VP / Director of Business Development – AI & Life Sciences

Why Apply?

You’ve built relationships in pharma, won complex deals and know what it takes to turn an opportunity into revenue. Now you’re looking for a business where you can put that experience to work, shape the sales function and stay close to customers.

Aspire Life Sciences is supporting an early-stage AI company looking for a commercial leader to help drive its next phase of growth. This opportunity could suit an established VP or a successful Director ready to take broader ownership.

About the Company

Our client is developing and deploying AI technology for the life sciences sector. Its team brings together scientific, engineering and commercial expertise to address complex customer challenges.

As the business develops its commercial organisation, it is looking for someone who can bring experience, judgement and a record of winning business with pharma customers. The company’s identity and further details will be shared during confidential discussions.

The Role

You’ll take responsibility for leading the sales function, combining commercial direction and team leadership with direct involvement in winning business.

New York is the preferred location. The precise title will reflect the successful candidate’s experience and the agreed scope.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Shaping the sales strategy, identifying priority accounts and translating commercial goals into practical activity.
• Personally leading opportunities through discovery, stakeholder engagement, negotiation and close.
• Building credible relationships with senior decision-makers across pharma.
• Leading and developing the sales team while remaining actively involved in customer conversations.
• Working closely with the founders and scientific and technical colleagues to connect customer needs with the company’s capabilities.
• Bringing structure to pipeline management, forecasting and measurement of commercial performance.
• Feeding customer insight into how the business develops its offering and approach to market.

About You

You’ll bring clear evidence of personally closing business with pharma customers, alongside the ability to lead others.

Your experience may come from selling software, AI, data or other technology-led solutions into life sciences. You’ll understand complex buying processes and be comfortable building credibility with both scientific and commercial stakeholders.

Experience helping an early-stage or rapidly growing business build revenue would be particularly relevant. You may also have built a successful commercial function within a larger organisation and now want broader ownership.

You’ll be comfortable working with ambiguity, taking initiative and adjusting your approach as the business evolves. Curiosity about AI and the ability to learn the technology are essential; a technical qualification has not been specified.

Benefits

• Ownership of the sales function at an early stage.
• Close collaboration with the founders.
• The opportunity to shape commercial strategy and team development.
• Direct involvement in bringing AI technology to life sciences customers.

Recruitment Process

The process will explore your commercial track record, leadership experience and motivations for joining an early-stage business. Interview stages will initially with the Founders.

About Your Recruiter

Aspire Life Sciences specialises in recruitment across TechBio and MedTech, connecting growing businesses with scientific, technical and commercial talent.

Apply with your CV or contact James Trott for a confidential discussion about the opportunity.