Vice President, Business Development, Life Sciences

Vice President, Business Development, Life Sciences

View Vacancy - Vice President, Business Development, Life Sciences

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow. The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.

Job Category

Other British Government Departments (Partners across Government, including UK Visas)

Job Subcategory

SDI (Scottish Development International)

Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities)

Main purpose of job:

Scotland is looking for a Business Development Executive to lead Scotland's commercial outreach in the United States in the Life Science sector.

Based at one of the British Consulates in the US (Boston, LA or San Jose) and working closely with other embassy departments, the main objective of the role is to develop and maintain strategic relationships that grow Scottish trade, identify export opportunities and provide market insights in the US - Life Sciences sector.

We are looking for an experienced networker with established relationships in the US Life Science sector, understanding of the structure and working on the US Life Science industry, analytical skills acquired in an international market context with a consultative sales approach to achieving results, who is a fast learning, self-starter who can demonstrate initiative, resilience, and project management skill.

Roles and responsibilities:

1. Advance and maintain strategic relationships with organizations, private / public, that increase Scottish trade by identifying export opportunities and market insights.
2. Provide expert support and advice to Scottish companies wishing to enter and/or scale in the US life science market.
3. Lead on the development of effective partnerships with stakeholders such as Chambers, procurement organizations, incubators and industry bodies.
4. Actively stay-informed on the life science landscape in Scotland and North America through industry research, conferences, and engagement with innovators and executives.
5. Help Scottish companies understand the US market, help them develop go-to-market strategy, partnership, and funding strategies.
6. Develop and maintain a wide network with decision makers in the US life science companies, identify business opportunities for Scottish companies, actively connect them to potential US customers and partners.
7. Excel in business development tools such as LinkedIn Sales navigator and customer relation management tools to optimize outreach and engagement.
8. Excel in network-building through emails, calls, face to face meetings, networking events and conferences.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience of working in the US life science industry, especially as it pertains to pre-clinical and clinical drug development. Understanding of the biologics/ pharmaceutical R&D life cycle is highly desirable.
• Ability to identify the right companies and decision makers to engage with.
• A genuine interest in healthcare and life science technologies, and international business.
• Bachelor's degree in a life science subject (e.g., chemistry, biology, microbiology, bioengineering) or qualifications in business, management, with hands on experience in pharma/ biotech R&D.
• Well-organized, ability to function as a resourceful, individual contributor as well as a team player.
• Excellent spoken and written English to convey complex ideas to potential customers and to understand the needs of their businesses.

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Demonstrate an established network with C-level, VP/Director level and other decision makers at US life science companies.
• 6+ years of sales/business development experience to relevant sectors such as biotech, pharma, medtech, and health tech industry.
• Experience in B2B business development or business consulting, with a history of closing deals.
• Consultative selling experience.
• Experience working with Venture Capital firms.
• Advanced degree in a life science subject.

Required behaviours

Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together

Application deadline

24 April 2025

Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

40

Region

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory

United States

Location (City)

Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco

Type of Post

British Consulate General

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

USD

Salary

Boston and LA $85,358. San Jose $91,704

Type of Salary

yearly

Start Date

9 June 2025

Other benefits and conditions of employment

US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US has restrictions on the type of visas our non-diplomatic staff may hold. If you are not a US Citizen or a US Permanent Resident, or the dependent of a diplomat (with an EAD card), you may not be eligible for employment with the UK government. We cannot accept student Visas (J1, F or M) nor other forms of work Visas (I, H, P). If you hold a work visa it is best to check on your eligibility to work for a foreign government before applying for a position.

All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of team work and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.

Additional information

Working pattern:

Requires working 40 hours a week including 1 hour each day for lunch.

Candidates must be able to accommodate a varied working pattern due to calls with customers, partners and colleagues across the US and with companies and colleagues in Scotland.

Applicants will be asked as part of the application process which of the three locations they would prefer to be based at (Boston, LA or San Jose).

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Pacific time) on 24th April 2025

All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a 'reserve list'. If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.

Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.