Principal (Human Health)

Do you know what it takes to turn early-stage research into a fundable company? Are you excited about helping some of the UK’s most ambitious science become startups, as part of BII’s Activation Partnership with ARIA? Then we might have the perfect opportunity at BioInnovation Institute, where we are looking for a Principal to join the Human Health team, with a focus on therapeutics and health tech solutions, in our Venture Creation department, and based at our UK hub in London.

Your Opportunity to Join BII!

The BioInnovation Institute (BII) is a non-profit foundation established by the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2018. Its mission is to accelerate research and startups to bring forward bold solutions that improve human and planetary health. BII supports collaborative, interdisciplinary innovation across Life Sciences and Deep Tech, helping transform cutting-edge research into viable companies so that new discoveries can deliver real impact for people and society.

BII is an Activation Partner of the Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) – a partnership that gives us access to a strong pipeline of ambitious UK research and helps turn breakthrough science into companies with real-world impact.

As a Principal, you will join BII’s Human Health team, one of three specialist teams in our Venture Creation department alongside Planetary Health and Quantum. In collaboration with ARIA, we will be running two acceleration programs from our London hub, helping promising UK research teams secure the expertise, networks, and capital needed to commercialize.

Based in London, you will scout and assess early-stage innovation across diverse modalities, indication areas, and business verticals within Human Health and support researchers and founders on their journey from lab to independent spinout. If you thrive in a dynamic international environment and are eager to make a real difference, this is the perfect opportunity for you!

Your Key Responsibilities Will Include

• Build relationships with key academic and commercial stakeholders and institutions in the UK to establish and develop BII’s venture creation support as ARIA’s Activation Partner within Human Health
• Drive day-to-day business activities and operations together with local colleagues in London, in close collaboration with the Human Health team in Denmark
• Engage with ARIA Program Directors, academics, and founders to identify early-stage innovation and opportunities for the acceleration programs across BII’s broad remit, covering a range of modalities and indications in therapeutics and/or health tech (incl. for example but not limited to brain health, cell & gene therapies, inflammation, immunity and infection)
• Support selected startups and projects in BII’s acceleration programs – from application and evaluation to progress monitoring, milestone delivery, connecting to relevant networks and the transition to independent spinouts
• Map the landscape to identify gaps and emerging trends within Human Health relevant to the startups and projects in the programs
• Help establish and maintain partnerships with relevant stakeholders across the UK innovation ecosystem, including corporates, investors and public funding bodies
• Represent BII at relevant conferences, events and networks
• Provide support across BII, help optimize processes and approaches, and offer professional sparring and coaching to colleagues

Professional & Personal Qualifications

We are looking for an experienced venture builder, eager to move promising therapeutics and/or health tech from lab to startup. Ideally, you bring:

• An MSc, PhD, or MD relevant to therapeutics and/or health tech; an MBA or equivalent business experience is a plus
• 10+ years of relevant experience, including a demonstrated track record of supporting and/or driving the commercialization of life science innovations (therapeutics and/or health tech), e.g., at a VC/investor, start-up, accelerator or TTO
• Experience maturing translational, early-stage, research-backed therapeutics and/or health tech projects towards spin‑out and investment, e.g. from universities, incubators, accelerators or investors
• The ability to evaluate and develop therapeutic and/or health tech innovations from scientific, technical, and commercial perspectives, and to distinguish research projects from venture-backable projects
• A demonstrated ability to build networks and maintain relationships within the UK research and innovation ecosystem, as well as the wider EU area
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English

Working at BII

At BII we offer a purpose-driven community where science and innovation create meaningful change and impact in society. BII’s entrepreneurial environment is shaped and nurtured every day by our employees, start-ups, and everyone who joins us in bringing science to life. This role offers a unique opportunity to join Europe’s largest innovation and incubation initiative within life sciences and deep tech.

BII is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, at Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N. From Copenhagen, the Secretariat supports strategy, governance, and coordination across BII’s international activities.

Location

This position is based at our UK hub at Victoria House in Bloomsbury, in the heart of London’s Knowledge Quarter. From here, you will help build BII’s UK activities as ARIA’s Activation Partner and collaborate closely with the Venture Creation team located across different locations.

See our open positions at BII on our career page or on LinkedIn.

Equal Opportunities

At BII, we believe innovation starts with people. As a community of changemakers, we believe the best ideas emerge when people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences come together around a shared purpose.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace built on equal opportunities, where everyone can thrive and where pay is fair, equitable, and based on the principle of equal pay for equal work. We welcome all applications regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or socio‑economic background.

Curious for more?

If you are curious to know more about the position, please contact Johanna Roostalu, Director of the Human Health team at

The interview process is expected to take place in late November/mid-December. The preferred start date is as soon as possible, however, we are flexible and will consider individual notice periods and availability.

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