ABOUT DEEP SCIENCE VENTURES

Deep Science Ventures (DSV) is a venture creator, combining available scientific knowledge and founder-type scientists into high-impact ventures, to build a future where both humans and the planet thrive.

DSV operates in 4 sectors: Climate, Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals and Computation tackling the challenges defining those areas by taking a first-principles approach and partnering with leading institutions.

In the team we are focusing on driving and accelerating the net-zero carbon transition. We think it is key to deliver innovations in carbon mitigation as well as carbon removal technologies to achieve maximal impact in solving climate change. In investigating carbon mitigation technologies, it will be essential to identify routes by which we can decarbonise heating, avoid material breakdown to CO2 or propose novel materials that can replace carbon intensive matter. Equally maximising CO2 drawdown capacity of biotic, abiotic and artificial strategies and proposing new ways of how CO2 can be stored or utilised are in the centre of our attention. On our path to achieve these outcomes we need to solve numerous constraints related to planet-positive investing, material development, process design and automation.

You can read more about our thesis here.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Commercial Associate you will work in close partnership with the Director of Climate, the Head of Portfolio & Partnerships, the Founders in our portfolio and other Associates, to source (through existing networks and/or developing new ones) and develop value-add relationships and formal partnerships which will accelerate the impact of DSV’s efforts in the climate space. You will also support DSV portfolio companies to maximise their growth and impact after spinning-out. 

While your main focus will be on partnership development and portfolio support, you’ll have the opportunity to be involved across all core functions of venture development, including recruitment, opportunity scoping and team building. A technical background is a must-have.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build on the success of our existing venture building partnerships in climate, including: The Grantham Foundation, Anglo American, the Net Zero Technology Centre, and Oxy Low Carbon Ventures; supporting programme delivery and strategies for future expansion and further collaboration.
• Support development of new strategic partnerships with mission aligned companies, domain expert institutes, leading R&D laboratories and forward thinking investors across areas such as carbon capture utilisation/storage (DAC/CDR), decarbonising industrial heat, decarbonising transport, critical minerals, the future of the chemical industry, water-energy-nexus, cooling technologies and climate economics.
• Work closely with our founding teams pre- and post-incorporation to help drive business strategy and strategic partnerships, and help hit their fundraising targets. 

Requirements

• Demonstrated interest in climate tech e.g. negative emissions technologies, critical minerals, water availability, decarbonising industrial heat, decarbonising built environment, carbon neutral or negative fuels;
• Background in business development and/or commercial strategy and fundraising in the climate space with intimate knowledge of industry-specific macro and micro dynamics;
• You’ve worked in an early stage science/climate start-up or experience supporting early-stage science/climate start-up;
• Experience designing and negotiating contracts (partnership/collaboration agreements, commercial agreements, MoUs, technology evaluation);
• Knowledge of IP especially in relation to contract work;
• Demonstrable knowledge of Partnership/Business Development processes and nuances;
• Masters/PhD in scientific or related discipline;
• Intimate understanding of the early-stage commercialisation process acquired through previous exposure to the startup/VC/CVC/TTO etc. environment;
• Network-driven, enjoys supporting and guiding others through collaborate teamwork;
• Demonstrable interest in science/R&D/innovation and commercialization; advancing new ideas and concepts; enjoying highly entrepreneurial work environment;
• Good knowledge of state of play in climate tech;
• Demonstrable first principles and creative thinking;
• Demonstrated level of achievement, taking own initiative and delivering outcome-oriented projects from start to finish. You make things happen.

Benefits

• Competitive salary;
• Flexible working environment (remote or hybrid);
• Rapid personal development and massive learning curve;
• Development Budget;
• Working with some of the most ambitious and impact-driven individuals you'll ever find;
• Being part of building the next generation of climate ventures.