Business Development Lead

We are seeking a strategic, highly motivated Business Development Lead to join our team. This is a pivotal role where you will serve as the architect of ION’s long-term business development strategy, leading our most valued partnerships and institutional relationships.

The ideal candidate combines strong scientific understanding with exceptional operational discipline. You will drive sales across our dual-revenue framework, premium products (fluorescent indicators, HTS assays) and contract research services (assay development, hit identification, lead optimization, safety pharmacology, custom chemistry), while building an operational roadmap to support a high-performing commercial team over the coming years.

1. Business Development & Strategic Partnerships

• Strategy Execution: Define, own, and execute ION’s business development strategy, spanning strategic alliances with biotech, pharma, academic institutions, and research consortia, in addition to collaborations, licensing, and distribution agreements.
• Complex Deal Negotiation: Personally lead high-value, high-complexity project negotiations, ensuring all commercial agreements (including technology transfer and sponsored research) are financially sound.
• Pipeline Management: Develop and manage a robust pipeline of BD opportunities from initial prospecting and triage through deal execution and ongoing relationship management.
• Lead Optimization: Oversee the initial triage, evaluation, and qualification of inbound and outbound leads, ensuring tight strategic fit before mobilizing cross-functional technical teams.
• Data-Driven Execution: Leverage modern CRM platforms and business intelligence tools to maintain pristine account records and translate data insights into actionable market recommendations
• Account Stewardship: Oversee strategic account management for ION’s most significant institutional and industry partners, nurturing long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.
• Project Alignment: Co-develop and maintain detailed project plans, timelines, and success metrics. Collaborate with internal scientific teams to ensure cross-departmental accountability.

2. Market Engagement & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Brand Representation: Serve as a senior commercial representative of ION Biosciences at key industry conferences, trade shows, and partner meetings to deepen industry relationships. Travel up to 50%.
• Market Intelligence: Maintain a strong pulse on the life science research tools, CRO, and reagent landscapes—tracking competitive dynamics, funding trends, and evolving customer needs to inform ION’s product/service roadmap.
• Go-To-Market Strategy: Partner with internal marketing and scientific teams to develop and execute commercial strategies for new products, custom assay services, and partnerships.

Required:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or a related scientific field (e.g., Pharmacology, Biology, or Biochemistry) OR equivalent commercial experience
• Experience: 8 years of business development, licensing, or strategic partnerships experience in the life sciences sector (biotech, CRO, or research tools).
• Deal-Making Track Record: Demonstrated success leading and closing high-value commercial agreements involving contract research services.
• Ability to travel: 25 to 50% travel, day trips and overnight stays, work some weekends
• Scientific Literacy: Strong scientific literacy in cell biology, pharmacology, or microplate-based assay workflows, sufficient to engage credibly with principal investigators and relevant stakeholders.
• Analytical Skills: Excellent data analysis, financial evaluation, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate technical insights into strategic recommendations.

Preferred:

• Graduate degree (MBA, PhD, or equivalent) in a relevant scientific or business field.
• Prior experience working within or closely with specialized CROs or high-growth reagent companies.
• Deep familiarity with pre-clinical ion channel, SLC transporter, and GPCR drug discovery programs.
• Established network within the biotech, pharma, and academic research ecosystems.

• Competitive base salary ($140,000 - $180,000) with a performance-driven incentive structure.
• Benefits package includes paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance 
• A culture dedicated to scientific innovation, democratization of research tools, and accelerated professional career trajectory.



ION Biosciences is a high-growth biotechnology company pioneering new approaches to ion channel, transporter, and GPCR-focused pre-clinical drug discovery. We empower scientists worldwide to push the boundaries of drug discovery by commercializing next-generation fluorescence-based platforms for high-throughput screening (HTS) and compound profiling. Driven by innovation and scientific rigor, we partner with biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical organizations, and academic institutions to accelerate breakthroughs in human health.