Optima Partners
Head of Growth & Partnerships - Lifesciences
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About Us
Want to accelerate the future of AI-led life sciences innovation? So do we.
At BioXcelerate AI, we combine specialist health data science, advanced statistics, machine learning, bioinformatics and software engineering to help life sciences organisations solve complex research and development challenges and generate actionable insight at speed.
Through platforms and solutions such as DiscoveryX, BioXcelerate AI supports genetics-led drug discovery, target identification, biomarker refinement and translational research, enabling pharmaceutical, biotech, academic and healthcare clients to improve speed, confidence and return on investment in early-stage research and development.
The Role
This role is for a commercially credible growth and partnerships leader who understands how specialist data science, AI, bioinformatics and translational research capability can create value for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, academic, charity and wider life sciences organisations.
You will help BioXcelerate AI move opportunities from promising scientific capability to funded client engagement, strengthening strategic relationships, shaping commercially compelling propositions and supporting sustainable revenue growth across global life sciences markets.
As Head of Growth & Partnerships, you will work closely with the Director and the scientific, data science, engineering and product teams to convert technical and scientific expertise into client value. You will engage senior scientific, technology, commercial and executive stakeholders, including teams within major multinational biopharmaceutical companies, and help shape solutions aligned to client needs in drug discovery, genomics, translational research and early-phase R&D.
Your role will include:
- Co-lead the commercial strategy for BioXcelerate AI with a clear focus on sustainable revenue growth, profitability and pipeline development and market expansion.
- Support commercial performance management, including forecasting, pricing, margin management, financial planning and P&L discipline.
- Identify, qualify and convert new business opportunities across global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, biopharmaceutical, academic, charity and life sciences organisations.
- Lead business development activity from prospecting and qualification through to proposal development, pitching, negotiation and proposal submission.
- Own selected strategic client accounts and build account growth plans that identify expansion, renewal, cross-sell and up-sell opportunities.
- Build, strengthen and retain strategic client and partner relationships across pharma, biotech, academia, charities, investors and the wider life sciences ecosystem.
- Own or support key account management strategy, including account plans, stakeholder maps, renewal plans, growth opportunities and measurable customer success objectives.
- Partner with the Director and scientific, data science, engineering and product teams to convert scientific capability into commercially compelling opportunities.
- Lead senior-level client conversations, proposals, pitches and commercial negotiations.
- Develop a clear go-to-market approach for BioXcelerate AI’s platforms, products and bespoke solutions, including DiscoveryX and related health data science offerings.
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity and client demand across the pharmaceutical and life sciences ecosystem to inform commercial planning.
- Represent BioXcelerate AI externally at client meetings, industry events, conferences, investor meetings and strategic partnership discussions.
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About You
You are a commercially driven growth and partnerships leader with a strong understanding of life sciences innovation, data-led drug discovery and the needs of pharmaceutical, biotech, academic and charity clients. You can operate strategically while remaining close to the detail of client relationships, partnership development, proposal activity, commercial execution and delivery outcomes.
You bring the gravitas to engage senior stakeholders, the curiosity to understand complex science and technology, and the commercial discipline to scale BioXcelerate AI’s growth in a focused and profitable way, while contributing to the operational rhythm of a growing business.
Essential
- Proven experience in a senior commercial, business development, sales leadership, client growth, partnerships or strategic partnerships role within life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceutical services, health data, AI, SaaS, consulting or a related technical environment.
- Strong knowledge of the global pharmaceutical and life sciences sector, including how pharma, biotech, academic, charity and innovation organisations buy specialist data, technology, analytics or scientific services.
- Demonstrable track record of driving revenue growth, improving profitability and retaining or expanding key client accounts.
- Experience owning selected strategic accounts and relationship growth, including account planning, executive stakeholder engagement, renewal, expansion and cross-sell or up-sell activity.
- Proven ability to create and execute new business development plans, including target account identification, outbound engagement, opportunity qualification, proposal development, pitching and conversion of complex opportunities.
- Experience managing complex enterprise sales cycles involving senior scientific, technical, procurement and executive stakeholders.
- Understanding of the drug discovery process, early-phase R&D and the role of data-driven insight in target discovery, validation, biomarker development and translational research.
- Ability to support pricing, forecasting, financial planning, recruitment and business operations in a growth-stage environment.
- High levels of credibility with scientific, technical, executive, investor and partner stakeholders.
- Commercially analytical, with a strong understanding of revenue, margin, pricing, forecasting and P&L performance.
- Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with a collaborative leadership style and strong customer success orientation.
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Desirable
- Working knowledge of genomics, genetics-led drug discovery, bioinformatics, health data science or related scientific domains.
- Experience working with or selling into global pharmaceutical companies, biotech organisations, academic institutions, charities, research institutions or life sciences innovation teams.
- Experience developing go-to-market approaches for platforms, products and bespoke data science or scientific services solutions.
- Experience representing an organisation at conferences, industry events, investor meetings or strategic partnership discussions.
What We Offer
- Competitive base salary
- Performance-related bonus or incentive plan
- Flexible working arrangements
- Private medical insurance
- Pension scheme
- Opportunity to help shape the commercial growth of an AI-led life sciences business
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