Director, Business Development

Jade Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing best-in-class therapies for autoimmune diseases. Their lead candidate, JADE101, targets the cytokine APRIL and is currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial for treating immunoglobulin A nephropathy. The pipeline also includes JADE201, an afucosylated anti-BAFF-R monoclonal antibody, and JADE301, an undisclosed antibody candidate, both in preclinical development.

Role Overview

We are seeking a Director, Business Development who will oversee the full spectrum of business development activities, including opportunity evaluation, diligence, deal structuring, transaction execution, and partnership governance. This role reports to the CFO.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead or play a central role in evaluating and executing in-licensing, out-licensing, co-development, co-commercialization agreements, research collaborations, platform partnerships, option-based deals, key supply agreements, geographic licensing arrangements, and joint ventures.
• Coordinate cross-functional diligence processes involving R&D, technical operations/CMC, clinical, regulatory, legal, IP, finance, commercial, and executive leadership.
• Develop business cases, valuation frameworks, competitive assessments, and transaction rationales to support internal decision-making.
• Structure, negotiate, and finalize term sheets, letters of intent, confidentiality agreements, and definitive agreements in collaboration with legal and executive leadership.
• Support preparation of presentations and recommendations for senior management, executive committees, and the Board of Directors.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with biotechnology peers, pharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions.
• Serve as a key point of contact for existing and prospective partners, representing the company with professionalism and strategic insight.
• Support alliance transition and post-signing governance to ensure successful execution of strategic collaborations.
• Partner closely with internal leaders across research, development, manufacturing, commercial, finance, legal, intellectual property, investor relations, and corporate strategy.
• Help drive internal alignment on external opportunities by synthesizing complex scientific, clinical, strategic, operational, and financial considerations.
• Contribute to broader corporate planning efforts, including portfolio prioritization discussions, long-range planning, and strategic reviews.
• Develop financial frameworks to analyze potential transactions.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of experience in business development within biotech or life sciences, with a strong focus on technology licensing, research collaborations, and strategic transactions; MBA, MD, or PhD preferred.
• Deep understanding of the scientific, clinical, and regulatory dynamics driving value in therapeutic development, with the ability to engage credibly with R&D and development teams.
• Proven track record of successfully negotiating and closing complex transactions, demonstrating strong strategic judgment and financial/transactional acumen.
• Highly effective at synthesizing large amounts of scientific, clinical, and financial information into clear, compelling recommendations for senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to operate with executive-level visibility and discretion, managing confidential processes across internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong cross-functional instincts and the ability to build alignment across diverse teams without losing momentum.