Scientific Business Development Specialist- In Vitro Models

Technology Recruiting Solutions; San Diego (CA); Remote; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biotech firm seeks a Scientific Business Development Specialist to drive the adoption of innovative human-relevant GI models across pharma and academic research. With a blend of scientific expertise and commercial acumen, you’ll play a pivotal role in engaging clients, developing personalized solutions, and attending strategic conferences. This position emphasizes relationship-building and a deep understanding of scientific principles, offering the opportunity to work alongside industry leaders shaping the future of drug evaluation.

Qualifications

• 2–5+ years in preclinical biotech/pharma or scientific CRO business development.
• Ability to read scientific papers and convey insights.
• Proven track record in 'hunter-style' sales.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical liaison to scientists evaluating human GI models.
• Execute a sales plan focused on biotech and pharma.
• Attend scientific conferences to present company offerings.

Skills

Sales

Biotechnology

Communication

Relationship Building

Education

BS / MS / PhD in biology, pharmacology, toxicology

Tools

CRM (HubSpot)

Job description

Scientific Business Development Specialist

Location : Remote (West Coast strongly preferred)

Territory : United States (excluding Northeast) + Canada

Travel : ~30%, including scientific conferences and client visits

Reports To : Head of Business Development

Seniority Level : Mid-Senior Level (Associate or Senior title based on experience)

Compensation : Base salary + Uncapped Commission + Tiered Accelerator

About the Company

Our organization is a UNC spinout biotech that has redefined preclinical gastrointestinal modeling through its proprietary RepliGut Systems — a human stem cell-derived, physiologically relevant in vitro model of the intestinal epithelium.

Whether in kit form for internal use or offered via contract research services , RepliGut enables drug developers to model intestinal responses without animal models — saving time, cost, and increasing clinical translation. Applications include :

• DMPK : Absorption and permeability assessments for oral drugs
• Toxicology : Detection of GI-specific liabilities often missed in animal studies
• Inflammation : Mechanistic studies and efficacy testing in IBD, IBS, and microbiome-related disease

Role Overview

We are seeking a mission-aligned Scientific Business Development Specialist who can marry scientific credibility with commercial execution. You’ll play a central role in driving adoption of human-relevant GI models in pharma, biotech, and academic research — serving both inbound interest and generating new demand through strategic outreach.

This is not a catalog-sales position — your ability to interpret experimental design challenges and recommend customized solutions will determine your success.

Key Responsibilities :

• Serve as a technical liaison to scientists evaluating human GI models for absorption, metabolism, toxicology, or disease modeling
• Lead discovery calls to qualify project needs, study endpoints, and research timelines
• Translate client objectives into solutions using RepliGut kits or custom CRO service offerings
• Propose study designs in collaboration with Client Services Team (CST), ensuring scientific feasibility and commercial fit
• Create and deliver customized pitch decks, SOWs, and proposals

Account Management & Customer Success

• Cultivate long-term relationships with clients by tracking ongoing study progress and aligning future pipeline opportunities
• Maintain scientific credibility throughout the project lifecycle — from proposal to data delivery
• Champion customer feedback internally to guide product roadmap, assay development, and support materials

Territory & Pipeline Development

• Own and execute a sales plan focused on biotech, pharma, and translational academic labs across your U.S. territory
• Attend 10–12 targeted scientific conferences per year (e.g., AAPS, SOT, DDW, FASEB) to present Company offerings and identify new leads
• Partner with internal marketing to identify passive outreach gaps and co-develop messaging strategies
• Maintain accurate CRM records and forecast reports via HubSpot

Scientific & Market Expertise

• Stay up to date on emerging trends in organ-on-a-chip, human-relevant modeling, 3Rs initiatives, and GI drug development
• Understand competitive landscape including models
• Deliver insights back to internal R&D and manufacturing teams to inform future innovation

The Science You’ll Represent

RepliGut Systems provide a human primary cell-based model of the intestinal epithelium with :

• Tight junction formation and barrier integrity (TEER monitoring)
• Polarized transport mechanisms
• Drug metabolism enzyme expression (e.g., CYP3A4)
• Differentiated enterocyte, goblet, and Paneth cell phenotypes

Use Cases Include :

• Evaluating GI permeability in drug candidates
• Detecting off-target intestinal toxicity earlier in development
• Simulating human inflammatory responses for IBD therapeutics
• Screening drug formulations to reduce adverse GI side effects
• Supporting IND-enabling studies and regulatory submissions

You Might Be a Fit If You :

• Have 2–5+ years in preclinical biotech / pharma or scientific CRO business development
• Hold a BS / MS / PhD in biology, pharmacology, toxicology, or a related discipline
• Can read a paper and pitch the implications to a PI or translational director
• Enjoy “hunter-style” sales — energized by finding and closing new opportunities
• Understand how pharma scientists think, because you used to be one
• Thrive in early-stage environments with evolving processes
• Want to sell a product with scientific integrity, clinical potential, and global relevance
• Uncapped commission structure with accelerator tiers :
• Opportunity to work alongside scientists and founders who are shaping the next generation of preclinical models
• Direct mentorship from BD leadership and cross-functional exposure

Why This Role, Why Now?

You’re not just selling — you’re shaping the future of how drugs are evaluated before they reach patients. Regulatory shifts like the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 are pushing the industry toward human-relevant systems. We are leading the way in GI modeling, and you can lead the charge commercially.

Ready to put your scientific insight back into action — and get rewarded for it?