About Our Client

Our client is an AI-driven oncology company helping pharmaceutical and biotech companies better understand cancer and develop more targeted treatments. Their technology analyzes pathology images along with molecular and clinical data to identify important biomarkers, understand which patients may respond to specific treatments, and support drug development and clinical trials. In simple terms, they turn complex cancer data into actionable insights that help pharma teams make faster, better-informed decisions. VP Business Development Pharma

The Opportunity

Our client is looking for a Vice President of Business Development, Pharma to build and grow strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, primarily across translational research and clinical development.

This is a senior, hands-on commercial role for someone who knows how to open doors, navigate complex pharma organizations, build credibility with scientific and clinical stakeholders, and personally take opportunities from the first conversation through signed agreement.

You’ll own complex enterprise sales cycles, close paid pilots and research collaborations, and turn successful initial engagements into larger, multi-program partnerships. Success will be measured by the quality and value of the partnerships you close and expand, not simply by meetings or activity.

The role is US-based with responsibility for global pharma relationships. VP Business Development Pharma

What You’ll Do

• Own the full pharma business development cycle, from identifying and developing opportunities through negotiation and signed agreements.
• Build relationships with senior leaders across translational medicine, clinical development, biomarkers, precision oncology, and related R&D functions.
• Close paid pilots, research collaborations, and complex commercial partnerships.
• Grow initial projects into broader relationships across programs, therapeutic areas, and development stages.
• Navigate complex pharma organizations and bring together scientific, clinical, procurement, legal, and budget stakeholders to move deals forward.
• Understand each partner’s scientific and clinical priorities and connect those needs to our client’s capabilities.
• Stay close to the market, competitive landscape, and evolving priorities within pharma R&D.
• Identify high-value use cases that can be repeated and scaled across pharmaceutical customers.
• Help develop the commercial playbook, including qualification criteria, sales processes, and deal structures.
• Improve deal size, quality, and speed while helping develop future BD and account leaders. VP Business Development Pharma VP Business Development Pharma

What We’re Looking For

• 8+ years of business development or partnerships experience within pharma, biotech, or life sciences AI.
• A proven track record of personally closing complex, high-value deals with pharmaceutical companies, particularly translational research or clinical development teams.
• Strong existing relationships with senior decision-makers within pharma R&D organizations.
• Deep familiarity with biomarker development, translational medicine, clinical development workflows, or precision oncology.
• Experience navigating complex sales cycles involving multiple scientific, business, procurement, and legal stakeholders.
• Strong commercial instincts and negotiation skills, including experience with pharma procurement and contracting.
• The ability to communicate credibly with both scientific stakeholders and senior business executives.
• A highly autonomous, accountable, results-oriented approach.
• An advanced degree such as a PhD, MD, or MBA is strongly preferred. VP Business Development Pharma

What Success Looks Like

You’re not simply generating conversations. You’re creating partnerships that generate real commercial value. You know how to identify the right opportunities, earn the trust of sophisticated pharma stakeholders, close the initial engagement, and expand that relationship into something much larger.

For the right person, this is an opportunity to play a meaningful role in how pharmaceutical companies use AI and oncology intelligence to support drug development and improve patient outcomes.