Director, Partnerships and Business Development
BiomeSense
Chicago, IL
JOB DETAILS
SALARY
CA$150,000–CA$200,000
JOB TYPE
Full-time, Employee
SKILLS
Academic Research, Alliance/Partner Management, Biology, Biomarkers, Biotech and Pharmaceutical, Brand Strategy, Business Development, Business Strategy, Clinical Research, Communication Skills, Competitive Analysis/Strategy, Conferences, Contract Negotiation, Cross-Functional, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Data Analysis, Ecosystems, Entrepreneurship, Establish Priorities, Human Health, IRB/IEC (Institutional Review Board/Independent Ethics Committee), Incentive Programs, Leadership, Market Analysis, Medicine, Multitasking, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Oncology, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Project/Program Management, Public/Media/Press/Analyst Relations, Research Administration, Resource Management, Sales Pipeline, Scientific Research, Startup, Strategic Planning, Team Lead/Manager, Team Player, Time Management, Trade Shows, Translational Research, Trend Analysis, White Papers, Writing Skills
LOCATION
Chicago, IL
POSTED
24 days ago
Director, Partnerships and Business Development
Compensation: $150K– $200K salary, 0.25% - 0.5% equity
About BiomeSense
BiomeSense is a pioneering life sciences startup focused on harnessing the power of the gut microbiome to revolutionize personalized medicine. With our breakthrough technologies GutLab and MetaBiome, we are setting new standards in microbiome data analysis and interpretation, enabling unprecedented insights to understand & leverage the microbiome for human health. We partner with leading institutions and researchers including UCSF, UCSD, NIH, and the University of Chicago, and are backed by investors such as LabCorp Ventures, Bluestein Ventures, Seerave Foundation, and Emil Capital Partners.
Role Summary
We are seeking an experienced and entrepreneurial individual to join our leadership team and build the foundation for BiomeSense’s next stage of growth. This is a pivotal role for someone who thrives in early-stage environments and is passionate about translating cutting-edge science into high-impact collaborations with academic institutions and industry partners.
In this role, you will help design and execute our partnership and business development strategy, building the systems, processes, and relationships needed to accelerate our engagement with partners. You’ll support new partners end-to-end, establishing BiomeSense as a trusted microbiome partner for clinical and translational research, while also developing the CRM infrastructure and operational discipline needed to maintain a scalable pipeline of high-value collaborations.
You’ll work cross-functionally with our scientific, clinical, and technical teams to ensure alignment between research priorities and partnership goals. This role offers an opportunity to shape both the external relationships and the internal systems that will drive BiomeSense’s future success.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Partnership & Leadership
- Develop and execute short and long-term business development strategies aligned with business priorities
- Design and implement a scalable CRM and partnership-tracking infrastructure to support growth in academic and clinical collaborations
- Ensure market insights, competitive intelligence, and business priorities inform strategic planning and resource allocation
- Lead internal teams to deliver timely, accurate, and high-impact proposals, presentations, and partnership strategies
- Manage multiple complex projects concurrently, ensuring prioritization and alignment with company goals
Partnership Development and Relationship Management
- Identify, cultivate, and secure collaborations with academic researchers, oncology investigators, and industry partners conducting interventional or translational studies
- Serve as the primary liaison for partners, fostering clear communication and long-term, trust-based relationships with PIs, research team members and university administrators
- Collaborate with PIs and institutions to negotiate study agreements, manage IRB approvals, and deliver timely study results, structuring creative partnerships that align incentives and create mutual value. Proven success in partnership and contract negotiation preferred
External Engagement and Market Visibility
- Represent BiomeSense externally at conferences, trade shows, and industry events to elevate brand visibility and build strategic relationships
- Translate cutting-edge scientific discoveries into compelling white papers and case studies that inspire partner and investor confidence and strengthen the BiomeSense brand
Scientific and Partner Integration
- Translate breakthroughs in biomarker discovery and microbiome science into strategic opportunities for innovation and future commercialization
- Conduct comprehensive market analysis to identify emerging opportunities, trends, and competitive dynamics in clinical research
- BS or MS degree with 5+ years, or PhD with 3+ years, of relevant experience in life sciences business development roles. Start-up experience preferred
- Demonstrated success developing and managing academic or clinical research partnerships, preferably in oncology, translational medicine, or biomarker discovery
- Proven ability to build systems and processes from scratch, including CRM or partnership-tracking tools
- Strong understanding of microbiome science, translational research, and academic research ecosystems
- Excellent relationship builder—able to establish credibility and trust with academic investigators and research administrators
- Experience in an early-stage or growth-stage biotech, medtech, or diagnostics company strongly preferred
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex science into compelling partnership opportunities
- Self-starter with a collaborative, confident, humble and adaptable approach to teamwork
This role offers a competitive total compensation package commensurate with experience and qualifications:
- Salary: $150K – $200K
- Equity: 0.25% – 0.5% stock options
- Full benefits suite including health coverage, PTO, and parental leave
About the Company
B
BiomeSense
INDUSTRY
Other/Not Classified