Washington University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

This position is full-time and works approximately 40 hours per week.  

This position is in the Department of MC Strategic External Projects and Outreach.  The position is located at the Mid Campus Center.  This position is for the Medical School Campus.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Medical Campus Strategic External Projects and Programs (AVC), and working closely with the Center for Drug Discovery (CDD) and the Office of Technology Management (OTM), the Senior Director, Business Development will be responsible for day-to-day communications between the School of Medicine (SOM) and our industry partner, Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company (SPARC). The Senior Director will provide accountability and oversight for the SPARC-SOM relationship, including identifying and engaging potential investigators for the SPARC-CDD partnership to foster the development and submission of Initial Drug Applications to the FDA. The Senior Director will operate as the liaison between the CDD, SPARC, OTM and principal investigators (PIs). The Senior Director will track development progress, the budget, and other administrative activities against funding milestones. 

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Identification & Recruitment

The Senior Director will develop requests-for-proposals (RFPs) for SPARC projects; lead RFP marketing efforts and outreach to WU PIs; serve as the primary contact for investigators submitting proposals; maintain interaction with investigators during the pre and post-award process. The Senior Director will also work with the licensing and patent teams at OTM to determine project eligibility. He/she will become knowledgeable of the best and most commercially viable science across WU SOM by attending symposia, participating in the LEAP program, talking to Key Opinion Leaders on campus, and working with partners in OTM and CDD to identify potential PIs for partnership. He/she will then work collaboratively with these teams to recruit PIs to submit for SPARC grants. 

Outreach efforts will include:

• Prepare presentations and other communications for delivery to Executive Faculty regarding the SPARC partnership and funding opportunities.
• Create marketing materials that highlight various partner funding opportunities.
• Present information on SPARC and LEAP opportunities at faculty meetings and other appropriate venues.
• Utilize other communications opportunities in partnership with medical public affairs and university communications.

2. Relationship Management & Reporting

The Senior Director will be responsible for producing all aspects of communications and reporting between WU and SPARC, ensuring to clear all communications and reporting for the coordination of the annual partnership meeting. The Senior Director will be responsible for monitoring and tracking milestones and capturing relevant information in the appropriate databases, including OTM’s database, Innovate, and the CDD website.

These efforts will include:

• Act as point of contact for SPARC Vice President Partnerships & Portfolio Management, providing regular, frequent and productive interactions that build trust and improve outcomes.
• Provide honest and constructive feedback to SPARC and PIs regarding the process.
• Coordinate regular meetings between CDD, SPARC, WU PIs and OTM, including meeting logistics and agendas.

For all funded projects under the SPARC agreement, the Senior Director will work with PIs and researchers post-award to ensure project tracking against milestones; communicate progress to internal stakeholders and SPARC representatives; and will identify and coordinate project needs and resources.

3. Support to AVC of the Center for Drug Discovery

To better identify opportunities for SPARC, the Senior Director will assist the CDD in managing and tracking CDD and LEAP activity, including SOM related CDD support, CDD microgrant, and LEAP post-award tracking, and sharing this data with the OTM and the Skandalaris Center.

4. Personnel Management Duties

As the SPARC portfolio grows and additional industry partnerships are developed there will be need to hire additional staff to perform administrative and project management duties.

• PhD degree in chemistry, biology, biomedical sciences, or related field preferred.
• The most important skills for this job are an excellent and effective ability to multi-task and track projects over time at varying degrees of detail.
• The successful candidate will be self-motivated, be extremely detail-oriented in a high-volume dynamic environment and have experience at working both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• The candidate must be able to manage shifting priorities, demands and timelines through analytical and problem-solving capabilities, and pivot on projects accordingly and as necessary with promptness and efficiency.
• The successful candidate must be able to interact in oral and written form with a wide variety of stakeholders, including faculty, industry partners, external consultants, and WUSTL project administrators.�����
• A significant interest in basic/discovery research with an authentic aspiration to support those missions through providing of a first-rate administrative service.
• Knowledge of research funding processes and post-award grant management.
• Strong partnership management, project management, and organizational skills.
• A successful track record of leadership in a complex matrix environment with additional external institutional relationships.
• Ability to influence others without direct authority; strong networking skills.
• Outstanding interpersonal and political savvy with proven evidence of working effectively both internally and externally with a wide variety of constituents including PIs, staff and administration.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Leader and team player who works collaboratively and supportively with all stakeholders.
• Flexibility to meet multiple priorities/deadlines.
• Deep knowledge of science and the U.S. drug development process including basic regulatory approval.
• Excellent verbal and written skills with attentiveness to detail.
• Strong computer skills.
• Regularly sets clear and challenging goals, prioritizes them, and meets them on time.
• Ability to develop and manage a budget.

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, biomedical sciences or related field required with seven years of experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, animal health industry, or academic technology transfer office.
• Core knowledge, skills and experience required include complex project management, partnership/alliance management, familiarity with technology transfer, and/or portfolio management.
• A minimum of three years of supervisory experience is required.

JOB LOCATION/WORKING CONDITIONS/EQUIPMENT:

Standard office environment. Requires frequent travel to various Washington University, Medical Center, and Cortex campus for meetings and events. Travel to visit partner offices and at least one annual national meeting is expected (10%).

Competitive package will be provided commensurate with experience.

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. Current employees applying for a new position within the university may be subject to this requirement. The screenings will include a criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

This position is eligible for full-time benefits.  Please click the following link to view a summary of benefits:  https://wustl.box.com/s/8wkhs25yssf0775x9d6nd6vqa7obpth7.

Please attach a copy of your most current signed performance evaluation (completed within the last 18 months) to your online account.  If you have not received a performance evaluation, you may provide two current signed letters of recommendation (written within the last 18 months), preferably to include one letter from either a current or recent former supervisor.  To attach these documents, go to:  My Career Tools, Add Attachment, Attachment Type – Performance Reviews or Letters of Recommendation.