Business Development Manager (Crop Sciences)

BioTalent Canada; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent biotechnology firm located in Edmonton is seeking a Business Development Manager to drive market expansion in the Crop Sciences sector. The ideal candidate will have significant B2B experience, focusing on customer acquisition and engagement, while managing complex sales processes. This role emphasizes both strategic and technical expertise, and offers the chance to influence significant growth within the organization. A scientific background and strong existing networks in crop sciences are critical for success.

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefits

Flexible paid time off

Snacks and coffee provided

Qualifications

• 6+ years of B2B business development experience in the science services industry.
• Experience selling a technical/scientific product in the AgTech / Crop Sciences industry.
• Working knowledge of regulatory science and product development timelines.

Responsibilities

• Execute the go-to-market strategy and new logo acquisition for the Crop Sciences vertical.
• Build and manage a robust pipeline of new business opportunities.
• Represent Future Fields at industry conferences and client meetings.

Skills

B2B business development

Strategic selling

Networking

Education

Scientific background in cell biology

10+ years in B2B experience

Job description

Do you have a deep background in the Crop Sciences industry? Do you want to build a new market from the ground up and help Crop Sciences companies get more high-impact products to market?

Changing the world – one fruit fly at a time.
We’ve developed a novel insect-based expression platform that allows us to make the world’s most sustainable recombinant proteins.

We’re unleashing the next biorevolution.
At Future Fields, we are continually learning and evolving. We know we don’t have all the answers, but we try to ask all the questions. We believe in “failing forward” and leveraging our mistakes to help us grow. We never want our team to feel constrained by the status quo and we don’t judge ideas based on where they come from. We actively work to foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and psychological safety through transparency, structure, and open communication. We know it sounds cliche, but every employee really is a valued and equal member of the Future Fields team.

Come find your purpose with Future Fields.
We are a rapidly growing venture backed startup (with support from awesome investors including Bee Partners, Y Combinator, BDC Climate Tech, R7 Partners, Toyota Ventures and Amplify Capital). We’ve even had a shoutout from Ironman himself! Joining our team now means you’ll have the opportunity to shape our culture and products, to lead others, and to influence the direction of our company. Perhaps most importantly – you’ll be joining a team that is genuinely energized by this work and the meaningful potential of biotech to change the world.

About the role

The Business Development Manager (Crop Sciences) will execute the go-to-market strategy and new logo acquisition for our Crop Sciences vertical. This is a hunting-only role that is focused on opening new accounts. You will work closely with our CEO, VP Sales & Marketing, and Scientific Team for the ultimate impact of establishing Future Fields as the premier partner for recombinant protein supply in the Crop Sciences industry. This role requires travel, with several conferences spread throughout the year. This is a high-expectation, high-reward role.

This role will own:

• Executing a comprehensive “hunting” strategy to acquire new customers in the Crop Sciences sector (e.g., Pesticide lead optimization, Ag Biologicals, Bt Tox Regulatory Science).
• Building, managing, and forecasting a robust pipeline of new business opportunities from prospecting to qualified meetings in order to drive initial R&D projects with high potential for follow-on manufacturing cycles in the crop sciences and ag biotech industry.
• Executing a clean handoff for closing, supporting this process where needed.
• Initiating and proactively supporting the complex sales cycle for high-value deals with large corporate accounts
• Representing Future Fields as a primary commercial and technical point of contact at industry conferences and client meetings.

This role will assist by:

• Translating customer needs and market feedback into actionable insights for our BD, Executive, and Marketing teams.
• Collaborating with the executive team to refine commercial strategy and inform future resource allocation.
• Supporting the development of marketing collateral and case studies based on customer successes

About you

You are a seasoned and strategic hunter who thrives on the challenge of building a new market and multiplying network connections. You are an executor who can initiate a go-to-market strategy and follow through, but can adapt as new learnings emerge. You are as comfortable discussing the commercial value of technical challenges to PhD decision makers as you are negotiating business terms with a C‑suite executive. You’re familiar with bottom-up and top-down development tactics and are capable of multithreading efficiently with both cold and warm accounts. You tackle ambiguity by systematically pursuing target accounts and building on the insights that arise from each conversation. You can manage your time and work effectively with a nimble but growing team. Whatever knowledge you may lack, you aren’t afraid to ask for help or insights from our in‑house subject matter experts.

