Senior Business Development Manager - Engineering Biology

The postholder will find and develop collaborative opportunities, assemble and manage high-value consortia, represent NML at relevant industry and innovation events, and lead the creation of competitive funding proposals aligned with organisational priorities. Working where science, innovation, and commercial strategy intersect, the role will help convert NML's scientific strengths into balanced business growth, strategic partnerships, and externally funded programmes that support LGC's mission to protect and improve public health, safety, and security.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to capably perform each of the following essential duties:
Drive NML revenue growth by recognizing, nurturing, and transforming funding, partnership, and commercial opportunities.
Build and manage a robust pipeline of opportunities, delivering measurable growth in externally funded activity.
Develop strategic collaborations that improve NML's scientific impact, market position, and long-term sustainability.
Lead the identification and shaping of funding applications, partnerships, and multi-year strategic programmes with a high degree of autonomy and judgement.
Convert organisational priorities into practical funding, partnership, and business development opportunities.
Manage multiple projects, proposals, and partner engagements simultaneously, balancing planning with hands-on delivery.
Engage and influence a broad network of collaborators including government, funders, academia, industry, regulators, and international partners.
Prepare and deliver high-quality proposals, arguments, reports, presentations, partner materials, and management updates for technical, commercial, and policy audiences.
Provide/support leadership across virtual project teams, consortium partners, and external collaborators, while supporting mentoring and knowledge sharing activities.
Support business development, bid management, governance, contract management, and compliance processes, ensuring effective pipeline reporting and process oversight.
Apply expertise in engineering biology, research funding, collaborative R&D, consortium development, science commercialisation, and partnership management.
Drive continuous improvement by enhancing business development practices, collaborator engagement, funding success rates, reporting metrics, and partnership models to achieve revenue and impact targets.
Degree or PhD in Life Science or equivalent experience
Knowledge of Engineering Biology, life sciences, measurements/testing, or related fields
Proven experience in business development, partnerships, or programme management in science/innovation
Understanding of the UK grant funding landscape.
Strong experience in developing collaborative funding proposals (UKRI, DSIT, NIHR 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 organised, able to manage multiple parallel opportunities and deadlines
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Full UK driving license
Desirable
Understanding of standards and regulation.
Experience working in multi-disciplinary, multi-partner environments.
Understanding of the EU grant funding landscape.
Behavioural & Interpersonal proficiencies
Highly collaborative, working across NML teams and external partners.
Proactive, problem-solver and motivated by challenges.
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.

Employment type
Full-time

Work arrangement
Hybrid