Vice President of Commercial

About uMed

uMed is on a mission to accelerate and optimize research by connecting consenting patients, verified clinical datasets, and agile study designs to ensure that treatments reach those in need more quickly. Founded by an NHS doctor and supported by leading venture capital from London and the US, uMed is a cutting-edge clinical research network linking 90 UK GP sites with over 2 million patients and expanding into the US with an additional 5 million patients.

The company fosters a culture of trust, inclusiveness, creativity, and impact, valuing hard work and innovation while maintaining a fun and storytelling environment. The team is committed to transforming research to support critical scientific advances. uMed also offers a comprehensive benefits package including 25 days paid leave plus public holidays, fully remote work, quarterly in-person meetings in London, competitive salary, flexible benefits platform, enhanced parental leave, and a day off on your birthday.

Role Summary

The Vice President (VP) of Commercial is a senior leadership position responsible for translating the Chief Business Officer's strategic vision into actionable commercial plans. This role leads revenue growth, develops strategic partnerships, directs senior commercial initiatives, and manages the business development team. The VP will mentor upcoming Business Development Directors and Managers and ensure commercial activities match market demands, product strategy, and company growth targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Convert high-level commercial strategies into executable business development plans with clear performance indicators.
• Discover and progress new business avenues, including enterprise clients and partner markets.
• Lead complex negotiations and large-value agreements with assistance from the broader commercial team.
• Refine and maintain scalable business development procedures to ensure consistency and effectiveness.
• Oversee sales pipeline health, focusing on coverage, forecast precision, and deal quality.
• Collaborate with Business Development Managers and Directors to improve lead generation, conversion rates, and account management.
• Regularly assess pipeline outcomes, manage risks, and apply course corrections as required.
• Support execution of multi-channel sales strategies including direct sales and partnerships.
• Stay abreast of healthcare and life sciences market trends, competitive landscapes, and customer preferences.
• Utilize market insights to shape strategy around pricing, packaging, and go-to-market plans.
• Serve as the commercial perspective in cross-functional teams to ensure market-driven decisions.
• Partner with Product, Operations, Marketing, and Technology to align commercial objectives with product development and delivery.
• Systematically incorporate customer feedback and market data into innovation cycles.
• Collaborate with Marketing to optimize messaging, value propositions, and sales tools.
• Lead, mentor, and develop senior commercial personnel fostering a culture of accountability and high performance.
• Manage performance evaluation including goal setting, coaching, and development plans.
• Act as escalation point for resolving complex commercial issues.
• Represent uMed at key industry forums and maintain relationships with healthcare and life sciences stakeholders.
• Promote uMed’s standing as a trusted, innovative partner within the research ecosystem.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Extensive background in business development, sales leadership, or commercial strategy within healthcare, life sciences, or SaaS sectors.
• Documented success in driving revenue expansion, closing sophisticated deals, and forging strategic collaborations.
• History of leading and nurturing senior-level commercial teams.
• Strong strategic thinker with proven ability to translate strategy into results.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, capable of engaging at executive and board levels.
• In-depth understanding of healthcare and life sciences customer landscapes, both commercial and academic.
• Advanced analytic, forecasting capabilities, and proficiency with CRM and performance metrics to guide decisions.
• Entrepreneurial spirit well-suited for a rapidly growing, dynamic organization.