Head of Life Sciences and Healthcare, UK

Who is HSBC Innovation Banking?  

HSBC Innovation Banking is the power behind the UK’s forward-thinkers, future-makers, and leap-takers, helping them ignite the bold ideas that reshape our world. We offer flexible banking solutions for start-ups, scale-ups, growth businesses, investors and those working towards IPO typically within the technology and life science sectors.

Whether it’s comprehensive banking, managing cashflow, plans for buyouts or Strategic Fund Solutions, we power ideas at every stage of their journey. From the first-time founders to the funds that back them, and everything in between. We're proud to accelerate growth for our clients, create meaningful connections and communities, and open a world of global opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors alike.

Here’s to never standing still. Come and join us!

The team you’ll work with:

HSBC Innovation Banking (“HINV”)’s Life Sciences and Healthcare practice is a fast-growing business working with companies at the cutting edge of biotech, healthtech, diagnostics and services. We work with the earliest start-ups spun out of research institutes and universities, through to international businesses that are already commercial or conducting late-stage clinical trials.

The value you’ll add:

The Head of the team is responsible for setting and delivering the growth strategy for the business across UK and working with other sector team heads to coordinate HINV’s market activity and internal initiatives. This role is part of the senior leadership team of the Client Coverage team, contributing to areas outside of life sciences. The individual will bring deep sector and ecosystem knowledge, strong people leadership, and a strategic lens to prioritise opportunities, allocate resources, and deliver sustainable growth.

What you can expect to be doing:

• Responsibility for the client-facing activities of the bank, working with a team of Relationship and Portfolio Managers to set our UK wide strategy including sales and go-to market initiatives, marketing, events and ecosystem engagement
• Working with specialist teams (e.g. FX, debt finance) to coordinate delivery of core commercial banking products to our clients
• Supporting the Head of Tech and Life Sciences Banking and working with their leadership team to raise the profile of HINV and its mission across the UK
• Being the public face for HINV’s Life Sciences practice—speaking at events and panels and coordinating with Life Sciences sub-sector heads to support them

The core responsibilities and primary duties will include:

• Lead the UK Life Sciences & Healthcare business: set strategy and drive delivery with internal partners (Credit, Product, Risk)
• Define where HINV will win (priority sub-sectors/segments/propositions) and translate into execution plans, KPIs and governance
• Oversee key client relationships and coordinate coverage across HINV (Commercial Bank, Private Bank/Wealth as relevant)
• Shape and improve the operating model to ensure efficiency and consistency across sector teams
• Ensure disciplined portfolio and coverage management (pipeline, prioritisation, risk/return, concentration and performance tracking) with consistent credit and service standards
• Lead complex deal origination, structuring and negotiations with Relationship/Debt Finance teams and Credit/Risk; close transactions
• Build and leverage ecosystem networks (VC/PE, corporates, academia, incubators/accelerators, advisers) to originate opportunities and connect clients to capital and partners
• Raise HINV’s sector profile through events, thought leadership and acting as an authorised spokesperson with trade bodies/media
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing, inclusive RM team (succession planning, talent attraction/retention)
• Partner with senior leadership to role-model HINV values, align priorities and address wider bank issues collaboratively

Requirements:

• Depth of knowledge of the Life Sciences & Healthcare ecosystem, with a strong network and credibility with founders, investors and key influencers
• Proven leadership in matrix organisations; track record of leading high-performing individuals and teams (including leading leaders)
• Strong strategic thinking and commercial judgement: ability to set direction, make prioritisation trade-offs, and deliver growth through disciplined execution
• Strong portfolio management capability, including oversight of pipeline, client prioritisation, and risk/return outcomes
• Excellent risk management skills with experience of managing all aspects of client and portfolio risk (including financial crime and credit) throughout the client lifecycle
• Understanding of, and proven interest in, high-technology healthcare (e.g. biotech, medical devices, healthtech)
• Strong knowledge of banking products and services including Venture Capital & Private Equity coverage, and corporate banking/lending

Where you’ll be based:

Our home office in Finsbury Square, London. We offer hybrid working to our employees, so you can flex between home and the office, with a current requirement to be in the office 2 days per week.

Being open to different points of view is important for our business and the communities we serve. At HSBC, we’re dedicated to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces - no matter their gender, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or age. We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring careers at HSBC are inclusive and accessible for everyone to be at their best. We take pride in being a Disability Confident Leader and will offer an interview to people with disabilities, long term conditions or neurodivergent candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

If you have a need that requires accommodations or changes during the recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Helpdesk:

Email: hsbc.recruitment@hsbc.com

Telephone: +44 207 832 8500