Business Development Manager, Drug Discovery Unit

Job Reference: SLSC1067

Salary:  £53,348 – £60,022

Closing Date: Friday, May 20, 2022

The Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) is looking to appoint a Business Development Manager to support and develop its work. The DDU, established 16 years ago, is a university-based, fully integrated, Biotech-style drug discovery operation of 130 dedicated scientists and a turnover of £12M pa. It has the capabilities to go from hit discovery through to preclinical candidate selection.

The DDU’s remit is to perform early-stage small molecule drug discovery on targets and/or diseases that are under-invested by conventional Pharma/Biotech. We drive translation of innovative research and work with partners across academia and industry to deliver new medicines for diseases of unmet medical need globally.

Our outputs to-date include new drug candidates and validated novel drug targets for major infectious diseases, e.g. leishmaniasis, malaria and tuberculosis, as well as in cancer and neurodegeneration. The DDU has also contributed to the establishment of 7 new companies.

This post represents an exciting opportunity to develop new business opportunities and interactions with pharmaceutical companies, biotech, funding agencies and universities and to help drive drug discovery projects towards the clinic.

Principal Responsibilities

• To lead the development and implementation of the Business Development strategy for the DDU across all its portfolios
• To develop and manage relationships within key organisations, supporting existing partnerships and assessing new opportunities
• To represent the DDU nationally and internationally at conferences and events in support of strategic goals
• To work with the Commercialisation Team in the University of Dundee Research and Innovations Services to help commercialise relevant opportunities through licencing deals, spin-out companies, etc
• To liaise with the University of Dundee Research Contracts team to ensure relevant confidentiality, materials transfer and research collaboration agreements are put in place and with the IP & Commercialisation team for patent applications.
• To develop and implement strategies to raise the profile of the DDU, within the University, the UK and internationally

Person specification

Applicants will have a degree in a relevant science subject and preferably an advanced degree in science or business together with a track record of developing business opportunities. The role would suit a candidate with an outgoing personality and enthusiasm for networking.
For more information about this position please contact Prof Ian Gilbert (i.h.gilbert@dundee.ac.uk)

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