LifeArc is an independent medical research charity with over 25 years’
experience in helping scientists and organisations turn their research into
effective diagnostics and treatments.
We’re now on a mission to pioneer new ways to turn great science into greater
patient impact. We want to help deliver cutting edge science to benefit as many
patients as possible.
Our track record of success (e.g. Keytruda, Tysabri, Actemra and Entyvio) has
given us the financial power, with current cash and investments in excess of
£150m, to think differently and invest in the health challenges we really believe
in.
The Seed Fund will invest in promising early stage therapeutics and biological
research and is led by Dr David Holbrook (Head of Seed Funds), an experienced
fund manager.
The current team based in London comprises the Head, one Investment
Principal, and an Administrative Assistant, and now the Seed Fund is seeking to
add a further Investment Principal as it gears up its investing activity. It will
ideally suit an individual with ambitions to progress their career within the Life
Sciences investing arena.
The Role
The Investment Principal will be responsible for:
- Working with the Head of Seed Funds and colleagues to manage the core processes and procedures that will enable the function to thrive.
- Working collaboratively with LifeArc colleagues to:
‒ source and evaluate new investment opportunities
‒ provide due diligence on opportunities
‒ assess investible propositions
‒ deliver deal execution and closing
‒ manage the active portfolio of investments
- Ensuring projects/companies are suitable for seed fund investment and have the potential to reach venture capital investment in future
- Managing multiple early stage projects
Success in this role means that you are able to assess and ensure the funds
remain in line with their objectives and are appropriately managed through the
following activities:
- Accepting and acknowledging new opportunities
- Screen innovations and evaluate business plans
- In collaboration with LifeArc colleagues, source scientific analysts/experts to support investment decision making process
- Agreeing the terms of the investment, key milestones and work plan based on diligence
- Undertake financial modeling and analysis with ability to assess future prospects
- Utilise LifeArc project methodology and tools to track investments ensuring fund objectives are being met and provide updates to Head of Seed Funds and highlight potential issues or concerns
- Working with finance and legal to ensure payments are made appropriately and meet the T&Cs
Essential Qualifications and Experience
- At least two years’s experience of working within a seed fund or early stage venture fund environment
- Appreciation of pharma lifecycle with the understanding of costs and implications of getting products into clinic and beyond
- In depth knowledge of technology transfer, licensing and commercialization of life science
- Ability to interpret data and articulate relevant conclusions/recommendations
- Strong writing and presentation skills
- An understanding of key scientific advances and new potential areas of investment
- Demonstrated ability to act as a self-starter
- A PhD, MBA or equivalent experience in Life Sciences and/or Venture Capital/Investments
