Research‑Led Business Development

London (Hybrid, 2–3 days/week)

38-42k base, competitive OTE

Sector: Innovation Advisory / R&D Tax / High‑Growth Ecosystem

The Opportunity

A specialist advisory firm is seeking a driven, intellectually curious Senior Associate to join its commercial team. You’ll immerse yourself in the UK’s high‑growth and innovation ecosystem, engaging with some of the most exciting scale‑ups and technology‑led businesses in the country. This is a complex, competitive market — success is earned through research, insight, timing and tenacity.

You’ll build a targeted pipeline of R&D‑rich businesses, understand their journey, and approach them at meaningful milestones with compelling, insight‑led outreach. This is a role for someone who loves creating something from nothing, thrives in a small high‑performing team, and brings both commercial sharpness and genuine curiosity.

What You’ll Do

• Build and manage a defined target list of 300–400 UK scale‑ups and innovation‑led businesses
• Track trends across the unicorn and future‑unicorn landscape
• Craft thoughtful, well‑researched outreach that tells a compelling story
• Deliver revenue in line with annual targets
• Lead predominantly cold outreach via phone, email, events and social channels
• Immerse yourself in the high‑growth and tech ecosystem to understand client drivers
• Attend relevant events, seminars and exhibitions to build relationships and insight
• Manage your pipeline through SalesLoft and MS Dynamics from prospect to close
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across the business to shape and win opportunities
• Translate client needs internally and coordinate early‑stage delivery support
• Build strong working knowledge of R&D Tax and Patent Box
• Write pitch documents and confidently present proposals
• Work flexibly across face‑to‑face and remote client interactions

Who This Suits

You’re an experienced business development professional from professional services, consultancy or another solutions‑led environment. You enjoy the challenge of building a pipeline from scratch and have the resilience to see it through. You understand scale‑ups, are naturally curious about innovation, and bring commercial intelligence to every conversation.

You thrive in a small, sociable team, value shared success, and enjoy working closely with another commercial lead. You prefer thoughtful, insight‑driven outreach over volume‑based selling and are motivated by both personal achievement and collective performance.

A background in technical disciplines (engineering, software, manufacturing) or financial/professional services is advantageous but not essential.

What Success Looks Like

• You quickly absorb financial and technical training and grow toward subject‑matter expertise
• You consistently deliver against revenue objectives
• You integrate seamlessly into a high‑performance, collaborative culture
• You become a trusted, credible business developer within the innovation ecosystem

What’s Offered

• Full training and development
• Flexible benefits platform (5% of salary contribution)
• Pension, life assurance (3x salary), private medical (post‑probation)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays, with buy/sell options
• Travel & subsistence expenses policy
• Regular social events