Job Description

Based at Alderley Park, Medicines Discovery Catapult is a national Life Sciences service dedicated to turning drug discovery into commercial breakthroughs. We accelerate the development of science, and where there are areas of unmet patient need, we stimulate innovation.


By transforming drug discovery, we can improve patient lives, increase the impact of the UK Life Sciences sector, and create a healthier society and economy. Our interventions work. Since we started, we have helped over 300 companies raise over 1bn of R&D investment. We seek passionate individuals who are eager to collaborate, innovate, and make a tangible difference in the field of drug discovery.


Together, we can unlock new therapies, enhance patient outcomes, and ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of life sciences innovation. If you are ready to make an impact, we invite you to be part of our journey.


The values of the Catapult are:


Excellence - we continually strive to deliver the best solutions for our partners and for each other. In everything we do, we instil confidence. Integrity - Our strong commitment to what we do and why we are here drives us to do the right thing for our partners and each other. Community - We're a strong team, we work well together, and we respect each other. Innovation - We're driven by the need to make a difference. We constantly look for ways to drive change in our sector and how we work.

Role purpose

As a member of the Commercial team, your responsibilities will involve supporting the Strategy Leader in identifying suitable partners, securing grant funding, and exploring commercial income opportunities, via licensing or other IP related transactions. You'll also play a crucial role in fostering business relationships with industry and academic collaborators to establish collaborative projects, sometimesinvolving multiple parties. Your expertise in partnership development, bid coordination, and collaborative writing will be instrumental in facilitating impactful and innovative research and development initiatives. Being adaptable, creative, and an effective communicator are essential qualities for this role.

Main duties and responsibilities

Lead the development of collaborative R&D proposals, from concept initiation through to proposal submission. Support and drive business engagement activities for collaborative R&D and licensing opportunities across industry and academic partners working with MDC scientists to ensure alignment with our science strategy. Generate and analyse market and patent data to support collaborative R&D proposal submissions and licensing transactions.Support the due diligence of internal IP opportunities - including patentability and FTO analysis. Assist In the management of Internal IP assets. Lead the negotiation of successful proposals through the contracting stage with the partner/funder. Coordinate/write a number of proposals often as lead proposal manager. Support internal and external operational aspects of proposal submission during the pre-award phase, including costings, internal governance documentation, Je-S and IFS portal submissions.

Essential qualifications, experience and knowledge

Strong self-starter, and completer/finisher. Experience in either bid development, business engagement, technology transfer or similar role. Experience in working with publicly funded or pre-competitive R&D models, such as, Innovate UK and RCUK, especially relating to the creation of proposals and contract negotiation. Excellent communicator: orally and in writing, internally and externally, ensuring consistency, clarity and demonstration of a full understanding of the project in discussion. Shows broad knowledge of technical subjects and the ability to understand the basic concepts of new technologies quickly. A keen problem solver. Minimum of Honours Degree in a life sciences or chemistry discipline.

Desirable qualifications, experience and knowledge

Experience in intellectual property. Proficient with database solutions such as Global Data, Beauhurst and Patsnap (or similar).

Closing date

Friday 28th November 2025


Please note the closing date for applications may be brought forward if a high volume of applications are received.