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Senior Director of Business Development

Berkeley, CA

Caribou Biosciences is a leading clinical-stage CRISPR genome-editing biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing transformative therapies for patients with devastating diseases. Our next-generation genome-editing technology enables superior precision to develop cell therapies that are armored to potentially improve activity against diseases. We believe the future of cell therapy is off-the-shelf, and we are advancing our pipeline of off-the-shelf, or allogeneic, cell therapies from our CAR-T cell therapy platform as readily available treatments for patients with hematologic malignancies and autoimmune diseases.

Members of the Caribou herd open their minds to new ideas and welcome diverse perspectives. We proudly assert that teams do their best work when their members are personally engaged, their ideas are taken seriously, and their contributions are recognized. Members of the herd work from our headquarters in Berkeley, California, or remotely.

We are seeking a Senior Director of Business Development to serve as an integral member of the Business Development team, working closely with cross-functional partners to progress initiatives that support our corporate objectives. This role reports directly to the Chief Business Officer and will work closely with other management team members on a wide range of corporate activities including in-licensing, out-licensing, competitive intelligence, and strategic planning. In addition to strong business acumen, the ideal candidate will possess excellent leadership capabilities, strong interpersonal skills, and a proven track record in interfacing with both internal and external senior company stakeholders.

The successful candidate will play an important role in the exploration and expansion of new business development opportunities across a broad range of therapeutic areas and technology platforms including partnering of existing programs, R&D collaborations, and enabling technology collaborations. They will lead sourcing, evaluation, and contracting activities for several strategic partnerships across biopharma, contract organizations, and academia. 

Specific responsibilities will include:

  • Planning and executing Business Development and partnering activities. Sourcing, developing, structuring, and negotiating business and financial terms for in-licensing and out-licensing transactions
  • Leading the execution of a diverse array of business development transactions. Developing and implementing BD strategic plan in conjunction with the senior leadership team
  • Working with other members of the Business Development, Finance, and Legal teams, they will execute business transactions, conduct product/market evaluations, and lead due diligence and contracting activities
  • Leading competitive intelligence function to understand and communicate transaction activity in the biotech industry in general, and specifically in Caribou’s arena
  • Working closely with Caribou’s Research and Development teams to formulate external innovation strategy; aid in developing Business Development strategy for the company's technology platform and programs
  • Leading cross-functional teams from diligence through contract execution
  • Building pitch decks for partnering and out-licensing activities
  • Partnering with Research and Development to support search and evaluation efforts to identify potential partners and in-licensing opportunities for our research and product portfolio
  • Building effective internal communication channels for Business Development activity and educating the larger organization on concepts and considerations surrounding business development
  • Working with Finance to build informative financial deal models
  • Representing Caribou at partnering and scientific meetings with a high level of business integrity while adhering to all Company policies, procedures, and business ethics
  • Approximately 5-15% travel time required

Candidate must possess:

  • BA, BSc, or equivalent; a degree in the life sciences is preferred; a PhD, MBA, or equivalent business/financial experience strongly preferred
  • Minimum of 10 years of business experience, 8 years in Pharmaceuticals, and at least 5 years in Business Development with more thorough pharmaceutical and biotech knowledge and experience
  • Demonstrated ability to close deals, with a track record of success
  • Collaborative working style with internal and external stakeholders
  • Experience negotiating intellectual property licenses as licensor and licensee
  • Proven experience structuring collaborations and managing alliances
  • Solid understanding of the drug development process; experience in gene and cell therapy development preferred
  • Thorough understanding of industry trends and competitive landscape
  • Ability to influence others to reach common goals and facilitate the decision-making process
  • Experience in an external-facing role
  • Confident, proactive approach, and capable of taking the initiative
  • Analytical and financial modeling skills
  • Strong negotiation skills
  • Demonstrated knowledge of intellectual property, patents, and contract law
  • Ability to effectively communicate and influence a broad variety of stakeholders from bench scientists to management
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Significant attention to detail and strong organizational skills 
  • Ability to work on multiple projects in parallel with consistent high-quality
  • Personal attributes: team player, talent for networking, driven, passionate, curious, ability to deal with uncertainty, strategic thinker, effective problem solver, analytical, knowledge of underlying technology, business acumen

Caribou compensation and benefits include:

  • Comprehensive compensation package, which includes stock options and an employee stock purchase program for all employees
  • Generous paid vacation time, in addition to company-observed holidays and floating holidays
  • Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) retirement savings plan, which includes matching employer contributions
  • Tuition reimbursement program

Caribou compensation and benefits include:

  • Comprehensive compensation package, which includes competitive salary, bonus, and equity for all employees
  • Salary Range: $225,000 to $245,000 - This represents the present low and high end of the Company’s pay range for this position. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to location, skill, experience, and performance.
  • Generous paid vacation time, in addition to company-observed holidays and floating holidays
  • Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) retirement savings plan, which includes matching employer contributions
  • Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)
  • Tuition reimbursement program

The benefits and stock purchase described above are subject to the terms and conditions of any governing plans, policies, practices, agreements, or other materials or documents as in effect from time to time, including but not limited to terms and conditions regarding eligibility.

Caribou is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding), genetic information, taking or requesting statutorily protected leave, or any other basis protected by law. In addition, Caribou prohibits the harassment of any individual on any of the bases listed above or any other characteristics protected under federal, state, or local laws.

Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

We do not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from staffing agencies. All agencies must have a valid written agreement with Caribou Biosciences, Inc. for service in place. Any resume or candidate submitted by a staffing agency without such an agreement in place will be considered unsolicited, and Caribou Biosciences, Inc. will not be obligated to pay any referral or placement fee.

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