Senior Business Development Executive (MedTech & Diagnostics)

Senior Business Development Executive (MedTech & Diagnostics) 

Salary: £76,000-£84,000 (dependant on experience) plus benefits

Reports to: Associate Director – Business Development 

Directorate: ​Research & Innovation​

Contract: ​Permanent​

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week. 

Location: ​Stratford, London​ ​Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office)​ 
Closing date: Thursday 19th November 23:55pm 

Recruitment process: Initial Screening call via MS teams followed by a competency-based interview with case study/presentation task for successful candidates. 

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Business Development Executive (MedTech & Diagnostics) to join Cancer Research Horizons (CRH), you will lead a group of Business Managers and proactively identify, develop and deliver collaboration opportunities across the MedTech and Diagnostics landscape. 

Working closely with the Associate Director, Business Development & Alliance Management, you will be responsible for developing and implementing commercial and intellectual property strategies across your portfolio. You will oversee activity spanning partnerships, licensing and collaborations, ensuring delivery against Cancer Research Horizons' commercial objectives and Cancer Research UK's wider strategic goals.

A key aspect of the role will be working with colleagues across Cancer Research Horizons to identify and evaluate new opportunities for the portfolio, build licensing and partnership opportunities, and support the management of existing collaborations through cross-functional, matrixed teams. You will also play an important role in shaping business strategy and operations, acting as an ambassador for CRH and Cancer Research UK within the academic, biotech and pharmaceutical sectors. 

Success in this role will require strong leadership, commercial judgement and strategic thinking, with a focus on maximising both commercial value and patient benefit. As the commercial lead for MedTech & Diagnostics opportunities, you will define development strategies, manage a diverse portfolio, maintain a robust opportunity pipeline and build effective relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

You will work closely with senior colleagues across CRH and Cancer Research UK to optimise processes, drive continuous improvement and help deliver key strategic objectives.

About Cancer Research Horizons 

As the world’s biggest medical research charity, we’ve helped bring eleven new cancer drugs to market. However, there is still an urgent need to bring more effective treatments to patients faster. 

We have recently developed a new approach to driving therapeutic innovation through the creation of Cancer Research Horizons (CRH). We have brought together Cancer Research UK’s established drug discovery teams under one organisation and leadership team, combining our unique pipeline of cancer biology expertise and access to CRUK’s world-class academic network, cutting edge technology platforms and clinical expertise to 1) Bring new treatments to patients faster and 2) Tackle the biggest challenges in discovering cancer drugs by seeking out more radical ideas and embracing risk in our bid to achieve success. You’ll be joining over 180 staff from both industrial and academic backgrounds, all dedicated to bringing forward the day we cure cancer and making real life impact.

What you’ll be doing? 

• Member of the BD&AM leadership team, working in collaboration with colleagues to develop and implement appropriate strategic initiatives in your area. 

• Lead teams under your functional areas of responsibility, including providing strategic direction, day to day line management, appraisals and performance reviews for Business Development Executives / Managers.

• Oversee delivery of strategic objectives through reports to meet team targets.

• Proactively work to identify projects and collaborations from academic and commercial partners within your functional areas. 

• Lead, advise and support your team as they work on project delivery.

• Working with both internal and external stakeholders develop (including through reports) bespoke business and development plans for partnership opportunities.

• Lead MedTech & Diagnostic new project activities, including building new initiatives and partnership models, and ensuring integration across CP and CRUK.

• Actively promote CP, its activities and technologies within your functional areas to external parties, including through visits, presentations, events and participation at meetings and conferences.

• Provide expert specialist knowledge and advice to CP and CRUK colleagues and support CP management to deliver wider strategic objectives.

• Work in collaboration with the AD BD & AM to develop and implement BD & AM team strategic initiatives and oversee the team’s overall operation and performance.

• Evaluate commercial opportunities and advise CRH colleagues and leading academic researchers on commercialisation strategy through analysis of technology application areas, market size, competition and market need.

• Drive portfolio assessment, prioritisation and strategy for MedTech & Diagnostics projects.

What are we looking for? 

• BSc (or equivalent) in a life science discipline, ideally oncology or technology-related.

• A minimum of five years business development and commercialisation experience drawn from working in relevant industry or non-profit roles. Equivalent experience in MedTech & Diagnostic development will also be considered.

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of MedTech, diagnostics and/or biomarker development and commercialisation (preferably within the oncology sector). 

• Track record of success in the development and/or commercialisation of life science technology.

• Some experience of negotiating and structuring complex commercial contracts with a broad range of agreement types. 

• Ability to grasp and report varied technical concepts, design, develop and critique sound business strategies based on scientific and commercial analysis. 

• An understanding of IP, patents and technology transfer from academia to industry. 

• Proven project management skills combined with operational delivery. 

• Capable leader of people and teams (depending on experience). 

• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to establish and maintain effective working internal and external relationships, act collaboratively, and communicate without authority with senior personnel. 

• Evidence of strategic thinking, problem solving skills approaching complex problems with a strategic mindset and long-term vision. 

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, prioritise workload, meet deadlines and deliver high-quality outputs (experience managing a portfolio of projects is a plus). 

• Ability to influence, resolve conflict and construct solutions to overcome challenges.

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do.

Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination  

Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism   

Human: Act to have a positive impact on people  

Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively

We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.

If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we’d still love to hear from you.

What will I gain?

We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.

You can explore our benefits by visiting our careers web page.

How do I apply?

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively.

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at [email protected].  

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.

We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. Please contact [email protected] or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.