Based at: London – St. Christopher’s Place
Reporting to: Accelerator Programme Manager
Working Style: Hybrid
Fixed-Term contract, 6 months
Background
We believe in the power of innovation and collaboration to solve the challenges of human and planetary health. We provide the places for this to happen, maximizing the impact of our companies while minimising our collective environmental footprint.
Pioneer Group (Pioneer) is a specialist life sciences infrastructure and venture building company that creates, funds, and grows exciting and innovative life science companies across a network of fourteen sites within the UK and Ireland.
Over a twenty-year period, we have developed a venture building process for working with newly formed companies to help turn them into robust, investible businesses. The process begins by working with large groups of entrepreneurs (the Accelerator phase) followed by twelve months of one-to-one bespoke support (the Launch & Scale-Up phase).
We are all driven by the desire to help build successful life science companies with the potential to have a world-changing impact. We are now looking for the next team member with the same passion.
Purpose
The commercial rationale behind Pioneer’s venture building activity is to: (a) provide a pipeline of validated, interesting, and high potential businesses for our investment funds; and (b) create a pipeline of occupiers for the company’s various sites across the UK and Ireland.
As Accelerator Programme Analyst, your aim is to assist the Accelerator Programme Manager as they help create, develop, and launch high quality start-up companies in the areas of biotech, pharma, medtech and healthcare, some of which will become investment opportunities and/or physical occupiers for Pioneer across the UK and Ireland.
You will be particularly focused on sourcing and analysing potential candidates for our Accelerator Programmes, helping to organise the recruitment process and evaluating participants during and after programme delivery.
The Role
The Venture Building part of Pioneer’s business is divided into three streams: Accelerator, Launch and Scale-Up. You will primarily work under the Accelerator Programme Manager on delivery of programmes in the UK and Ireland. You may also support the other functions of the Venture Building team where required.
Prior to each Accelerator Programme, you will act in a supportive role, helping to assess and evaluate potential participants and maintain our database of same. You will assist the Accelerator Programme Manager with the selection of participants for each programme. You will also share responsibility of the operational aspects of delivering the Accelerators – co-ordinating workshops, communicating with participants, delivery partners, coaches, etc.
The outputs of your efforts will be measured by the quality of the pipeline of opportunities moving through our Accelerator programmes, retention of contracts with external partners and feedback from programme participants.
As Accelerator Programme Analyst, you will be an important member of the Venture Building team. This team is responsible for the delivery and growth of the business in line with the strategy and culture of Pioneer.
You will support and be supported by members of the Ventures team (Venture Building & Investment) as well as the Director of Corporate Development and other members of the senior management team as needed.
Duties and Responsibilities
Across all disciplines and sites, your will have primary responsibility for:
Programme Management and Delivery
• Support the recruitment process across Ventures platforms (e.g. support inbox management, Dealum application database management for recruitment & stage progression, collecting forms/data required for Programme prep).
• Supporting on the management, preparation, and execution of Accelerator-related activities (e.g. calendar holds/meeting information, monitoring RSVPs, tech support during virtual delivery, in-person support).
• Liaising with external Pioneer coaches to facilitate providing the best possible support to participant companies.
• Working with the Pioneer Expert Network to source key experts, senior figures, and experienced entrepreneurs to provide the challenge, connections and inspiration needed by the start-ups.
Programme monitoring
• Assisting with benchmarking on sector specific accelerator programmes to ensure the Pioneer offering remains competitive and relevant.
• Producing metrics, reporting, and outcome tracking data for the Accelerator programmes to support Leadership Team reporting and promotional requirements.
• Assess and triage new opportunities as they progress through the Accelerator programme or other development-led venture activities.
• Assist in selecting “potential stars” for investment.
• Identifying and implementing improvements in the operation of the Accelerator programmes
Cross functional responsibilities (Investment, Ecosystem & Marketing)
• You will gain an insight into the companies on the Accelerator programmes and flag to the investment team those you think might have the most potential.
• Identifying companies on the Accelerator programmes that might benefit from locating at a Pioneer site and guiding them accordingly.
• Working closely with the Ecosystem and Site Management teams to ensure new companies are suitably housed and existing companies suitably supported.
• Suggest new potential candidates for the Pioneer Expert Network.
• Attend external events across the UK to expand networks.
• Reporting and data analysis of venture activities to assess impact, trends and insights to feedback and improve the activities.
• Sector monitoring and research on impact verticals in various life sciences subject areas.
In this role you will be expected to demonstrate:
• A passion for helping entrepreneurs succeed
• Management and organisational skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with Ventures team, wider Pioneer Group team, entrepreneurs and start up teams
• A keen interest in and developing knowledge of life science sectors (biotech, medtech, pharmaceutical, diagnostic, etc.) and the technologies and activities of tenant companies
• A keen interest in and developing knowledge of entrepreneurship and the challenges faced by start-up companies and tenant companies
• Keen to find new ways of doing things
• Learning and problem-solving mindset; must be adaptable, open to challenges and keen to find new ways of doing things
• PhD, MSc, MD/PhD candidate in biological sciences or chemistry.
• Demonstrated record of scientific rigor and curiosity.
• Passionate about impact entrepreneurship and strong interest in venture building.
• Ability to analyse and synthesise complex information.
• Equally comfortable working autonomously and in a team.
• Ability to multi-task and work on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Good interpersonal skills and resourceful.
• Finance background is not necessary.
In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates will be required to evidence their right to work in the UK. We would not typically consider this role for the Skilled worker route. Candidates are, therefore, encouraged to consider their own right-to-work options without Pioneer Group sponsorship.
How to Apply: Please submit your CV and cover letter here. Please ensure your cover letter outlines your suitability for the role and details your relevant experience, skills, and motivation for applying.
Application Deadline: 1 April 2025
We look forward to receiving your application and learning more about how you can contribute to our team.
