Business Development Director

The Business Development Director will play a key role at the intersection of science, strategy, and partnerships. This individual will help define the commercial and collaborative direction of our stool host RNA-seq platform, with a particular focus on pharmaceutical collaborations in IBD and other GI indications, as well as service and co-development opportunities.

This is a senior, high-impact role with direct exposure to executive leadership and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Guide the business and partnership strategy for El Capitan Biosciences’ stool host RNA-seq platform across pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic developers, and academic collaborators.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to co-develop companion diagnostic (CDx) products with pharmaceutical partners developing therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other GI-related indications.
• Develop and expand service-based business opportunities, offering stool host RNA-seq–based solutions to industry and academic users.
• Engage directly with external stakeholders, including pharma R&D, translational medicine, and biomarker teams, to understand needs and shape collaborative programs.
• Support deal structuring, partner discussions, and early commercial strategy in collaboration with internal scientific and leadership teams.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated professional connections with pharmaceutical companies working on IBD or GI-related drug development.
• Prior business development, partnerships, or strategic roles at a diagnostics, life-science, or biotechnology company.
• Solid working knowledge of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and their applications in translational research, diagnostics, or drug development.
• Ability to bridge scientific concepts with business and partnership discussions.
• Strong communication skills and comfort engaging with senior scientific and business stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with companion diagnostics, biomarkers, or translational medicine programs.
• Background working with early-stage or growth-stage biotech companies.
• Familiarity with GI disease biology, IBD, or molecular diagnostics is a plus.

• Base range: $150,000/year - $200,000/year. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and skill set.

• Financial security through competitive compensation, incentives, and retirement plan

• Health care and well-being programs including competitive medical, dental, vision & medical benefits.

• Generous paid time off including vacation, sick time, & holidays

• 401(k) retirement savings with a company match

• Other comprehensive voluntary benefits include but are not limited to pet insurance, life insurance, employee assistance program, discount programs, and many more.

• We continue to optimize our benefits & wellness programs as we grow our organization to make sure they meet our diverse workforce needs.

• The stability of a company with a record of strong financial performance year over year.