Must haves

• 6+ years of B2B business development experience in the science services industry, with a demonstrable track record in a “hunter” role, focused on new logo acquisition.
• Proven experience driving high‑value ($100k+ TCV) deals with long sales cycles (7 – 12 months).
• Experience selling a technical/scientific product, service, or platform into R&D‑heavy organizations in the AgTech / Crop Sciences industry
• Demonstrated examples of strategic selling and/or solutions selling
• Working methodology knowledge (ie. Strategic Selling, Solutions Selling, MEDPICC, SPIN, or Challenger, etc.)
• Ability to travel as needed to meet with clients and attend industry events.
• Working knowledge of regulatory science and product development timelines in commercial Bt‑tox or similar crops
• An existing network of contacts within the Crop Sciences industry.
• 10+ years in B2B experience across multiple hunting roles with emphasis on manufacturing in the sciences
• A scientific background in cell biology, protein science, or a related Ag‑science field.
• Experience navigating language, culture, and geography challenges in international selling
• Experience selling directly into crop science market leaders such as Bayer (Monsanto), Syngenta, Corteva, FMC, or BASF.
• Previous experience in a venture‑backed, high‑growth startup environment.

Your future (with Future Fields)

This roadmap outlines the impact you’ll make as you grow with us. We’ll use this as a guide for your first year, knowing that in a fast‑paced environment, we’ll adapt and evolve these goals together.

Within 1 month, you will:

• Onboard with the science and commercial teams to deeply understand our platform.
• Leverage your skills and network to map the Global Crop Sciences market, identify an initial 10 target accounts, and secure your first prospect meetings.

Within 3 months, you will:

• Be actively managing a pipeline of qualified leads, with multiple concurrent conversations at various stages.
• Provide concrete market feedback that helps shape our R&D priorities for the Crop Sciences vertical.

Within 6 months, you will:

• Have one or more opportunities you sourced have advanced to the technical evaluation and proposal stage at a near closing state.
• Have established a repeatable outreach and qualification process for the Crop Sciences market.
• Completely own this vertical for BD in our business.

Within 1 year, you will:

• Have closed additional keystone accounts in the Crop Sciences vertical, proving the market viability and building a foundational book of business for the company’s future revenue goals.

About our team

Our story and approach to science is anything but conventional. Matt (co‑founder/CEO) was a touring punk rock musician who dropped out of University before returning to complete his PhD in cell biology. Jalene (co‑founder/COO) is a social researcher by training, previously working on issues from the right to affordable housing to harm reduction. The spark of an idea for our technology came while waiting in line for tiny, Canadian donuts . Our broader team of scientists, engineers, circus performers, restaurateurs, dancers, music aficionados, kid parents, pet parents, cyclists, and artists hail from every corner of the world – from small town Alberta to Poland, India, Vietnam and Pakistan. We credit our diverse team and experiences as the key to our success – and we encourage candidates of all identities and backgrounds to apply.

FAQs

Where is Future Fields located?

Our headquarters and production facility are located in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, in a renovated historic warehouse. From the exposed brick to our summer patio– it’s not your average lab space. It is central, close to transit and bike lanes, and walking distance to some of the city’s best coffee shops, restaurants and Edmonton’s incredible river valley.

I don’t live in Edmonton. Why would I want to relocate there?

Many! Some include: comprehensive health, dental and vision benefits; flexible paid time off policy; and the office is always stocked with snacks and all the coffee you can drink.

Will I like working for a startup?

Great question. Startup life is definitely not for everyone. We move quickly. Projects and priorities shift fast. There is a lot of ambiguity and uncertainty at times and we’re not immune to the growing pains of a rapidly scaling startup. The risk is high, but so is the reward. We promise you will never get bored. You will have fun and learn a lot. You will grow personally and professionally in ways you never imagined (alongside our company). You will be part of something much bigger than yourself and contribute directly to the mission of a team who cares deeply about changing the world for the better. Oh, and equity!

Sound like something you are interested in? Here are the next steps:

If it seems like a good fit, next steps will look somewhat like this:

• We will contact you for a casual 15‑minute video call.
• We will set up an interview to dive into your technical skills and motivation.
• We’ll arrange another interview to figure out how you fit with our team and culture, and better understand your career trajectory.
• We will set up a coffee chat with you and a team member. This is your chance to dig in and find out what it’s really like to work for Future Fields. This is for you!
• We will speak with two of your references to confirm our assumption that you are, in fact, our next great hire.
• We offer you a job!

We welcome applications from all qualified individuals. For international candidates, support for Canadian work authorization may be provided.

Location: In Person or Remote (North America), with travel as needed.