Sr. Director, Business Development, Biopharma Business (Remote) #2905

GRAIL is a healthcare company whose mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. GRAIL is focused on alleviating the global burden of cancer by developing pioneering technology to detect and identify multiple deadly cancer types early. The company is using the power of next-generation sequencing, population-scale clinical studies, and state-of-the-art computer science and data science to enhance the scientific understanding of cancer biology, and to develop its multi-cancer early detection blood test. GRAIL is headquartered in Menlo Park, CA with locations in Washington, D.C., North Carolina, and the United Kingdom. GRAIL, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN). For more information, please visit www.grail.com.

The Senior Director of Business Development is a proven sales leader who will be responsible for generating a large portfolio of strategic partnerships with leading biopharma to establish a well diversified mix of research and development collaborations that will ultimately yield novel biological insights and changes in cancer treatment paradigms. This may also include regulatory approved companion diagnostics, which would be commercialized at a global level.  

This is a critical leadership role which will be an architect, manager/leader/mentor and roll-up-your-sleeves / hands-on contributor to build and scale a rapidly growing business development team, a rich flowing pipeline and an extensive set of partner-focused collaborations.  

The mission driven leader will adeptly apply their technical, clinical and business acumen to construct innovative deals, business models and alliances that leverage GRAIL’s cutting-edge and proprietary liquid biopsy ctDNA methylation platform and machine learning / artificial intelligence informatics to enable biomarker driven precision medicine programs and better identify cancer patients who may benefit from novel, advanced therapies.

You Will

• Forge meaningful, lasting and impactful strategic partnerships between GRAIL and biopharma with the ambition to catalyze development of transformative cancer care via cutting-edge cancer detection technology services and solutions. 
• Build, lead and mentor a skilled, highly effective business development team in a rapidly growing organization.
• Ensure realization of revenue and strategic partnering targets by accurate and reliable forecasting, tracking of a complex mix of pipeline opportunities from new partners.
• Design and implement effective business development strategies, initiatives, tactics and processes that efficiently fill and propel pipeline deal flow.
• Drive engagement with leading biopharma by planning and executing a broad program of networking, conference and speaking engagements, and roadshows as well as consistent, direct visits with partners.
• Create and pitch winning business models & proposals that enable innovative research, development and commercialization collaborations.
• Develop, negotiate and execute comprehensive, portfolio-based master service agreements and master collaboration agreements.
• Participate as a key governance member in growing partnerships to facilitate rapid expansion of collaboration projects that scale in synchronicity with advancing biopharma drug development and commercialization programs.
• Team and collaborate with cross-functions and subject matter experts that support business development initiatives.
• Contribute to development and implementation of biopharma business, strategy and service/product life-cycle plans via an intimate knowledge of biopharma partners’ voice and needs for cutting-edge technology solutions and innovative, adaptive business services as well as competitive tactics, market dynamics and industry trends.

Your Background Should Include

• BS/BA required + 17 years of experience OR MS + 15 years experience; Advanced degree preferred (JD, MBA, MD, PhD in relevant field)
• 10+ years in biopharma partnering service sales, business development
• 5+ years of direct management/leadership experience of a biopharma service sales or business development team
• Extensive network of established biopharma partners and key industry stakeholders
• Proven track record (deal sheet) of successfully executing business development initiatives, including negotiations and deal closures
• Comprehensive technical, clinical, development, manufacturing, regulatory and commercialization domain knowledge of liquid biopsy ctDNA NGS companion diagnostic service and solution co-development with global biopharma drug development programs 
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Highly proficient use of Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace productivity and web conferencing platforms
• Highly effective communication and presentation skills and experience at all levels of an organization
• 25-50% travel throughout US, UK and major global biopharma markets (EU, Japan and ASIA)
• Core personality traits: entrepreneurial, extremely driven, constantly anticipating, proactive, adaptable, fully engaged, critical thinking, highly collaborative, persistent, committed to quality and timely follow through, thrives in complex dynamic environments. 
• Intensely passionate about improving patient lives and outcomes by partnering with biopharma to transform the detection and treatment of cancer.

The expected, full-time, annual base pay scale for this position is $188,000 - $269,000. Actual base pay will consider skills, experience, and location.

Based on the role, colleagues may be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan tied to company and individual performance, or an incentive plan. We also offer a long-term incentive plan to align company and colleague success over time.

In addition, GRAIL offers a progressive benefit package, including flexible time-off, a 401k with a company match, and alongside our medical, dental, vision plans, carefully selected mindfulness offerings.

GRAIL is an Equal Employment Office and Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We will reasonably accommodate all individuals with disabilities so that they can participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. GRAIL maintains a drug-free workplace.


Following extensive monitoring, consideration of business implications, and advice from internal and external experts, GRAIL US has made the decision to require that all U.S. employees be “Fully Vaccinated” with the COVID-19 vaccine. “Fully Vaccinated” is defined as two weeks after both doses of a two-dose vaccine (e.g. Pfizer or Moderna) or two weeks since a single-dose vaccine (e.g. Johnson & Johnson) has been administered. Absent a qualifying exemption, all GRAIL US employees are to comply with this requirement, including providing documentation of such vaccination status, as a condition of employment. Anyone unable to be vaccinated, either because of a sincerely held religious belief or a medical condition or disability that prevents them from being vaccinated, can request a reasonable accommodation for consideration by GRAIL.