Business Development Manager (E3 – Expanding Excellence in England)
Full time position, 4 year fixed-term contract until 31st December 2028
Liverpool, hybrid working (minimum 2 days per week on site)
Salary: £46,485
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) is a globally recognised centre of excellence for research and teaching in tropical diseases. For over 125 years, we are proud to have contributed to improving global health by researching diseases that primarily affect developing countries. Our work has been recognised by some highly prestigious awards, including Business of the Year 2023 by Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, ranked 2nd in REF2021 and recently being ranked in the top 5.3% of universities in the world.
The Enterprise and Innovation (E&I) unit at LSTM has seen exponential growth in activity, with its primary aim being to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and deployed applications for public health. Set within the dynamic context of higher education, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and industry collaboration is key to driving institutional growth. The E&I unit plays a pivotal role in supporting research commercialisation and fostering strategic partnerships, with a focus on providing academic support and enhancing LSTM’s innovation ecosystem.
The Business Development Manager will play a pivotal role, contributing to the Research England funded ‘Expanding Excellence in England (E3)’ programme. The role will focus on building the Centre for Drugs and Diagnostics (CDD) activities by supporting emerging and developing themes such as experimental medicine and AI/machine learning technologies. Through fostering positive stakeholder engagement and creating platforms for innovation and knowledge exchange, the successful candidate will focus on market analysis, building strategic partnerships and commercial engagement to drive the CDD’s growth and impact, contributing to the E3 ecosystem.
Key Responsibilities Include
- Extensive scoping of potential external partners to develop new business prospects, triaging leads to nurture viable opportunities for business development
- Responsibility for maintaining and expanding the LSTM network of external stakeholders through proactive business development and networking, articulating the research portfolio offering in collaboration with LSTM senior academics
- Shape, influence and develop the innovation offering of LSTM
- Lead in assessing the appropriate route to commercialisation for LSTM projects, identifying and negotiating terms and conditions with potential third parties in collaboration with the business development team
- Accountable for tracking and maintaining records of business engagement through LSTM’s CRM system
- Attend relevant external meetings and lead LSTM events to provide representation and advocacy of LSTM’s research portfolio, acting at a point of contact for new enquiries
- Stay abreast of competitor activity and market trends, to provide insight and intelligence to support strategic decisions, providing training to academics as appropriate
- Support publication and communication plans for LSTM project activity
- Liaise with LSTM academics to effectively filter, qualify and proactively suggest new partner opportunities, ensuring due diligence and risk assessment and mitigation
The Successful Candidate Will Bring
- Educated to degree level in life sciences, a medical field or business
- A good understanding of the Biotechnology industry product development pathway and decision-making
- Previous experience of business development, with a demonstrable track record of meeting targets, negotiating and completing deals
- Experience of managing multiple projects simultaneously with the ability to prioritise as appropriate
- Previous experience of developing, implementing and monitoring projects for external partners
- Experience of tech transfer, biotech or a similar environment
- Strong interpersonal skills for communicating with high level executives in academic and industrial organisations, including presenting at business meetings and conferences
A PhD in a relevant field would also be advantageous, along with previous experience of working within academia but this is not essential.
To see a full list of responsibilities and requirements, see the job description attached.
Additional Benefits Of Joining LSTM
- 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and 6 additional Christmas closure days
- Generous occupational pension schemes
- Agile working
- Affiliated, discounted staff membership to the University of Liverpool Sports Centre
- Employee assistance programme to support with employee well-being
- High street discounts and cashback offers
- Government-backed cycle to work scheme
- Plus, a host of additional family friendly policies
Application Process
To apply for the position please click on the apply link and upload your CV and covering letter.
Due to the volume of applications, we receive, we may close our vacancies early. It is therefore advisable to apply as early as possible if you would like to be considered for a role.
Inclusion is central to our values at LSTM.
We seek to attract and recruit people who reflect the diversity across our communities, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, nationality, faith or belief, social background, age and disability. LSTM selects candidates based on skills, qualifications, and experience.
We welcome conversations about flexible working; and applications from those returning to employment after a break from their careers.
About LSTM
Founded in 1898 and the oldest of its kind in the world, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for teaching and research in tropical diseases. Through the creation of effective links with governments, NGOs, private organisations, and global institutions and by responding to the health needs of communities, LSTM aims to promote improved health, particularly for people of the less developed/resource poorest countries in the tropics and sub-tropics.
Look at some of the great work we have achieved over the past year by viewing our annual report: https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/about/annual-reports-and-financial-statements
LSTM actively promotes Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding Policies 
