Technology Sales Associate (12-month Fixed-Term Contract) in Norwich

Tropic has developed differentiated technology platforms (like GEiGS®) with applications across agritech including improvements in crops, livestock, aquaculture and beyond. As precision breeding approaches like gene editing gain traction globally, there is a growing opportunity to engage new partners seeking to deploy these technologies and tools in their pipelines to develop sustainable products. To accelerate further adoption of Tropic’s platforms we are creating a role to support the early stages of the sales process. The role is focused on identifying and engaging potential partner organisations interested in licensing from Tropic to enable their traits of interest.

Role Purpose

This role sits at the interface of science and commercial. The successful candidate will play a critical role in expanding Tropic’s platform sales, with a focus on scoping, identifying and engaging potential customers.

Key activities will involve:

• Identifying credible, strategically aligned organisations to licence our technology
• Engaging stakeholders within these organisations and build familiarity with our platform
• Advocating the platform’s features and capabilities, matching them to the partner’s needs

You will combine:

• Scientific understanding of GEiGS®, gene-editing technologies (like CRISPR) and RNAi
• Agritech market awareness, including industry trends, key players and priorities
• Disciplined approach towards diligently researching and vetting potential customers
• Engaging potential customers in initial discussions to understand their pain points, and where GEiGS® could be a potential solution

The primary focus of this role will be on the above, but there could be opportunities to contribute to commercial proposals depending on performance and interest.

Key Responsibilities

• Market Research & Partner Identification (i.e., ‘Prospecting’)

• Identify and prioritise potential partner organisations aligned with Tropic’s platform applications
• Conduct research on the company’s capabilities and business priorities
• Formulate hypotheses on where Tropic’s technology could create value
• Initiate and manage early-stage conversations with relevant contacts/stakeholders
• Maintain accurate records of outreach, engagement activities and their outcomes

• Scientific & Commercial Communication

• Clearly explain Tropic’s technologies and their potential applications
• Tailor and align your pitch decks/messaging with technical and commercial interests of each potential customer
• Ongoing support with development of concise, compelling outreach as well as pitch and marketing material, working closely with scientific, technical, and commercial teams

• Internal Collaboration

• Feed your market insights back into internal partnerships strategy discussions
• Lead early development of sales opportunities before handover to senior commercial heads

Experience & Skills

This role is best suited to a candidate who combines scientific understanding with curiosity about commercial strategy.

• Advanced degree in a life sciences discipline (e.g., Molecular biology, Plant sciences, Genetics etc.)
• Strong understanding of gene editing tools and techniques, their deployment and applications (e.g., CRISPR, RNAi etc.)
• Strong understanding of Tropic’s technology platforms (like GEiGS®)
• Ability to engage senior stakeholders (e.g., R&D leadership, Directors)
• Familiarity with Tropic’s market position and trends/players in the agribusiness and genetic/precision breeding sector

Essential Person Attributes (Soft skills)

• Scientifically articulate – comfortable explaining technical concepts in a clear, engaging way
• Confident communicator – at ease engaging in conversations with external stakeholders
• Self-organised and persistent – able to manage multiple threads of work; be persistent with outreach
• Self-reliant and comfortable operating in agile, dynamic environments
• Proactive and self-driven – takes initiative in research, outreach, and problem-solving

Non-essential but Advantageous Attributes

• Curious and commercially aware – interested in how scientific innovation translates into real-world value
• Prior exposure or experience in a sales or customer-facing (external stakeholder) environment
• Understanding of the agritech/agribusiness landscape, including key players and market dynamics
• Experience conducting market research

What This Opportunity Will Offer You

• Hands-on exposure to technical sales and business development in agritech
• Opportunity to work at the interface of science and commercial strategy
• Further development of communication, market analysis, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Mentorship from commercial and technical leadership
• A stepping stone to assess interest in longer-term commercial roles