Strategy Associate

We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious Strategy Associate to support us in the next phase of our growth journey. In this role, you will work closely with Ascend's management team to deliver strategic priorities and projects at the intersection of science and business. As expected with any startup, your role will vary widely based on the evolving needs for the business. However, some projects you can expect to support Ascend with include:

(1) Commercial Strategy Definition - Defining best-practices and processes to support business development teams in driving organic growth.

(2) Competitive Landscape & Market Insights - Collecting secondary research on key competitors within the AAV market through public databases to facilitate a competitive workshop with Ascend's leadership.

(3) Supporting Board, Investor & Fundraise Materials - Collaborating with internal teams to generate fit-for-purpose materials and analyses to supplement ongoing strategic discussions.

(4) Due Diligence & M&A Activities - Supporting deal team with commercial due-diligence and workstream oversight for future acquisition targets.

To succeed in this role, you will be required to leverage both your scientific and commercial skillset to gain an in-depth knowledge of the AAV gene therapy market. This will include keeping up with the latest industry trends, scientific advancements, and regulatory requirements, to shape Ascend's business strategy and ensure competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market.

Does this sound like the sort of team you'd like to be a part of? Interested in growing in an interdisciplinary creative space and pursuing your passion projects? Please get in touch!

• Minimum bachelor's degree in relevant scientific field (ie. biotechnology, life-science, genomics etc…), with advanced degrees (e.g. MSc / PhD.) and business qualifications (e.g. MBA) acting as a plus.


• Familiarity and knowledge of the gene therapy landscape including AAV manufacturing, regulatory requirements and market dynamics is not necessary but a strong advantage.


• Proven experience within a CDMO or a similar commercial role within biotechnology, pharmaceutical and life-science consulting industry is advantageous.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present findings and recommendations in a clear and concise manner to both technical and non-technical audiences.


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to gather, analyze, and interpret complex data from multiple sources.


• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and handle multiple projects simultaneously.


• High proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint and familiarity with quantitative modelling skills is essential.


What we look for:

• Self-starter: ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic start-up environment.


• Accountable leader: is first to stand up for team, and take responsibility and ownership to drive results


• Flexible problem-solver: is solution-orientated and approaches challenges with creativity and curiosity


• Focused executor: is passionate about quality work, delivers on time, is proactive and driven to succeed


• Straightforward communicator: is open, honest, admits mistakes, listens, and develops with others
  
  Ascend Advanced Therapies is a venture backed gene-therapy manufacturing and development partner seeking to address the need for quality development and manufacturing for AAV (Adeno-associated virus) based gene therapies.


Following launch in 2022 and a successful $130M fundraise, Ascend has successfully consolidated manufacturing operations to build a true end-to-end gene therapy offering. This includes our pre-clinical centre of excellence and CMC team acquired from Freeline Therapeutics in Munich (Feb 2023), alongside our GMP operations and team acquired from Beacon Therapeutics (Apr 2024) out of Alachua, Florida.

Our current transatlantic team has deep expertise in gene therapy development from bench scale to commercialization and sets a new standard for gene therapy manufacturing. With scientific innovation at the core of our business, Ascend currently holds a world-class analytical toolkit and a flexible and scalable AAV manufacturing platform used in the clinic to support therapeutic companies in delivering safe, efficacious gene therapy products.
Why we're different:

We're building a place for people inspired by the possibilities of biological engineering for gene & cell therapy technologies. We want to lift up a new generation of experts and breakthrough start-ups. That's why the Ascend model includes the opportunity of cross-functional training to enhance professional development and continually seed fresh ideas


• Company shares


• 25 days holiday


• Performance based bonus


• Standard pension


• Life Assurance


• Critical Illness Cover


• Help @ hand Unum


• More to come as we grow


Company Values:

Aim Higher - Our motto and values.

• Quality by integrity - We set high standards, putting quality and evidence first to seek the best solutions.


• Adaptability is in our DNA - We are forward-thinking problem solvers, driven by the developing science and to deliver the best medicines.


• Serving patients by serving our partners - We can depend on each other, and on the organisation, to deliver goals and services.