Business Development Manager​/Director

About the Role: Novoprotein is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Business Development Manager / Director to join our growing North America team in San Francisco.

This role will focus on developing strategic business with large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as well as AI-driven drug discovery and protein/antibody design companies across the West Coast. The successful candidate will build relationships with scientific and business leaders, identify high-value opportunities, and translate customer R&D needs into collaborations leveraging Novoprotein's protein science, antibody discovery, high-throughput screening, mRNA, and biologics development capabilities.

This is a strategic, customer-facing position for someone who understands the rapidly evolving intersection of AI-enabled drug discovery and experimental biology and can engage customers from early discovery through larger-scale development programs.

• Key Responsibilities
  Develop and execute a West Coast business development strategy with particular emphasis on: (1) Large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, (2) AI-native drug discovery companies, (3) AI protein and antibody design companies, (4) High-growth biotech companies with substantial outsourced discovery and development needs
• Build and manage relationships with key scientific and business stakeholders, including leaders in protein sciences, antibody discovery, biologics discovery, computational biology, AI/ML, translational research, and external innovation.
• Identify, develop, and close high-value CRO and strategic collaboration opportunities.
• Develop deep relationships within major Bay Area pharmaceutical, biotech, and AI drug discovery organizations and expand individual relationships into broader strategic accounts.
• Work with customers to understand scientific objectives and design appropriate project solutions across Novoprotein capabilities, including: (1) Recombinant protein production, (2) High-throughput protein expression and characterization, (3) Antibody discovery and engineering, (4) AI-designed protein experimental validation, (5) mRNA synthesis and LNP-related services (6) Process development and scale-up manufacturing
• Serve as a bridge between computational drug discovery teams and Novoprotein's experimental capabilities, helping customers efficiently move from design → build → test → validation.
• Develop strategic opportunities involving large-scale or high-throughput experimental validation of AI-generated proteins, antibodies, and other biologics.
• Manage the full business development cycle, including prospecting, scientific discussions, proposal development, pricing, negotiation, contracting, and account expansion.
• Maintain a disciplined opportunity pipeline and accurate forecasts through CRM.
• Collaborate closely with Novoprotein's scientific, project management, marketing, and global business teams to develop competitive solutions for strategic customers.
• Represent Novoprotein at scientific conferences, industry events, customer meetings, and networking activities throughout the West Coast.
• Monitor developments within the AI drug discovery ecosystem and identify emerging companies, technologies, funding events, and partnership opportunities relevant to Novoprotein.
• Qualifications: Go getter personality, hunter style, ability to drive business in any circumstances
• Bachelor's degree or higher in biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related field. MS or PhD strongly preferred. Practical background in AI/ML antibody and protein design and drug discovery is a plus.
• Demonstrated business development experience within biotechnology, pharmaceutical services, CRO/CDMO, life science tools, or biologics…