Industry Partnerships Lead – Lisco-Biomed

We are looking for an experienced commercial professional from the life-science sector who combines strong business-development capabilities with the scientific understanding to engage credibly with R&D organisations.
At least seven years of relevant experience in business development, strategic or key account management, or a comparable commercial role within pharma, biotech, diagnostics, CROs, scientific services or life-science technology.
A demonstrated track record of originating and developing opportunities and progressing them through commercial negotiation to signed agreements.
Experience working towards commercial targets and accountability for revenue, margin, pipeline development and account growth.
Strong commercial judgement in opportunity qualification, pricing, negotiation and account development.
A life-science background (MSc or PhD preferred) and sufficient scientific literacy to engage credibly with discovery, preclinical, translational and clinical R&D teams and to translate complex scientific capabilities into compelling propositions.
Familiarity with how pharma and biotech buy external R&D services: master service agreements, preferred-vendor onboarding and procurement cycles.
The ability to build and coordinate multidisciplinary teams and progress opportunities across organisational boundaries without relying on formal authority.
A proactive, results-oriented and collaborative working style, with excellent written and spoken English. Knowledge of Dutch is a strong asset for working across KU Leuven, UZ Leuven and LRD.
Experience in scientific services, CRO services or technology-platform business development; knowledge of single-cell and spatial (multi)omic technologies; experience with universities or academic medical centres; and an established network within the European pharmaceutical and biotechnology sector are considered strong assets.
Business development and market engagementDevelop relationships and commercial opportunities across pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics, and other relevant life-science organisations, with a primary focus on pharma and biotech.
Build and manage a qualified pipeline aligned with LISCO-BIOMED’s scientific strengths and strategic priorities, and develop relationships with key scientific, business and decision-making stakeholders.
Identify market needs and emerging opportunities, represent LISCO-BIOMED at relevant partnering events and industry forums, and bring market and customer insights into portfolio and commercial strategy.
Commercial leadership and deal executionQualify and prioritise opportunities based on scientific fit, strategic value and commercial potential, and translate partner needs into compelling propositions together with the relevant scientific and technical experts.
Coordinate proposals and quotations based on the agreed scientific scope, project effort, cost structure and commercial framework.
Define pricing and commercial positioning within agreed margin and pricing parameters and lead commercial negotiations within the defined mandate.
Coordinate contracting with KU Leuven Research & Development (LRD) and the relevant compliance and project functions through to signature and implementation.
Building winning teams and partnershipsBuild opportunity-driven multidisciplinary teams, bringing together the most relevant principal investigators, scientists, technology platforms and specialist expertise across LISCO-BIOMED, combining technological capabilities with disease biology, pathology, clinical and computational expertise to develop differentiated solutions for industry partners.
Connect LISCO-BIOMED with complementary capabilities across UZ Leuven, other KU Leuven translational platforms and the broader KU Leuven research and innovation ecosystem where this strengthens the proposition.
Coordinate the internal team during the commercial phase, bringing the right expertise into the discussion at the right stage while maintaining a clear and coherent interface towards the partner.
Work with IOF Innovation Managers, LRD and relevant scientific teams when an opportunity extends beyond standard service delivery into collaborative research, consultancy, licensing, co-development or a broader strategic partnership.
Strategic account developmentRetain commercial ownership of partner relationships throughout project delivery while day-to-day execution is managed by the relevant project team.
Develop account plans, understand programmes and decision structures within key accounts, and identify opportunities to expand collaborations across programmes, therapeutic areas, research teams and business units.
Manage the commercial aspects of scope changes, additional work and follow-on opportunities, and convert successful initial engagements into repeat business and longer-term strategic relationships, including master service agreements and preferred-partner arrangements where relevant.
Commercial performance and professionalisationTake accountability f