Business Development Associate

Canadian Bioinformatics Workshops; Montreal; Hybrid; CAD 110,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A genetic-focused biotech firm in Montreal seeks a motivated individual to drive business development through targeted outreach and scientific communication. You'll collaborate with scientists and present at key conferences, maintaining strong relationships with partners. A graduate degree in Genetics is required. This is a hybrid role with travel to various meetings across North America. The firm offers competitive compensation of CAD $110k to $200k based on experience.

Benefits

Generous stock option plan

15+ vacation days per year

Remote work options

Budgets for conferences and courses

Qualifications

• Ability to compile and present high-level partnership proposals.
• Available for travel in North America for conferences and meetings.
• Familiarity with human genomics resources.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute targeted outreach to establish business leads.
• Represent 5Prime at conferences and meetings.
• Maintain client tracking system and produce concise insights.

Skills

Clear writing and speaking

Strong organization

Building trust with R&D stakeholders

Education

Graduate degree in Genetics or related field

Tools

Jira

GWAS

ExWAS

multi-omics

Job description

5Prime Sciences uses human genetics to accelerate drug development. Over the past four years, we’ve helped pharmaceutical, biotech, and venture partners accelerate and de-risk pipelines—enabling some to move from target to Phase 2 in two years. Our mission is to deliver medicines to patients in need.

We are a premier partnership business, working side‑by‑side with pharma, biotech, and venture groups as trusted specialists. Most new work comes through referrals—approximately 80% of revenue is generated from recurring partnerships.

Role Overview

Join our multidisciplinary team to advance genetics‑first drug discovery. You will plan and run targeted outreach, represent 5Prime at conferences and meetings, and prepare clear pre‑meeting research and emails that enable high‑yield introductions to clients. You’ll work with colleagues in genetics, bioinformatics, medicine, and software development to scope scientific projects, keep teams aligned, and ensure partners receive timely, accurate updates.

Success in this role requires a science‑led, trust‑first mindset, clear writing and speaking, strong organization, and the ability to move comfortably between science and business. By studying materials and working with the team, you’ll compile and present the value of our genetics‑first approach to inform high‑level partnership proposals.

Success Metrics

• Establish high‑yield business leads and introductions to potential clients.
• Attend and present at scientific conferences and meetings to establish business leads.
• Generate clear meeting summaries, with next steps, owners, and deadlines, and accurate updates.
• Establish trust and scientific credibility with senior R&D stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Represent 5Prime: Seek, identify, and build relationships in pharma, biotech, and venture through targeted outreach (quality over volume). Represent 5Prime at North American conferences and meetings with a professional presence and graduate‑degree fluency in genetics.
• Build the partnership pipeline: Grow a focused pipeline of priority companies; run tailored outreach to companies where our genetics methods are relevant; schedule introductions. Keep our client tracking system (e.g., Jira/Sheets) up to date with contacts, touchpoints, meeting outcomes, and brief weekly pipeline summaries.
• Explain the science: Clearly explain how human genetics informs indication selection, target validation, and biomarkers—and how genetic evidence improves the likelihood of drug development success. Maintain a working understanding of GWAS, ExWAS, MR, and multi‑omics.
• Support strategic deals: Draft clear pre‑reads, agendas, and proposal outlines (scope and milestones) for senior review. Learn pricing and terms; assist with negotiation preparation with a path to greater ownership over time. After meetings, deliver timely notes, summarize decisions and next steps in plain language, name who is responsible and when each task is due, and share updates with the right teammates.
• Work as one team: Contribute as a key member of a small BD team to achieve ambitious goals. Work closely with 5Prime scientists to understand their methods and how they can assist partners.
• Track the market: Keep an eye on partner updates and competitor news. Produce concise insights to update target client lists, messaging, and scopes.

Qualifications

• Location & on‑site: Based in Montreal or willing to relocate; available 3 days/week on‑site at our HQ.
• Travel: Able to regularly travel in North America for conferences, partner meetings, and workshops, attending at least one‑to‑two meetings per quarter.
• Education: Graduate degree in Genetics or a related field (MSc or PhD required).
• Methods: Working knowledge of GWAS, MR, ExWAS and multi‑omics.
• Communication: Clear, direct, low‑hype style; strong email writing; accurate note‑taking; timely follow‑ups; the successful candidate will be able to build trust with senior R&D stakeholders.
• Language: Excellent written and spoken English.

Other Helpful Qualifications

• French language skills (asset for Montreal team and local ecosystem engagement).
• Experience or internships in early‑stage drug discovery, translational genomics or similar.
• Familiar with human genomics resources such as gnomAD, GTEx, and Open Targets.
• Business degree or diploma (completed or in progress).
• Conference operations experience (run‑of‑show, suite/booth coordination, on‑site logistics).

Location

This role is Montreal‑based, hybrid: 3 days/week on‑site at our Montreal‑based headquarters, with regular travel to meetings, conferences and workshops in North America. As the face of 5Prime for clients, on‑site time is essential to learn our culture, understand how we work, and speak with scientific credibility. Relocation and immigration support are available for candidates who wish to live and work in Canada.

Additional Information

Why 5 Prime Sciences Inc?

• 5 Prime is a mission‑driven organization that has grown since its founding in 2021 and is both stable and growing.
• Join a visionary company at the forefront of drug development that is currently partnering with the largest pharmaceutical companies and biotech VC in the world, including Eli Lilly, GSK, and Thirdrock Ventures.
• Collaborate with a talented and passionate team of professionals in clinical medicine, human genetics and bioinformatics, and software development.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the future of health care through the acceleration of drug development.

Benefits

• Generous stock option plan in a company profitable from inception and not VC funded.
• 15+ vacation days per year, plus one week at Christmas.
• Remote work options for an additional 15 days per year.
• Regular paid trips to Montreal for non‑Montreal based employees.
• Budgets for conferences/courses, fitness, home office, and IT needs.

At 5Prime, we believe the best business developers are curious scientists who become trusted partners to our clients. In this role, you’ll receive hands‑on mentorship from BD leaders and scientists to build strategic, financial, and negotiation skills alongside your scientific training. If you’re a motivated scientist with a passion for business development and real‑world impact, apply to help us transform healthcare through genetic insight and bring better treatments to patients.

5Prime is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

The expected compensation for this role is between CAD $110k to $200k depending on experience.