Director, Research Business Development

As the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization, Breakthrough T1D helps make everyday life with T1D better while driving toward cures. We invest in the most promising research to turn ideas into life-changing therapies and devices. We work with government, regulatory officials, and insurance companies to address issues that impact the T1D community -- breaking through barriers that limit access to care worldwide. We provide resources and guidance that makes it easier to live and thrive with T1D. This is more than a moment -- we're empowering a movement for the T1D community. Share your support and help educate and empower individuals facing type 1 diabetes.

Our mission is to improve lives today and tomorrow by accelerating life changing breakthroughs to treat, prevent and ultimately, cure T1D and its complications. Always, we are guided by a single purpose: As we drive towards curing type 1 diabetes, we help make everyday life better for the people who face it.

The Director, Research Business Development, is a key position within the Research team to drive Breakthrough T1D’s goal of bringing curative therapies and treatments to people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The Director will work across a matrixed team to manage Breakthrough T1D’s industry partnership portfolio and to develop new opportunities. This individual will be responsible for synthesizing scientific goals with operational business processes to accelerate research toward translation and productization. 

A major focus of this role will be furthering Breakthrough T1D’s initiative Project ACT (Accelerate Cell Therapies) aimed at accelerating islet cell therapy products for T1D cures through coordinated efforts to advance research, product development, clinical trials, regulatory approval, access, and adoption. 

The ideal candidate will have experience with partnership agreements, project management, supervision, and participating in scientific research forums. They will scout, develop, negotiate and manage new partnerships and collaborations. They will lead the ongoing alliance management of Breakthrough T1D’s industry grants portfolio, working with internal and external stakeholders to monitor research progress and mitigate problems as they arise. This individual will be able to work both independently and collaboratively with other Research staff and other departments, particularly with regard to Project ACT. 

They will report to the VP, Research Business Development.  

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Lead the business development team on new partnerships and collaborations, with a strong focus on those related to Project ACT.  

• Identify opportunities for new partnerships and collaborations, particularly those related to cell therapies for type 1 diabetes, together with scientific program managers(s). 

• Negotiate a variety of research agreements (e.g., strategic collaborations between for-profit and non-profit, term sheets, definitive agreements, terms related to intellectual property, revenue sharing agreements, MOUs, and confidentiality agreements). 

• Oversee drafting agreements and negotiations, together with the Associate Director, Research Business Development and Contracts, and internal and external legal counsel. 

• Collaborate with scientific program managers on developing and reviewing scientific/clinical milestones