Director of Partnerships and Business Development

Summary

Join SandboxAQ, a high-growth company delivering AI solutions, as a technically savvy leader in business development. Spearhead efforts to align philanthropic funding with biopharma applications, bridging the funding gap for academic partners. You will identify and secure funding opportunities, playing a pivotal role in matching capital with high-impact scientific advancements. The role involves leading the end-to-end funding process, acting as a key liaison between SandboxAQ and various stakeholders, and collaborating with internal teams. This position requires expertise in securing funding from diverse sources and building strong relationships within the biopharma industry. You will contribute to shaping the strategic direction of the AI Simulation Business Unit.

Requirements

• Expertise in identifying, cultivating, and securing funding from foundations, impact investors, and government grants to support scientific research and emerging technologies
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with philanthropic organizations, research institutions, and biopharma industry leaders to create sustainable funding pipelines
• Strong understanding of high impact scientific and clinical areas within biopharma, along with the R&D funding landscape,commercialization and patient impact pathways in life sciences
• Exceptional ability to craft compelling narratives, grant proposals, presentations , and events that align funding opportunities with scientific and business goals, effectively engaging donors and stakeholders
• Proven ability to work across multidisciplinary teams (product, R&D, engineering, business) to align philanthropic funding with research priorities and company strategy
• Be comfortable with ambiguity, uncertainty, and working toward audacious goals.  As a start-up, we are chasing big goals. We are the CEOs of our respective domains
• Empathetic leader who is invested in the team’s success, a champion for our customers
• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry Computational Chemistry or equivalent practical experience, advanced degree strongly preferred
• Open to travel 30% of time in line with job demands

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, and secure philanthropic funding sources (foundations, family offices, impact investors, and government grants) to support research and development in biopharma-related AI & simulation technologies contributing to meeting quarterly business objectives
• Develop and execute a strategic roadmap for engaging philanthropic organizations and aligning their funding priorities with research efforts that can be accelerated by SandboxAQ
• Lead the end-to-end process of securing funding, from prospecting and relationship-building to proposal development, negotiation, and execution of funding agreements
• Act as the primary interface between SandboxAQ and philanthropic funders, research institutions, government agencies, and biopharma industry partners. Own any follow-up, reporting on progress, and stakeholder updates
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders to create sustainable funding pipelines for high-impact research initiatives
• Collaborate with internal teams—including product, R&D, and engineering—to align funding opportunities with technological advancements and commercialization strategies

Preferred Qualifications

Familiarity with macro trends and key players in the AI/ML-enabled drug discovery ecosystem

Benefits

• Competitive salaries
• Stock options depending on employment type
• Generous learning opportunities
• Medical/dental/vision
• Family planning/fertility
• PTO (summer and winter breaks)
• Financial wellness resources
• 401(k) plans
• Annual discretionary bonuses
• Equity