Clinical Trial Business Development Director

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Fred Hutch); Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 157,000 - 261,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle seeks a Director of Clinical Trial Business Development to grow the institution's clinical trials portfolio and build a scalable business development function. This strategic leader will identify opportunities, align them with scientific priorities, and partner with PIs, operations, and legal teams to execute agreements and budgets.

The role requires 8–10+ years in clinical research BD, a strong network with sponsors, and proven leadership.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8–10+ years in clinical research business development, sponsor relations or clinical operations.
• Strong understanding of the clinical trial lifecycle, sponsor/CRO relationships, contracting, regulatory processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a strategy to grow clinical trial volume and quality; establish metrics and dashboards.
• Partner with investigators and operations leaders to assess capacity and fit for trials.
• Build the institution's reputation with sponsors; shorten study start-up timelines; create marketing materials and case studies.
• Represent Fred Hutch at conferences and sponsor meetings to increase visibility.
• Cultivate and manage long-term sponsor relationships from engagement to contract execution.

Skills

Strategic planning

Negotiation

Market analysis

CRM/pipeline management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (MBA, MPH, or life sciences) preferred

Job description

Clinical Trial Business Development Director

Overview

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world's leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world's deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

The Director of Clinical Trial Business Development is a strategic leadership role responsible for growing the institution's clinical trials portfolio, strengthening its reputation as a preferred site for efficient, high-quality trial execution, and building durable relationships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors. This individual will design and execute outreach strategies to proactively identify and secure clinical trials that align with the institution's scientific and therapeutic priorities, while also building a scalable business development function to support long-term growth.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy to grow clinical trial volume and quality across disease areas, establishing metrics and dashboards to track pipeline, activation timelines, accrual performance, and alignment with institutional research priorities.
• Partner with principal investigators, department chairs, and clinical operations leaders to assess capacity, feasibility, and strategic fit for incoming trial opportunities.
• Build and promote the institution's reputation as a top-tier clinical trial site by collaborating with clinical operations, regulatory, and contracting teams to reduce study start-up timelines, and by developing marketing materials, capability presentations, and case studies for sponsors.
• Represent the institution at industry conferences, sponsor meetings, and networking events to strengthen visibility within the pharma/biotech ecosystem.
• Cultivate and manage strategic, long-term relationships with pharmaceutical, biotech, and CRO sponsors, serving as primary point of contact for key accounts from initial engagement through contract execution.
• Negotiate study agreements and budgets in collaboration with contracts, legal, and finance teams, ensuring alignment with institutional policies and sponsor expectations.
• Design and implement proactive outreach strategies to scout and evaluate trials aligned with institutional scientific priorities and patient population, supported by ongoing market intelligence and competitive analysis of the clinical trials landscape.
• Collaborate with scientific leadership to translate research priorities into targeted business development criteria for trial selection.
• Develop and present a phased 2 - 3 year plan to expand the Clinical Trial Business Development function, including role definitions, hiring timelines, budget requirements, and performance metrics for new positions (e.g., Business
• Development Manager, Program/Operations Manager).
• Build internal processes, CRM systems, and reporting infrastructure to support a growing team and expand trial portfolio.
• Mentor and, upon hire, directly manage Business Development and Program/Operations Managers, fostering a high-performing, collaborative team culture.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree (MBA, MPH, or life sciences) strongly preferred.
• 8-10+ years of experience in clinical research business development, sponsor relations, or clinical operations, ideally within an academic medical center, CRO, or pharma/biotech setting.
• Deep understanding of the clinical trial lifecycle, sponsor/CRO relationships, contracting, and regulatory processes.
• Proven track record cultivating and closing relationships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology sponsors.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated experience building and scaling teams, with prior people-management experience preferred.
• Strong strategic planning, negotiation, market analysis, and CRM/pipeline management skills.
• Willingness to travel for conferences, sponsor meetings, and industry events (approximately 25-40%).

The annual base salary range for this position is from $156,832 to $261,352, and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.

This position may be eligible for a sign-on bonus.

Although Fred Hutch is not sponsoring most H-1B visas at this time, candidates who already hold an H-1B sponsored by another organization and are currently in the U.S. may be eligible for this position.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (12-22 days per year), paid sick leave (12-25 days per year), paid holidays (13 days per year), and paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks).

Additional Information

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Human Resources at [e-mail] or by calling 206-667-4700.