Scientific Business Development Lead

Summary

Join SandboxAQ, a high-growth company delivering AI solutions, as a technically-minded business development leader. You will focus on the pharmaceutical and biopharma industry, partnering with the Head of Commercial for Simulation. Responsibilities include executing the BD strategy for AQBioSim, building relationships with key opinion leaders, and shaping commercial business use cases. You will also grow leads, negotiate contracts, communicate value propositions, and improve the product-market fit. This role requires a strong scientific background, experience in selling large-dollar technology solutions in Biopharma, and technical depth in molecular modeling. The position offers a competitive salary, bonuses, equity, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Requirements

• 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
• 6+ years of hands-on experience split between science and selling large-dollar technology solutions to customers in the Biopharma and Pharmaceutical industry, with an accessible network of senior BD relationships
• Track record of closing deals and partnerships
• Technical depth in molecular modeling tools and key methodologies of computational drug discovery
• Familiarity with macro trends and key players in the AI/ML-enabled simulation ecosystem
• A proactive, detail-oriented approach to business development, project management, and an eagerness to learn
• Analytically minded with an ability to connect seemingly unrelated information and ideas, and different technical specialties
• Ability to articulate complex technical issues in succinct, cohesive summaries to diverse audiences
• Experience launching new business verticals and navigating and closing complex, technical, enterprise contracts
• Open to travel 20% in line with customer demands

Responsibilities

• Support our Head of Commercial for Simulation to execute and deliver on our BD strategy for our AQBioSim business which focuses on drug discovery and drug development
• Empathize with the pain points of scientists and lead strategic relationships with key opinion leaders in the application of AI and physics methods to early drug discovery and development, building a network of TechBio adopters, and top funnel leads
• Inform, shape, and document high value commercial business use cases with customers and internal technical teams for the simulation business unit in support of Company and BU objectives, primarily focused on AQBioSim
• Grow top of funnel lead volume, qualify and nurture opportunities all the way through to write, negotiate and close commercial terms in partnership with other areas of the company, always ensuring exceptional outcomes for the customer
• Fluently and dynamically communicate the value proposition to deeply scientific and technical Biopharma audiences
• Support of ongoing BioSim work plans and contracts from a technical, operational and strategic angle
• Proactively improve our value proposition and strengthen product market fit through identification of priority buyer and user profiles, and collaboration with the product team and R&D teams
• Develop a clear and actionable growth and scaling strategy for AQBioSim, to include guidance for market segment strategic planning
• Act as the lead on competitive market intelligence, providing timely, compelling and actionable insights covering the field of physics and AI-driven drug discovery
• Develop case studies and proof points from existing work tailored to potential customers, and help convert some of these to marketing ready materials in collaboration with the marketing team
• Help foster a culture of continuous improvement and experimentation, as well as staying ahead of emerging technologies and methodologies in simulation and in drug discovery
• Evangelize BioSim across the ecosystem, speaking at conferences / trade shows / industry events
• Support product development via solicitation and distillation of market feedback
• Develop and implement scalable sales and delivery processes to support growth and customer retention
• Identify potential technology partners and acquisition opportunities, support post merger integration

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in the chemical or materials industry is a plus

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