Strategic Partnerships Director

Strategic Partnerships Director

Medical Education | Medical Publishing | Life Sciences

Salary: £80,000–£90,000 basic + uncapped commission (OTE £105,000–£140,000+ based on revenue targets)

Location: UK-based, predominantly remote with occasional central London meetings

Contract: Permanent, full-time

Travel: International travel approximately 8–10 times annually

The Opportunity

WE3 Consulting is working exclusively with an established, independent and growing medical education and publishing business to recruit an experienced Strategic Partnerships Director.

This is a significant senior commercial appointment within a business that has built an excellent reputation for delivering independent medical education, specialist scientific content and international educational events for healthcare professionals.

With established relationships across leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology organisations, a strong portfolio of digital medical education platforms and a highly regarded international scientific events programme, the business is entering an exciting period of commercial growth.

We're looking for an accomplished business development professional who can build on that success, identify substantial new revenue opportunities and develop high-value strategic partnerships across the global life sciences industry.

This is a predominantly new-business role, requiring an experienced commercial hunter with the credibility, relationships and strategic thinking to operate at the highest levels of the pharmaceutical industry.

You'll work directly with senior leadership, taking increasing ownership of major international relationships and sponsorship opportunities, with considerable scope to influence the future commercial direction of the business.

For somebody who enjoys developing business, building relationships and working closely with leading scientific experts, this offers a particularly interesting opportunity.

The Role

As Strategic Partnerships Director, you'll take responsibility for identifying, developing and securing significant new commercial partnerships across a portfolio of independent medical education platforms and international scientific events.

You'll engage senior decision-makers across pharmaceutical and biotechnology organisations, developing a detailed understanding of their scientific interests, therapeutic priorities and medical education needs.

The role combines hands-on business development with strategic commercial thinking, identifying opportunities to bring together different educational platforms, scientific workshops and sponsorship programmes into broader, higher-value partnerships.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Proactively identifying, approaching and securing new business from pharmaceutical and biotechnology organisations.
• Developing senior-level relationships with Medical Affairs leaders, pharmaceutical stakeholders and other key industry decision-makers.
• Leading high-value sponsorship and partnership opportunities, from initial engagement and proposal development through to negotiation and agreement.
• Taking ownership of commercial opportunities across international scientific workshops, educational events and digital medical education platforms.
• Identifying opportunities to cross-sell and develop integrated sponsorship packages across multiple educational channels.
• Working closely with scientific and senior leadership colleagues to develop commercially attractive, scientifically credible proposals.
• Attending major international medical congresses, workshops and industry meetings to develop new relationships and commercial opportunities.
• Building relationships with leading healthcare professionals and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs).
• Developing new commercial approaches, identifying emerging opportunities and supporting the continued expansion of the business.
• Managing commercial pipelines, revenue forecasts and agreed new-business targets.
• Supporting the development of more structured and scalable business development processes.

You'll join an established commercial function, with access to existing relationships and a developing pipeline of future opportunities.

However, the expectation is that you'll bring the experience, initiative and commercial confidence to create and convert substantial new opportunities independently.

About You

We're particularly interested in speaking with established senior business development, commercial partnerships and sponsorship professionals from medical communications, independent medical education, medical publishing, healthcare events or closely related life sciences sectors.

You'll ideally bring:

• Significant senior-level experience in new business development, commercial partnerships or sponsorship sales within the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry.
• A proven track record of securing substantial new revenue and managing high-value commercial relationships, ideally involving £1m+ annual revenue.
• An established network of contacts across pharmaceutical and biotechnology organisations, particularly within Medical Affairs.
• Strong commercial instincts, with the confidence and determination to proactively create opportunities rather than rely on existing accounts.
• The ability to engage and influence senior pharmaceutical decision-makers and negotiate substantial commercial agreements.
• Excellent scientific understanding, with the credibility to participate confidently in discussions involving complex medical science, emerging therapies and clinical developments.
• The strategic thinking to identify opportunities beyond individual projects and develop broader commercial partnerships.
• Experience working with independent medical education, scientific events, medical publishing or pharmaceutical sponsorship programmes would be particularly advantageous.
• Confidence working independently within a growing, entrepreneurial organisation.
• A willingness to travel internationally to attend major scientific congresses and industry events.

A life sciences degree would be advantageous but is not essential. Candidates with extensive relevant industry experience and demonstrable scientific credibility will be equally considered.

We're particularly keen to hear from commercially successful individuals who have built extensive industry relationships and can demonstrate a consistent record of winning new pharmaceutical business.

Previous team leadership experience would be beneficial, although this is primarily a senior, hands-on commercial position rather than a people management appointment.

Salary, Commission & Benefits

The position offers a competitive package, reflecting the seniority and commercial expectations of the appointment.

• Basic salary: £80,000–£90,000.
• Commission: 2.5% of qualifying revenue generated.
• Illustrative OTE: £105,000–£115,000 in year one and £130,000–£140,000+ in year two, based on anticipated revenue performance.
• Annual leave: 25 days plus UK bank holidays.
• Pension: 3% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution.
• Health and life insurance.
• Predominantly remote working with flexible arrangements.
• International travel, fully expensed, providing exposure to major scientific congresses and educational events.

The business has ambitious revenue expectations, with a target of at least £1m in the first year and £2m+ in the second year, supported by an existing pipeline of future commercial opportunities.

Location & Working Arrangements

This is a predominantly remote, UK-based position.

The team meets in central London, generally around Oxford Circus, approximately once or twice per month, so candidates must be able to attend these meetings when required.

International travel is an important part of the role, with approximately 8–10 overseas trips expected annually, predominantly to the United States and Europe.

The successful candidate should be comfortable representing the business at major international medical congresses, scientific workshops and pharmaceutical industry meetings.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join a successful, established independent business at a particularly interesting stage of its development.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Work closely with senior leadership and influence commercial growth.
• Develop relationships with leading pharmaceutical organisations and internationally recognised scientific experts.
• Take ownership of substantial commercial opportunities across a growing portfolio of medical education products and events.
• Represent the business at major international medical congresses and scientific meetings.
• Benefit from an established industry reputation and existing commercial pipeline, while having the freedom to develop new opportunities.
• Build a long-term career within an ambitious, profitable and independently owned organisation.

For a commercially ambitious professional with a strong pharmaceutical network and an interest in scientific education, this offers the opportunity to make a significant impact.

Interested?

WE3 Consulting is managing this appointment on an exclusive basis and welcomes applications from suitably experienced UK-based professionals.

All applications will be treated confidentially.

If your background aligns with the requirements outlined above, please apply with your CV.

Alternatively, for an initial confidential discussion, contact Craig Sargent, Director & Lead MedComms Consultant at WE3 Consulting, at craig@we3consulting.com.