Director, Business Development

Position Summary

We are seeking an innovative and highly motivated Director of Business Development, who will contribute significantly to the development of cell therapy solutions.  

The primary focus of this position will be to further develop and execute Cellares’ business development and partnering strategy to ensure a strong presence in the market. The position will work closely with business development leadership to generate business and execute partnerships with a new customer base that drive the long-term adoption of the Cellares cell therapy manufacturing platform. Responsibilities also include contributing to the development of  strategic targeting plans, market research, opportunity assessment, funnel management, customer communications, and relationship management, to close business and capitalize on opportunities.  

Candidates should enjoy working in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment, and be prepared to tackle a broad selection of challenges as the company grows. 

• Responsible for generating new business from new customers through a high level of customer contact including direct customer visits and extensive networking activities.
• Effectively promote technologies to facilitate generation and closing of new business opportunities.  Primary means of achieving through e-mail communications, phone conversations, face-to-face meetings, and customer tailored presentations.
• Manage NDAs, contract development, review, negotiation and execution.
• Network and build trust based relationships throughout target accounts from technical personnel to the executive level.
• Maintains strong technical and market knowledge to enable meaningful conversations with prospective customers
• Demonstrate strategic business awareness of the market and customers in order to differentiate Cellares technology and approach from the competition.
• Pipeline funnel prioritization and selection, geographic expansion.
• Effectively communicate Cellares position and negotiate contracts where appropriate.
• Work closely with leadership, marketing, product development and research teams to develop and inform segmentation and targeting, marketing strategy development, understand and define opportunities (customers, products, markets) to grow business.
• Contribute to the development of business strategy.  Identify market trends, assesses market potential and develop strategies to grow market share.
• Represent Cellares and its technology, strategies, technical and scientific expertise, products and services in the pharma/biotech industry.
• Cultivate a strong cross functional relationship and demonstrate the ability to collaborate with key functions (R&D, engineering, business development, regulatory /quality, etc) in order to work towards the successful development of the business product pipeline.
• Experience working with Salesforce CRM and working in Google workspace environment a plus. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• BS or MS in either Business, Marketing, Life Sciences, Engineering, MBA or or relevant advanced degree preferred.
• Significant experience in commercial, business development with manufacturing or technical background in Cell and Gene Therapy markets. Commercial experience in the Pharma, Biotech, instrumentation, device or CDMO space a plus.
• Experience launching new products/technologies into a complex industry.
• High level of understanding of cell therapy manufacturing processes and the drug development process from preclinical to clinical development and commercialization.
• Demonstrated track record of securing new customers, exhibiting a strong close rate.
• Ability to establish and maintain key relationships based on trust and long term commitment.
• Customer facing attitude. Effective at working with scientists, and other customer stakeholders, up to and including C-Suite leaders, to discuss the value proposition of Cellares technology.
• Travel required (approx. up to 35%) to conferences, customer visits, and to HQ.
• Strong with numbers and financials, costing of projects, contract terms.
• Experience working with spreadsheets and databases.
• Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, organizational, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently with some formal guidance to set and drive personal and business objectives.
• Self-awareness, integrity, authenticity, and a growth/entrepreneurial mindset.

Annual Salary Range: $90,000 - $210,000

Cellares total compensation package contains competitive base salaries, highly subsidized Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans, 401(k) Matching, Free EV Charging, Onsite lunches, and Stock options. All displayed pay ranges are approximate, negotiable, and location dependent.

This is Cellares

Cellares is the first Integrated Development and Manufacturing Organization (IDMO) and takes an Industry 4.0 approach to mass manufacturing the living drugs of the 21st century. The company is both developing and operating integrated technologies for cell therapy manufacturing to accelerate access to life-saving cell therapies. The company’s Cell Shuttle integrates all the technologies required for the entire manufacturing process in a flexible and high-throughput platform that delivers true walk-away, end-to-end automation. Cell Shuttles will be deployed in Cellares’ Smart Factories around the world to meet total patient demand for cell therapies at global scale. Partnering with Cellares enables academics, biotechs, and pharma companies to accelerate drug development and scale out manufacturing, lower process failure rates, lower manufacturing costs, and meet global patient demand.

The company is headquartered in South San Francisco, California with its commercial-scale IDMO Smart Factory in Bridgewater, New Jersey. The company is backed by world-class investors and has raised over $355 million in financing.

Leveling will be based on overall experience, education, and demonstration of knowledge throughout the interview process.