Senior Business Development Executive - West Coast (Remote) - Southern Research

Senior Business Development Executive - West Coast (Remote)

Southern Research (SR) is a translational research institute that transforms ideas into innovation, and innovation into jobs and economic opportunity. Over its 80-year history, SR has developed seven FDA-approved drugs, contributed to the development of over half of chemotherapies currently in use in the US, and served hundreds of commercial, academic, and government partners. SR recently unveiled a new strategic plan centered on making Birmingham and Alabama national biotech centers of excellence in partnership with Alabama academic institutions, policymakers, educators, and economic development organizations.

Southern Research is at a pivotal moment in its 80-year history. At the start of 2022, SR launched a new strategic plan focused on translational research in the life sciences. SR will invest over $150 million in this new strategy, including development of new facilities, platforms, and programs. These investments will allow us to build cutting-edge industry partnerships, better serve client needs, and drive development of new IP to launch and support startup companies.  

We are looking for an energetic and nimble executer who thinks critically, relishes detail, effectively collaborates with a diverse array of stakeholders, and has demonstrated an interest in scientific research, commercialization, and economic growth.

General Summary

The Sr. Business Development Executive will serve as a connective tissue between SR's commercial engagement strategy and its translational research. This role will help to build SR's business development capabilities; engage with startups, venture capital funds, pharmaceutical companies, and other partners; and represent SR at conferences and other events.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Generate new business partnerships and research collaborations for SR across divisions, including drug discovery, preclinical drug development, diagnostics, data science, and IP licensing.
• Provide technical expertise during client development and partnership conversations mirroring Southern Research's scientific offerings.
• Represent Southern Research in outreach efforts through marketing, conferences, and other engagement efforts (includes travel).
• Serve as a primary partner point of contact across SR's divisions, interfacing between partners and SR's technical sales and scientific personnel.
• Champion SR's strategy as a translational research institute focused on economic development and public health in Alabama and the South.
• Develop go-to-market strategies for SR's new business lines, including data science, bioinformatics, diagnostics, and commercialization.
• Inform development of new business lines as SR's market-facing expert, including through engagement with partners and key opinion leaders.
• Identify new marketing and engagement channels through which SR can reach partners.
• Co-develop marketing materials with SR's Marketing team.

Requirements/Minimum Qualifications

• Advanced educational degree, certification, or commensurate work experience in biomedical sciences, pharmacology, chemistry, or a related field.
• Five to ten years of experience in a business development or a related commercial field within the biomedical sciences.
• Passion for building relationships around scientific collaboration, and comfort discussing technical concepts in drug discovery and development with potential partners and clients.
• Strong ability to communicate scientific and business strategy concepts, including through memos, reports, and slide decks.
• Comfort in a dynamic work environment, collaborating with stakeholders across divisions of the organization.
• Experience with building teams to support a common goal.
• Willingness to travel, including quarterly visits to site in Birmingham.
• Passionate about translational research, commercialization of new technologies, and innovation-driven economic development.

Core Values

Cultivating human connection – putting people first.  We know that every individual makes a difference and that no one can do it alone.  We believe the world's most powerful resource is human potential.  We are an inclusive and courageous team where innovation and diversity of though go hand in hand.  We understand that relationships move at the speed of trust.

Operating with precise execution – measuring what matters and owning results as a team.  We leverage data to drive decisions that advance science.  We recognize the importance of a stable foundation coupled with an agile mindset.  We hold ourselves accountable and take pride in our work.  We give and receive candid feedback as a gift that keeps us growing.

Harnessing relentless curiosity – our unstoppable, innovative force.  We are driven to ask sharp questions and push the boundaries of knowledge.  We use creativity and critical thinking as catalysts for finding solutions that change lives.  We learn by doing, consistently striving to improve our relationships, training, methodologies, questions and results.

Stewarding a healthy community – implementing sustainable operations for a safe, engaging environment.  We don't compromise on safety and health for our employees, customers or community.  We believe a healthy community begins with inclusive economic opportunities.  We respect the dignity of the patients we ultimately serve.  We are motivated to serve communities that are underserved and markets that are overlooked.

Job Specific Behaviors

Relationship Orientation – Develops positive relationships by making others feel their concerns and contributions are important.

Continuous Learning – Proactively seeks performance feedback and identifies approaches to improve personal and others performance and learning.

Tolerance for Stress, Ambiguity & Change – Demonstrates flexibility in applying different approaches to changing work demands.

Effective Communication – Creates a team environment in which information flows freely and decision making is based on a win-win philosophy.

Customer Focus –Responds to customer's needs in a manner that provides added value and generates significant customer satisfaction.

Compliance – Applies an understanding of legal precedents, policies and practices to protect the interests of the organization.

Cross-team Collaboration – Ensures integration and cooperation across organizational boundaries.

Service Development, Delivery, Refinement and Quality – Manages service delivery to ensure high levels of customer impact and satisfaction.  Constantly focuses on the continuous improvement of services and processes.

Physical Demands

This position is required to work in an office setting using a computer for extended periods of time.  Personal involvement and exposure, including travel, to other locations is required.  This position may also include entry to laboratory or workspace areas that will require use of appropriate PPE.

Certifications, Licenses & Registrations

• None required