Ph.D. or M.S. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or a related field; MBA a plus.
5+ years in alliance management or business development within biopharmaceutical or biotech.
Knowledge of oligonucleotide therapeutics, especially siRNA biology and drug development challenges.
Experience managing complex, multi-party collaborations from initiation to delivery.
Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills, with a focus on influencing stakeholders.
Strong project management skills; knowledge of tools like Smartsheet or Asana.
Familiar with AI/ML applications in drug discovery and existing network in the therapeutics ecosystem.
Responsibilities
Serve as the primary point of contact for siRNA and oligonucleotide partnerships, managing daily operations.
Establish and lead governance bodies such as Joint Steering Committees and prepare meeting documents.
Monitor contractual milestones and proactively identify issues impacting partnership success.
Coordinate internal teams across various functions to meet partnership obligations.
Drive execution of partnered programs to achieve milestones and explore expansion opportunities.
Prepare presentations for senior management to support decision-making through the deal process.
Travel for industry events and maintain awareness of the competitive landscape in RNA therapeutics.
Benefits
30 days paid vacation per year.
Comprehensive health insurance for US-based employees.
401K with company match for US-based employees and Direktversicherung for German employees.
Quarterly company-wide retreats.
Monthly wellness benefit.
Budget for visits to offices in Berlin, Palo Alto, or Switzerland.
Learning & Development budget for professional growth and access to educational platforms.
Full Job Description
We are looking for an exceptional and motivated individual to join our business development team.
You will be joining a dynamic and agile team, set to execute on our mission and capitalize on scientific, business, and strategic opportunities. We are seeking an Alliance Manager to lead and grow our strategic partnerships in oligonucleotide therapeutics, with a primary focus on small interfering RNA (siRNA) drug discovery. As a key member of our Business Development team, you will serve as the primary interface between our company and our external partners - spanning pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and technology providers - ensuring alliances are structured for scientific success and commercial value.
This role sits at the intersection of cutting-edge AI-driven biology and next-generation RNA therapeutics. You will leverage our proprietary AI platform to identify, establish, and manage high-impact collaborations that accelerate the development of siRNA-based medicines. Your mission, should you choose to accept it
Embody our vision of an antedisciplinary environment and embrace learning about areas outside of your traditional area of expertise
Serve as the primary point of contact for existing siRNA and oligonucleotide partnerships, managing day-to-day alliance operations and escalation pathways
Establish and lead Joint Steering Committees (JSCs), Joint Research Committees (JRCs), and other governance bodies, preparing agendas, minutes, and action tracking
Monitor contractual milestones, deliverables, and timelines; proactively identify and resolve issues that could jeopardize partnership success
Coordinate cross-functional internal teams (Biology, Chemistry, AI/ML, Regulatory, Legal, Finance) to fulfill partner obligations and advance shared programs
Drive successful execution of partnered programs against scientific and operational milestones and enable expansion opportunities across strategic partnerships
Prepare documents and presentations to senior management to help drive decision-making through the deal process
Travel to industry events, scientific or business oriented
Scientific & Strategic Engagement
Develop a deep understanding of partner pipelines, strategic priorities, and siRNA platform capabilities to align collaboration goals
Translate AI platform outputs and siRNA design insights into compelling partnership narratives for both scientific and business audiences
Collaborate with internal discovery teams to ensure partner-facing scientific deliverables meet alliance commitments
Stay current on competitive landscape in RNAi therapeutics, GalNAc-siRNA conjugates, lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery, and AI-driven target discovery
Qualifications
Ph.D. or M.S. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or a related life sciences field; MBA a plus
5+ years of experience in alliance management, business development, or strategic partnerships within the biopharmaceutical or biotech industry
Working knowledge of oligonucleotide therapeutics - particularly siRNA biology, mechanism of action, and drug development challenges
Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-party research or licensing collaborations from initiation through program delivery
Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills; ability to influence without direct authority across internal and external stakeholders
Strong project management skills with proficiency in tools such as Smartsheet, Asana, or equivalent platforms
Familiarity with AI/ML applications in drug discovery, including sequence-based target identification or predictive ADME/toxicity modeling
Prior experience negotiating term sheets, CDAs, MTAs, or master research collaboration agreements
Existing network within the oligonucleotide therapeutics ecosystem (pharma, biotech, CRO, and academic partners)
Availability to accommodate working with team members across different time zones, with one or two meetings per week starting at 8am PT or finishing at 7pm CET
Readiness to travel several times a year for company retreats and business events
We value the benefits of in-person collaboration and expect candidates to primarily work at our office locations
Compensation
$135K - $240K + Bonus + Equity
What we offer
A competitive compensation package
30 days paid vacation per year
Comprehensive health insurance for US based Beginners
401K with company match for US based Beginners and Direktversicherung for German Beginners
Quarterly company-wide retreats
Monthly wellness benefit
Budget for multiple visits per year to our offices in Berlin, Palo Alto or Switzerland
Learning & Development budget to attend conferences, take courses, or otherwise invest in your professional growth, as well as access to the Learning & Development platform EdX and Hone
A buddy to help you get settled
*Varies by country and does not apply to internships
