Head of Technology Sales & Partnerships in Norwich

Are you a commercially driven technology sales leader ready to shape global partnerships?

Background

Tropic Biosciences is an industry leading biotechnology-forward seeds company transforming tropical agriculture using cutting-edge precision breeding and genetic innovation. Our breakthroughs, including TIME Magazine's 'Best Invention of 2025', the non-browning banana and other disease-resistant crops, are poised to save billions in food waste across the world. Backed by one of the largest fundraisers in agritech via Series C round of $105 million co-led by Forbion and Corteva, we are now scaling our footprint globally. Tropic has developed differentiated technology platforms (including GEiGS®) to improve productivity outcomes in crops, livestock, aquaculture, and more, leveraging new breeding techniques (NBTs) like gene editing.

As precision breeding techniques like gene editing gain traction globally, there is a growing opportunity to engage new partners seeking to deploy these tools to develop sustainable products. To accelerate further adoption of Tropic’s platforms, we are creating this role to support our technology licensing business. The role is focused on identifying and engaging partner organisations interested in licensing from Tropic to solve key challenges in their industry.

Job Description

The role will play a key factor in accelerating adoption of Tropic’s technology platforms and supporting our technology licensing business by identifying and engaging with existing and new partner organisations, who are interested in licensing our solutions to solve key challenges within the broad agribiotech industry.

Key Responsibilities

• The role is centred on identifying leads, qualifying and driving forward sales opportunities through a systematic pipeline management approach, closing licensing deals and deepening client relations.
• The role will report directly to the Associate Director of Technology Sales & Commercial Partnerships.
• Develop and nurture partnership opportunities across Tropic’s GEiGS® and AgroTrop™ technology platforms, building trusted, long-term relationships with partners globally.
• Manage the GEiGS® and AgroTrop™ technology sales pipeline – identifying/qualifying new accounts with disciplined ethic and progressing them to signed agreements.
• Source leads and drive forward discovery conversations with the right stakeholders, understanding their business needs and priorities, especially those aligned with Tropic’s platform applications.
• Progress opportunities through the sales lifecycle through lead qualification, proposal of terms, deal structuring and close.
• Work alongside the CTO to prepare pitch decks/messaging tailored to interests of each potential customer.
• Work closely alongside the Associate Director, CTO and Legal to structure multi-party licensing contracts.
• Act as the primary day-to-day commercial interface with partners, keeping opportunities moving and ensuring internal stakeholders are aligned on feasibility, terms and time to deal close.
• Apply a diligent approach to lead qualification while maintaining clear visibility of stage progression, conversion likelihood, and next actions across the pipeline.
• Carry responsibility of revenue targets for new licensing deals, working closely with the Associate Director to prepare quarterly forecasts and reporting against budgets.

Qualifications & Essential Skills

Experience & Track Record

• A proven, demonstrable track record of ownership and leadership in sales, commercial partnerships and/or business development within life sciences, crop biotechnology, or an adjacent technology-driven sector - 5+ years’ progressive experience.
• 5+ years of proven experience and success with hunting and closing high-value technology deals is expected, ideally within platform licensing, or commercial partnerships.
• Experience owning key-account or strategic client relationships and driving platform adoption, delivery, and retention.
• Some experience in market access, or market‑intelligence work, such as new market entry, competitor analysis, or opportunity mapping would be an advantage.

Knowledge & Technical Understanding

• Advanced degree in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., Molecular Biology, Genetics, Biotechnology, or Plant Sciences).
• 5+ years progressive experience in leading technology sales including strong pipeline discipline.
• A proven track record of driving revenue growth and consistently exceeding annual sales targets revenue expectations.
• Working understanding of crop biotechnology, precision-breeding techniques (like CRISPR gene-editing) and RNAi, sufficient to engage credibly in dialogue with both scientific and commercial stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the global crop and agribusiness market landscape with a strong ability to make meaningful connections and grow the business.

Soft Skills & Person Attributes

• Relationship-led and consultative, able to build trust while progressing opportunities rapidly to deal close.
• Clear, persistent pipeline management discipline, comfortable managing a sales pipeline, structuring deals, terms, and building proposals.
• Analytical and market-curious, able to gather market intelligence, interpret it, and translate it into strategies and plans.
• Confident communicator. At ease when engaging credibly with senior decision-makers, both on the scientific and business side.
• Self-driven and highly organised and comfortable operating as a strong individual contributor managing concurrent workstreams in a dynamic environment.
• Collaborative, matrixed operator, experienced working alongside R&D, Legal, PMO and Finance to drive commercial outcomes without direct authority.

Additional Information

• Reporting Line: Reports to the Associate Director of Technology Sales & Commercial Partnerships.
• Job Location: Primary base at Norwich, UK. Hybrid working pattern, ideally with at least 2 days in the office.
• Contract type: Full-time, Permanent.
• Closing date: 22nd July 2026.

Why Join Tropic?

• Diverse workforce operating in a dynamic working environment.
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities.
• Social events throughout the year.
• Competitive compensation and benefits including Private Medical Care, Medical Cash Plan.