, or a closely related discipline
- Practical hands-on experience in at least one area of drug discovery: organic synthesis, target biology, DMPK, hit identification, or lead optimisation
- Strong communication skills — written and verbal; able to present complex science clearly to a range of audiences
- Genuine passion for drug discovery and the broader life science and biotech ecosystem
- Comfortable working independently and proactively in a remote, hybrid environment
- Willingness and ability to travel regularly across the USA for client meetings and conferences
- Collaborative, cross-cultural communication skills — effective working with teams in India and the UK
- Post-doctoral experience or early-career industry experience in a CRO, biotech, or pharma setting
- Existing professional network in the US biotech ecosystem (Boston/Cambridge MA, Bay Area, San Diego, Seattle)
- Familiarity with the CRO outsourcing landscape and how discovery programmes are structured commercially
- Experience with project management tools, ELNs, CRM platforms, or scientific data management systems
- Interest in or prior exposure to commercial activity — client communication, consulting, or scientific outreach
What You'll Gain
- A clear path into commercial leadership in biotech
- Mentorship from experienced BD leaders
- Exposure to global clients and discovery programmes
- Hybrid flexibility with meaningful in-person engagement
- Competitive salary with performance-linked incentive
Business Development Executives (UK/Europe | US East Coast | US West Coast) in Cambridge employer: o2h discovery
o2h discovery is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and innovative work culture, offering Business Development Executives the unique opportunity to bridge scientific expertise with commercial leadership in the thriving biotech sector. With a strong emphasis on mentorship, employee growth, and a hybrid work model, team members can enjoy a balanced work-life while engaging with global clients and cutting-edge drug discovery projects. The company's commitment to collaboration and continuous improvement ensures that employees are well-supported in their professional journeys, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
