Job Title: Director, Preclinical External Innovation

Location: London
Job Type: Permanent 

Agencies: We will only work with recruitment partners on our preferred supplier list and will not engage with speculative CVs submitted.

Are you passionate about making life science life changing and delivering impact for patients? We want to hear from you. 

About the role:

As Director, Preclinical External Innovation, you will act as a key scientific leader accountable for delivering the impact of LifeArc’s external innovation budget and resources. You will define and lead the Preclinical external innovation strategy, devising and implementing innovative funding and collaboration programmes that will deliver LifeAr’s preclinical strategy.

Working closely with Senior Directors and Directors in the Preclinical Pillar, and leading a team of Associate Directors and Principal Scientists, you will be account for the successful delivery of the programmes ensuring that each funding and collaboration programme, and individual funded project has clear milstones, objectives and risk mitigation plans.

You will ensure that close contact is maintained with LifeArc’s funding recipients and collaborators, such that project issues are identified early and proactively, and are mitigated successfully to keep projects on track to deliver their intended outcomes.

As Director, Preclinical External Innovation, you will also set clear objectives, KPIs, and metrics for the impact of the collective funded and collaborative preclinical portfolio. You will remain accountable for quarterly reporting to LifeArc’s Executive team and Board, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the design and delivery of innovative funding calls and collaborative programmes aligned to organisational and Preclinical strategy. 
• Define and drive the external innovation strategy, working closely with senior leaders to deliver strategic priorities. 
• Oversee programme execution end-to-end, ensuring clear milestones, governance, risk management and measurable impact. 
• Establish and monitor KPIs, using data and insight to track performance, manage risk and drive continuous improvement. 
• Build and manage high-value partnerships across internal teams and external stakeholders to maximise collaboration and impact. 
• Provide scientific and strategic leadership across programmes, ensuring robust assessment, informed decision-making and high-quality outcomes. 
• Lead, develop and mentor team members, fostering a collaborative, high-performing and growth-oriented culture.

Essential experience required: 

• Successful recent track record defining and delivering external innovation strategies that have helped deliver scientific and portfolio objectives in a Pharma or Biotech environment. 
• Leadership of the review and prioritisation of proposals for funding, defining and implementing funding programmes. 
• An excellent understanding of the drug discovery and development process, gained in a Pharma or Biotech environment. 
• Substantial experience delivering impactful external projects involving academic, charity and industry partners with clear go/no-go milestones.
• Ability to critically assess scientific proposals, seek relevant expert advice when required, utilising internal and external subject matter experts. 
• Experience leading and developing team members, including setting clear and measurable objectives and supporting individuals to perform at their best. 
• Substantial experience in funding and grant management, with the credibility and judgement to advise and support applicants/stakeholders confidently and independently. 
• Strong understanding of stakeholder needs, with a clear commitment to delivering the best outcomes for LifeArc. 

Education: 

Desirable:

• Strong financial and commercial acumen. 
• Knowledge of intellectual property and the ability to identify, manage and advise on IP implications for a range of stakeholders. 

Skills & abilities:

• Strategic thinker able to devise and deliver innovative External Innovation strategies in a Pharma or Biotech environment.
•  Ability to inspire direct reports and cross-functional teams, influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to establish strong relationships with a broad range of R&D stakeholders at different seniority levels.
• Deep scientific excellence, critical and analytical thinking, experienced problem solver.
• A proactive mindset, willing to step in and take accountability in the situations of ambiguity.
• Skilled at building relationships and fostering cross-functional teamwork in a matrix environment.
• Exceptional planning and progress monitoring skills, with a delivery mindset and excellent attention to detail.  

About us:

LifeArc is a not-for-profit life science organisation, leading the way for change in rare diseases in the UK and supporting promising initiatives in global health. We seek out research in areas of unmet need that has great potential, providing support to help it become breakthroughs that change lives.

What we can offer you:

Focused on finding life changing solutions for underserved patients, our people thrive in an inclusive, and supportive environment that prioritises their health and wellbeing. Our multidisciplinary approach guarantees our people growth opportunities, while our culture of innovation and collaboration drives the impact we make delivering on our purpose of ‘putting patients at the centre of everything we do’. 

LifeArc is committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible and developing a culture that values differences. As a Disability Confident Employer, we guarantee an interview to candidates with a disability or long-term health condition who meet the essential criteria for the role.

Please note that in certain situations, such as high volumes of applications, it may not be practical to interview all eligible candidates. In these cases, we may need to select those who best meet the essential criteria. (At LifeArc, the Disability Confident Scheme’s ‘minimum criteria’ is referred to as ‘essential criteria’)

Salary will be determined by qualifications and experience along with other exceptional benefits. Because we understand everyone has different requirements, our flexible benefits allow you to choose those which are important to you. Our pension scheme offers employer contributions of up to 12%, private health insurance, and annual leave of 31 days PLUS bank holidays. 

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds, for example, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At LifeArc we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so whatever your background or lived experience, if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. Our top priority is finding the best candidate, and you may be just right for this or other roles. 

We all have potential. At LifeArc, you’ll discover what you can really do with it.