Director of Business Development

A venture-backed biotechnology company is developing next-generation myeloid and T cell engager platforms to transform the treatment of oncology and autoimmune diseases. The company is building a best-in-class portfolio around proprietary biologics platforms and is preparing for a Series A financing.

The Director of Business Development will lead strategy, partnering, and fundraising initiatives across myeloid and T cell engager (TCE) platform programs, with a roughly 50/50 split between platform strategy/competitive intelligence and partnering/BD execution. This individual will be a BD team of one, building BD capabilities while working directly with senior leadership, pharma partners, and investors, and will be directly involved in supporting a 2026 Series A.

• Define the business case and investment thesis for a myeloid-focused platform centered on IgG improvements in myeloid activation and Fc engineering for enhanced phagocytosis and M1 polarization, including oncology and autoimmune applications.
• Define the business case and industry priorities for a TCE platform in next-generation T cell engagers, including reduced CRS, improved durability, solid tumor efficacy, and expanded indications beyond oncology.
• Conduct competitive landscaping of emerging platforms in the myeloid and TCE space and benchmark against recent strategic deals and acquisitions.
• Position the company’s platforms in the pharma market and advance therapeutic business cases for investor and partner presentations.
• Define attractive platform components and data packages to support out-licensing, co-development, or validation partnerships.
• Drive outreach and partnering strategy with mid-to-large pharma and select biotech companies that can benefit from the platforms, with contracts handled in close collaboration with the CEO and legal.
• Identify and pursue platform development partnerships to co-optimize or validate the company’s technologies.
• Pursue co-development collaborations for lead programs, including shared-cost advancement to IND and into early clinical development in oncology and autoimmune indications.
• Establish and manage relationships with venture capital firms and private capital sources (e.g., family offices) to support a successful 2026 Series A.
• Evaluate the potential range and structure of Series A funding, considering market sentiment and company stage, and build financial models for multiple scenarios and activity plans.
• Develop a timeline and plan for Series A readiness aligned with key milestones to maximize valuation, and support investor-facing materials and narratives.
• Build BD processes, infrastructure, and pipelines from the ground up.
• Help close and support the Series A in 2026.
• Position the company’s platforms with key pharma and biotech partners and advance therapeutic business cases for investor presentations.
• Strong, clearly defined career background in business development or corporate development in biotech/pharma (not a scientist newly pivoting into BD).
• Minimum of 5+ years BD experience; experience in startup or small–mid-sized biotech environments is preferred.
• Comfortable discussing complex science and clearly differentiating platform technologies with pharma partners and investors (PhD not required, but strong scientific fluency is essential).
• Entrepreneurial, proactive, and relationship-driven personality, with the ability to work independently as the sole BD lead and interact heavily with leadership, partners, and investors.

• Open to remote candidates, ideally based in major biotech hubs such as Boston or the Bay Area, who are willing to travel to the San Diego (Torrey Pines) site approximately every 2–3 weeks.
• For local candidates, preference for being onsite most days Monday–Friday, with flexibility on hours and a strong emphasis on in-person interaction and collaboration.

• Target base salary range: 220,000–300,000 USD, plus bonus and equity.
• Strong benefits package, including high employer coverage of healthcare premiums, 401(k), and flexible PTO.

• The platform has meaningful validation and momentum in high-value therapeutic areas.
• Opportunity to build the BD function almost from scratch with high visibility to leadership and investors.