Business Development Manager (Data & AI)

Cancer Research UK (CRUK); Stratford-upon-Avon; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

Cancer Research UK in Stratford is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to join Cancer Research Horizons in the Data & AI team. You will identify opportunities, engage with industry, and help commercialise CRUK data and technologies to maximise impact.

You’ll work closely with CRUK’s Research and Innovation teams to support the Data Science strategy and act as a primary liaison for techbio partners, negotiating licenses and collaborations to unlock value from CRUK datasets.

Qualifications

• Significant business development and commercialisation experience.
• Experience negotiating licences, collaborations and other commercial agreements.
• Strong understanding of translating scientific innovation into commercial products.
• Ability to analyze market size, competition and market need.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate opportunities with commercial potential.
• Lead and support marketing and commercialisation activities for projects.
• Promote CRH activities and technologies to external parties via visits, events and meetings.
• Negotiate licences, collaborations and other commercial agreements.
• Stay informed about industry trends to guide strategy.
• Support CP management to deliver wider objectives.

Skills

Business development

Commercialisation

Deal negotiation

Market analysis

Technology transfer

Strategic thinking

Education

BSc in Life Science

Job description

Salary: £50,000-£59,000 plus benefits

Reports to: Business Development Executive

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: Sunday 1st November 2026

Recruitment process: Two stage interview process: 30-minute initial interview followed by a further 1-hour competency-based interview with a presentation task.

Interview date: Screening calls to take place approximately w/c 9th November

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.

Cancer Research Horizons (CRH) have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Business Development Manager to join our team in Stratford. The Business Development team act as CRH’s primary interface with industry and is responsible for marketing of CRH’s technologies and capabilities. The BD team is itself split into specialised groups focused on particular technology types with this role sitting in the Data & AI team. This team is responsible for the identification, protection and commercialisation of data and software arising from CRUK funded research as well as facilitating interactions between the CRUK network and techbio companies.

This role will work closely with other members of Cancer Research Horizons to drive the development of a portfolio of commercially available multi-omic datasets and lead on engaging with industry partners to maximise the insights and impact from CRUK generated data. The postholder will also collaborate with colleagues in CRUK’s Research and Innovation teams to support the finalisation, delivery and implementation of CRUK’s new Data Science strategy, that could revolutionise the way that CRUK enables data reuse. You’ll act as a key point of contact for techbio companies, exploring and facilitating collaborations that leverage the capabilities of these companies with the resources and expertise present in the CRUK network.

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 200 staff from both industrial and academic backgrounds, all dedicated to bringing forward the day we cure cancer and making real life impact.

As a Business Development Manager you will:

• Evaluate opportunities with commercial potential through analysis of technology application areas, market size, competition and market need.
• Lead and support marketing and commercialisation activities as appropriate for projects in the portfolio.
• Proactively and competently promote CRT and its activities and technologies to external parties through a variety of channels including visits, presentations, marketing events and participation at meetings and conferences.
• Negotiate licences, collaborations and other commercial agreements.
• Keep appraised of industry and institutional trends and developments to aid judgement and to keep others informed.
• Support CP management to deliver wider strategic objectives.

What we're looking for:

• BSc (or equivalent work & industry experience) in a Life Science discipline, ideally oncology or technology related.
• Significant and material business development and commercialisation experience drawn from working in relevant industry, academic or non-profit roles.
• Strong interest in, and good understanding of the steps required to translate scientific innovation into commercial products.
• Experience of deal negotiation together with broad ranging business development and technology transfer skills.
• Broad knowledge and awareness of drug/technology discovery and development (preferably within the oncology sector).
• Ability to grasp and report varied technical concepts quickly, and design, develop and critique sound business strategies based on scientific, commercial and financial analysis.

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.

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.

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.