Business Development & In-Licensing Director

We are Hiring!

We have an exciting new opportunity at Scope for a Business Development & In-Licensing Director to join our team!

We are looking for people who can connect their own personal vision and values into some of what we do at Scope.

Our vision as a company is to become a leading force in Eyecare, with people at our core.

The Compensation & Benefits for this role include (but not limited to):

• Performance related bonus
• 24 days annual leave (pro rata).
• Healthcare allowance beginning post probation and increasing at 2 and 5 years service.
• Pension contributions through Zurich beginning post probation and increasing at 2, 5 and 8 years service.
• Company sick pay scheme
• Further Education policy
• Professional Membership

The Business Development and In-Licensing Director reports to the CEO and will build and lead Scope’s capability for identifying, evaluating and securing new assets and strategic partnerships. Reporting to the CEO, the role will lead the independent assessment of opportunities, bringing together scientific, clinical, commercial and financial perspectives to support high-quality investment decisions.

This is a build role with responsibility for shaping the strategy, establishing robust evaluation and governance processes, developing the opportunity pipeline and growing the team as the function evolves. Working closely with the leadership team, Board and key cross‑functional partners, the Director will lead priority transactions from initial evaluation through negotiation, completion and structured handover into the business.

This is a significant opportunity for a scientifically credible and commercially astute dealmaker to shape the future portfolio of a growing international eyecare business.

Please note, this role can be based in the UK, Ireland, or the USA.

• Set the business development and in‑licensing strategy in line with Scope’s therapeutic focus areas and long‑range plan.
• Build and lead the function, starting with the recruitment of a Market Intelligence & Opportunity Specialist and growing the team as the pipeline develops.
• Chair the internal business development screening committee and make clear recommendations on which opportunities should progress to full evaluation, in line with agreed governance and decision‑making authority.
• Work in partnership with Scope’s established commercial evaluation lead, who builds the commercial case alongside your scientific appraisal.
• Establish an effective operating rhythm, governance framework and reporting approach for business development activity.

• Build and maintain a high‑quality pipeline of assets, technologies and partnership opportunities aligned with Scope’s strategic priorities.
• Establish clear sourcing priorities and use market intelligence, external networks and industry activity to proactively identify and assess relevant opportunities.
• Design and embed a consistent stage‑gate evaluation process and standard investment case template, ensuring opportunities are assessed efficiently, transparently and against agreed criteria.
• Maintain clear oversight of the pipeline, with defined status, ownership, next steps and decision points for each opportunity.
• Document the rationale for all progression and no‑go decisions, ensuring a clear and consistent decision‑making record.
• Partner with Commercial, Medical, Regulatory, Quality and Supply Chain to assess Scope’s ability to develop, launch and support each potential asset successfully.
• Monitor market, competitor, scientific and transaction developments, using these insights to inform sourcing priorities and Scope’s wider portfolio strategy.