Executive Director, Trade Relations

Bicara Therapeutics, Inc.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Bicara Therapeutics, Inc. is seeking an Executive Director, Trade Relations to lead the design and execution of Bicara's trade and patient-support strategy ahead of the launch of FICERA.

This role reports to the SVP, Market Access and partners across Finance, Legal, Marketing, and Operations to ensure a best-in-class launch readiness. The ideal candidate has 12+ years in pharma trade and GPO governance, with proven launch experience and strong leadership to drive channel readiness and patient

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA preferred.
• 12+ years in pharma trade, distribution, GPOs and patient support.
• Launch experience for a publicly traded company's first market entry.
• Experience negotiating channel-partner contracts and monitoring performance.
• Strong analytical and cross-functional leadership abilities.
• Executive presence and accountability; ability manage multiple priorities.
• Travel 50%+ required.

Responsibilities

• Lead trade and patient-support strategy across channels and partners.
• Oversee GPO contracting and partner negotiations to secure favorable terms.
• Build and lead a high-performing trade operations and patient-support team.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and alignment with corporate goals.
• Monitor market dynamics and adjust strategy accordingly.
• Manage budget and forecast for trade and patient support.

Skills

Pharma trade

GPO experience

Launch experience

Contract negotiation

Analytical skills

Executive presence

Cross-functional leadership

Multi-tasking

Communication skills

Cultural alignment

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA preferred

Job description

Position Overview

Bicara Therapeutics is seeking an Executive Director, Trade Relations to serve as Bicara's senior leader for trade and patient-support strategy ahead of the commercial launch of ficerafusp alfa (FICERA). Reporting to the SVP, Market Access, this role is accountable for designing and executing the enterprise trade strategy across distribution, GPOs, patient support programs, and strategic partners. The Executive Director drives cross-functional alignment, ensures channel readiness, and establishes the frameworks required for compliant, efficient, and high-performing trade operations, partnering closely with Finance, Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Commercial Operations, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and Market Access to deliver a best-in-class customer experience.

This role is remote; 50%+ travel is required, including regular travel to Bicara's Boston office.

Responsibilities

• Product Launch Readiness: Gather and synthesize all critical trade, distribution, and patient-support inputs required to ensure a successful new-product launch.

• Trade & Patient Support Strategy: Design and execute comprehensive trade and patient-support strategies that optimize access and the overall patient experience.

• GPO Contracting Leadership: Develop and implement contracting strategies with Group Purchasing Organizations to strengthen market access and align with commercial objectives.

• Team Building & Leadership: Build and lead a high-performing organization across trade operations, patient support, and field reimbursement.

• Strategic Contract Negotiation: Lead negotiations with specialty distributors, specialty pharmacies, GPOs, and patient-hub partners to secure mutually beneficial agreements that advance corporate goals.

• Internal SME & Cross-Functional Alignment: Serve as the primary subject-matter expert for trade operations, ensuring internal teams are informed, aligned, and equipped with critical market and channel insights.

• Operational Problem-Solving: Identify operational risks and opportunities, developing both foundational and innovative solutions to improve efficiency, profitability, and product availability.

• Competitive Landscape Monitoring: Continuously assess competitive dynamics to anticipate challenges, inform strategy, and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

• Patient Support Governance: Establish and maintain patient-support policies, business rules, and operational frameworks that ensure compliant, consistent, and high-quality service delivery.

• Strategic Partner Management: Cultivate strong, trust-based relationships with key external partners to enhance collaboration and long-term value creation.

• Performance & Budget Accountability: Ensure trade and patient-support strategies are executed effectively and deliver against budget, forecast, and corporate performance targets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study; MBA preferred.

• 12+ years of pharmaceutical trade, distribution, GPO, patient support, and strategic partner experience required.

• Pharmaceutical trade and patient-support experience for a launch product required.

• Launch experience on behalf of a publicly traded company's first market entry preferred.

• Experience with channel-partner contract negotiation, implementation, execution, and performance monitoring.

• Strong analytical acumen.

• Executive presence with a strong sense of accountability.

• Demonstrated ability to balance multiple projects and priorities.

• Proven team leadership with seamless cross-functional coordination, supported by strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Track record of efficient, effective, solution-oriented multitasking.

• Cultural alignment with Bicara’s Values of Powered by People for Patients, Adaptive Momentum and Candor that Elevates.

• 50%+ travel required for this role.

Company Overview

Bicara Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech company pioneering bifunctional antibodies for targeted tumor modulation. Founded in 2020, we've built a global team of over 100 employees headquartered in Boston, with a clear focus on advancing our lead asset, ficerafusp alfa, or FICERA - a potentially first-in-class bifunctional EGFR-directed antibody combined with a TGF-β ligand trap. Our innovative approach combines tumor-targeting with tumor modulation, where one arm localizes to the tumor while the other serves as a modulator, designed to deliver superior efficacy, improved safety, and enhanced durability directly at the tumor site. FICERA specifically addresses a key challenge in solid tumor treatment by enabling immune cell penetration into tumors, reducing fibrosis and immunosuppression while reversing TGF-β-driven resistance mechanisms - ultimately designed to drive the deep, durable responses that may translate into better outcomes and survival for patients. For more information, please visit www.bicara.com.

Here at Bicara, we believe in building diverse teams and cultivating a culture where all voices are included. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

Bicara Therapeutics is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law.