Life Sciences Sector Development Lead

Overview

The Growth Company's (GC) Business Growth Hub team have an exciting new opportunity for a Life Sciences Sector Development Lead.

The role will lead on the establishment and development of long-term strategic and operational relationships with key stakeholders, including Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the ten Greater Manchester Local Authorities, business partners, national / local programmes and sponsors, Higher Education institutions, and Greater Manchester-based Life Science businesses.

Building mutually beneficial collaborative relationships supporting the Greater Manchester (GM) Life Sciences ecosystem, contributing to and supporting the delivery of Greater Manchester sector development plans, policies and strategies, and the identification of future opportunities for Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub (GM BGH), which complements the Growth Company (GC) business plan and portfolio of services.

GC Business Growth Hub is a community of specialists with a passion to help businesses across Greater Manchester to realise their ambitions. Since 2011, the Hub has supported more than 15,000 businesses including start-ups, scale-ups and established businesses, providing finance guidance, creating international links, and paving the way for innovation and people development across the region. We work with the best of public and private partners, offering expert one-to-one and peer-to-peer business support, events, specialist programmes, funding and much more.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of an active Life Sciences sector network of key stakeholders, partners, and support delivery organisations to obtain long-term collaboration and referrals.
• Lead the development, implementation, and delivery of all activities related to Life Sciences businesses, utilising GMBGH colleagues and partners to deliver high impact and support.
• Ensure GMBGH is well known and recognised within the Life Sciences community across Greater Manchester.
• Collaborate with MIDAS, Marketing Manchester, and other support providers to embed GMBGH support as a complementary activity, adding value and synergy.
• Provide effective, timely, and expert support by developing long-term partner strategies, enabling current and future collaborations aligned with Growth Company and GMBGH business plans.
• Stimulate all networks to unearth innovative and growth-focused start-ups and companies.
• Identify and evaluate influential contacts in new or existing partners to motivate potential sponsors, secure collaboration, and generate referrals.
• Review, research, and map data to identify key market and sector-relevant intelligence to support the GM Life Sciences ecosystem.

About You

• Embedded within the GM Life Sciences Services ecosystem, possessing active knowledge of key players and organisations.
• Acting as a credible ambassador on a regional platform to promote business support services and objectives to diverse audiences.
• Practical delivery of relationship building and management.
• Effective stakeholder communication.
• Strong understanding of the Life Sciences sector in Greater Manchester.
• In-depth knowledge of the business support environment for Life Sciences Services in Greater Manchester.

Skills Required

• Capable of establishing, developing, and maintaining relationships with relevant private and public sector organisations, including Life Sciences Services institutions, commercial entities, government bodies, and HEIs.
• Effective in working with senior contacts in both private and public sectors.
• Skilled in influencing others and securing buy-in.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong business development abilities.
• Proficient in developing productive working relationships internally and externally.
• Committed to continuous development and staying updated with the latest advancements in the business support field.
• Adept at planning and managing own workload, achieving agreed targets and objectives.