Senior Business Development Manager - Engineering Biology

LGC; Guildford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

LGC National Laboratories seeks a strategic business development professional to drive EngBio funding opportunities, build multi-partner consortia, and manage complex, high-impact proposals with UKRI, DSIT, NIHR, and EU partners. You will engage academia, industry and government, translating science into fundable narratives.

You will coordinate timelines, ensure compliance, and contribute to the visibility of NML in the EngBio field while advancing strategic partnerships and funded portfolios.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in business development, partnerships, or program management in science/innovation.
• Knowledge of UK grant funding ecosystem (essential) and EU funding (desirable).
• Ability to translate technical concepts into fundable proposals and manage complex timelines.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Commercial Director and team to promote growth in EngBio.
• Lead engagement with academia, industry, government and regulators.
• Build and manage partnerships, consortia, and opportunities for funding calls.
• Draft and coordinate top-tier proposals (UKRI, DSIT, NIHR, EU or similar).
• Plan EngBio events, enhance external visibility, and track performance indicators.
• Manage post-award contracting terms and compliance reporting.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Grant strategy

Proposal writing

Networking

EngBio knowledge

Project management

Education

Scientific Degree or equivalent experience

Job description

LGC’s National Laboratories deliver a range of expert science functions and services in partnership with the UK Government, business, healthcare, and academia. We manage and operate several national laboratories on behalf of government agencies, such as the UK National Measurement Laboratory (NML), MHRA Laboratories Team and National Reference Laboratories, as well as hosting the unique function of the ‘Government Chemist’.

As home to many world-leading scientists, LGC’s National Laboratories provide a wide range of expert analytical science services and subject matter expertise to a broad spectrum of customers, stakeholders, and global forums. In addition, we undertake contract research and development projects for a range of customers in both the public and private sectors. Our work addresses fundamental and emerging measurement challenges, helping to foster innovation and promoting productivity and economic growth.

Job Description

Job Purpose

Job Role

Work alongside the Commercial Director and the Commercial and Contract Management team to promote growth and value, initially focusing on the Engineering Biology (EngBio) sector. Lead engagement with interested parties, build credible consortia, manage and attend relevant events, and develop and submit high-quality, strategically aligned, and competitive funding proposals. This role is vital to the effective rollout of our business development strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

Collaborator Engagement & Relationship Management

• Map and actively manage relationships across academia, industry, government, and regulators
• Act as a central coordination point for EngBio partners and collaborators (EngBio network)
• Support the development of new strategic partnerships aligned with national priorities
• Support engagement with funders (e.g., UKRI, DSIT, Innovate UK, EU).

Consortia Building & Partnership Development

• Find opportunities and bring together multidisciplinary consortia for funding calls that align with NML’s strategic goals and main research priorities, especially within the Engineering Biology field
• Facilitate alignment of technical and commercial components through coordination of inputs from internal teams and external partners
• Maintain a pipeline of partnership-led opportunities.

Proposal Development & Funding

• Take charge of drafting and coordinating top-tier proposals (UKRI, DSIT, OGDs, NIHR, EU or similar)
• Translate technical concepts into compelling, fundable narratives
• Manage timelines, inputs, and compliance requirements
• Support costing, partner contributions, and submission processes
• Track funding opportunities and agreed performance indicators.

Events, Visibility & Engagement

• Plan, join, and coordinate EngBio events, workshops, and collaborator meetings (EngBio network), in line with financial constraints
• Support preparation of panel discussions, conferences, strategic discussions, and government feedback
• Ensure strong differentiation and external visibility of NML in the EngBio field
• Capture, communicate, and proactively follow up opportunities arising from events.

Portfolio & Opportunity Management

• Maintain a structured pipeline of high-quality opportunities, assessed against strategic fit, partner strength, technical credibility, funding potential, and likely impact
• Provide regular reporting on activity, conversion, and impact
• Support strategic prioritization and decision-making.

Post Award

• Support Head of Contracts in negotiation of contractual terms (e.g., Grant Agreements, Consortium Agreements)
• Lead post-award compliance and reporting activities to ensure adherence to award Terms and Conditions – including cost eligibility, reporting, and audit.
• Success Measures
• Quality of consortia formed and number of strategically-aligned proposals developed
• Proposal success rate and funding secured
• Growth in strategic partnerships and collaborator network
• Long-term value of partnerships established
• Contribution to NML’s visibility, influence, and funded portfolio, especially in EngBio.
• Working Style
• Highly cooperative, collaborating across NML teams and external partners
• Proactive, problem-solver, and driven by new possibilities
• Judgement-led and selective, with the ability to distinguish high-value strategic opportunities from low-fit or transactional leads
• Structured, delivery-focused, and comfortable operating within a fast paced environment.

Qualifications

• Scientific Degree or equivalent experience
• Proven experience in business development, partnerships, or program management in science/innovation
• Knowledge of UK (essential) and EU (desirable) grant funding ecosystem
• Solid background in preparing joint funding proposals (UKRI, DSIT, OGDs, NIHR, EU or similar)
• Excellent collaborator management
• Ability to build opportunities from early concept through to competitive, fundable proposals, ensuring strong alignment between scientific value, partner capability, funder priorities, and NML strategy
• Highly organized, able to manage multiple parallel opportunities and deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

• Background in Engineering Biology, life sciences, metrology, or related fields
• Understanding of measurement science, standards, and regulation
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary, multi-partner environments.

Additional Information

ABOUT LGC

LGC is a leading, global life science tools company, providing mission-critical components and solutions into high-growth application areas across the human healthcare and applied market segments. Its high-quality product portfolio is comprised of mission-critical tools for genomic analysis and for quality assurance applications, which are typically embedded and recurring within our customers’ products and workflows and are valued for their performance, quality, and range.

OUR VALUES

• PASSION
• CURIOSITY
• INTEGRITY
• BRILLIANCE
• RESPECT

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, color, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. Short listing, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, color, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, or trade union membership.

For more information about LGC, please visit our website www.lgcgroup.com

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