Director of Business Development, Gene and Cell Therapy

CO00 Children's Hospital Medical Center; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

CO00 Children's Hospital Medical Center, based in Ohio, seeks a Director for its Applied Gene and Cell Therapy Center. This key role will focus on driving business development, securing strategic partnerships in the Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) space, and building a new business development function from the ground up.

The candidate must have extensive experience in business development, particularly within life sciences, and demonstrate a proven ability to close high-value contracts. The role requires a Bachelor’s Degree, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to advancing innovative therapies.

Qualifications

• 10+ years related experience primarily in Business Development or Value Proposition/Product Development Management.
• 5+ years leading teams in medical device, healthcare consulting, or a complex medical center.
• A proven track record of closing high-value contracts and building a pipeline from scratch.

Responsibilities

• Build a new business development function from the ground up.
• Lead the entire sales cycle from initial outreach to execution.
• Represent the organization at major industry conferences.

Skills

Business Development

Negotiation Skills

Leadership

Market Analysis

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a related field

Advance degree highly preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

The Applied Gene and Cell Therapy Center (AGCTC) at Cincinnati Children’s is a leading clinical‑stage center focused on advancing innovative gene and cell therapies from research through clinical translation and manufacturing. AGCTC combines expertise in translational science, process development, analytics, regulatory strategy, and GMP manufacturing to accelerate next‑generation therapies for patients with serious diseases. This high‑impact Director role is a primary engine for growth, focused on securing strategic partnerships with biotech and pharmaceutical companies in the Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) space.

Job Responsibilities

• Leadership: Build a new business development function from the ground up, including hiring and talent development.
• Market Intelligence & Brand Advocacy
  • Competitive Analysis: Stay ahead of the curve on CDMO pricing, capacity trends, and emerging technologies (e.g., closed‑system manufacturing, non‑viral delivery).
  • Marketing Collaboration: Provide "voice of the customer" feedback to the marketing team to refine value propositions and sales collateral.
• Revenue Generation & Pipeline Management
  • Identify & Qualify: Scout the global biotech landscape to identify companies with CGT assets in pre‑clinical through Phase III stages.
  • Deal Execution: Lead the entire sales cycle from initial outreach and RFPs to site visits and collaborate with the contract team for final execution.
  • Territory Strategy: Develop and execute a regional or global business plan to meet or exceed annual booking targets.
• Strategic Relationship Management
  • Consultative Selling: Act as a bridge between the client’s CMC needs and our internal technical capabilities.
  • Strategic Networking: Represent the organization at major industry conferences (e.g., ASGCT, SITC, Ash et al).
  • Account Growth: Partner with key collaborators to ensure current clients are satisfied and identify opportunities to expand existing programs.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
• 10+ years related experience primarily in Business Development and/or Value Proposition/Product Development Management.
• Business development experience in Gene and Cell Therapy or related life sciences; preferably 5 years in Business Development or Sales within the CDMO or Life Sciences services sector.
• 5+ years leading teams (direct and cross‑functional) in medical device/equipment/service company, healthcare consulting, or a complex medical center.
• A proven track record of closing high‑value contracts and building a pipeline from scratch.
• Experience leading new product development and launch in a matrix organization.
• Product development experience related to strategic partnerships with biotech and pharmaceutical companies in the CGT space.
• Negotiation Skills: Experience navigating complex legal and financial terms in MSAs and Work Orders.
• Domain Expertise: Deep understanding of the Cell and Gene Therapy manufacturing lifecycle, including viral vector production, cell processing, and analytical requirements.
• Must be able to travel up to 30% of the time, with additional international travel as needed.
• Advance degree highly preferred to navigate complex technical and financial nuances of CGT deals.
• Key performance metrics include ACV/TCV, conversion rate from Lead to Signed Proposal, accuracy of sales forecasting, and CRM (Salesforce) management.
• Established network of C‑suite and CMC‑level contacts within the cell and gene therapy ecosystem.
• Ability to build rapport quickly in a highly technical environment.

Location

Primary Location: Burnet Campus, Cincinnati, Ohio. Schedule: Full time Shift Day (United States of America). Department: Applied Gene and Cell Therapy Center. Employee Status: Regular FTE. Weekly Hours: 40.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Cincinnati Children's is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

Disability Accommodation

We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local law. If you require accommodation in the application process, please contact [e-mail].