Associate UCB Ventures

Make your mark for patients

About UCB Ventures

UCB Ventures is the strategic Corporate Venture Fund of UCB Pharma. The fund was established in 2017 to provide exposure to innovative, ground-breaking technology that could someday contribute to UCB's product portfolio and make a significant impact on patients' lives. UCB Ventures invests in early stage, longer term and higher risk opportunities adjacent to or even beyond UCB's current therapeutic focus areas. We currently have a portfolio of a dozen active companies and have already had two major exits (Syndesi / EsoBiotec). UCB Ventures takes an active role in our portfolio companies, creating value by leveraging our collective expertise in scientific research, drug discovery, preclinical development, business development, commercial operations, market access, and investment banking.

The team consists of 7 people; the Head of UCB Ventures (Based in the UK), one Partner (Based in New York), one Principal (Based in Belgium), two Associates (UK and Belgium), the Team Coordinator (UK) and the in-house legal counsel (Atlanta).

Role Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and intellectually curious Associate to join our investment team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in life sciences - particularly therapeutics - and experience in venture capital, biopharma business development, strategy consulting, or early-stage biotech. As a key member of the investment team, the Associate will play a central role in identifying, evaluating, and pitching investment opportunities to the UCB Ventures investment team. As member of a top-tier corporate venture fund, the candidate will be exposed to deal sourcing all the way to portfolio management. The candidate will also be able to shadow the US Partner on portfolio matters as well as taking Observer role where needed. The candidate will also enjoy being part of the innovation engine of a larger biopharma organization.

The Associate will be preferably based in New York reporting to the NY-based Partner and will actively support and engage with the entire UCB Ventures team.

The role will require frequent national and international travel.

About the role

You will play a central role in identifying, evaluating, and pitching investment opportunities in early-stage therapeutics. As a key member of our investment team, you'll gain exposure to the full investment cycle, from deal sourcing to portfolio management, and help shape the future of innovative biotech companies.

Who you'll work with

You'll join a close-knit, international team of experienced investors and scientists. You'll work directly with the US-based Partner and collaborate with colleagues across the US, UK, Belgium, and Atlanta, as well as interact with portfolio company management teams and external experts.

What you'll do

• Stay up to date with emerging scientific and clinical developments in therapeutics.
• Proactively source and screen new investment opportunities in biotech.
• Lead scientific and commercial due diligence on potential investments.
• Contribute to investment memos, financial modeling, and deal structuring.
• Support and monitor portfolio companies, including attending board meetings as an observer.
• Attend key scientific and investor conferences.

Interested? For this role we're looking for the following:

Minimum requirements

• Advanced degree: PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in life sciences.
• 3 years' experience in venture capital, strategy consulting, biopharma R&D, business development, or investment banking (life sciences focus).
• Strong scientific acumen and ability to evaluate early-stage therapeutic programs.
• Proven track record of excellent analytical, research, and financial modeling skills.
• Demonstrated outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Existing network within biotech founders, VCs, academic institutions, or biopharma industry.

Preferred requirements

• MBA or equivalent business training.
• 6 years' experience in venture capital, strategy consulting, biopharma R&D, business development, or investment banking (life sciences focus).
• Experience supporting deal structuring and negotiations.
• Track record of working both independently and as part of a team.
• Fast learner with ability to get up to speed in new technical areas.
• Driven by the desire to help transform innovations into solutions for patients.

This positions reasonably anticipated base salary range is $124,00.00 - $162,680.00 per year. The actual salary offered will consider internal equity and may also vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors.

Are you ready to 'go beyond' to create value and make your mark for patients? If this sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!

About us
UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company, focusing on neurology and immunology. We are around 8,500 people in all four corners of the globe, inspired by patients and driven by science.

Why work with us?
At UCB, we don't just complete tasks, we create value. We aren't afraid to push forward, collaborate, and innovate to make our mark for patients. We have a caring, supportive culture where everyone feels included, respected, and has equal opportunities to do their best work. We 'go beyond' to create value for our patients, and always with a human focus, whether that's on our patients, our employees, or our planet. Working for us, you will discover a place where you can grow, and have the freedom to carve your own career path to achieve your full potential.

UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. UCB invites you to voluntarily self-identify during the application process. Provision of self-identification information is entirely voluntary and a decision to provide or not provide such information will not have any effect on your application for employment, your employment with UCB, or otherwise subject you to any adverse treatment. Any information you provide will be considered confidential and will be kept separate from your application and/or personnel file and will only be used in accordance with applicable laws, orders, and regulations.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on US-Reasonable_Accommodation@ucb.com for application to US based roles. Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments; we will not be able to support you through this channel.