Business Development Program Director

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Business Development Program Director is responsible for developing and managing strategic industry partnerships that advance the commercialization and translational impact of innovations emerging from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. With a strong focus on large, multi‑year partnerships with leading healthcare, life sciences, and health technology companies, this role spans the full spectrum of biotechnology and health technology opportunities, including intellectual property, platform and emerging technologies, clinical and translational capabilities, digital health assets, and innovation programs. The Program Director will lead efforts to identify, structure, and execute high‑value opportunities across licensing, strategic partnerships, co‑development, sponsored research, joint ventures, and new venture creation. While deal execution is a core responsibility, the role is equally focused on building durable, long‑term alliances that generate sustained research collaboration, revenue, and institutional impact. Working closely with Innovations leaderships, strategy and licensing teams, the Business Development Program Director serves as a primary relationship owner for Innovations’ top priority industry partners, coordinating closely with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and performance across the partnership lifecycle. The Business Development Program Director will support revenue growth and impact by executing partnership and business development strategies across the Innovations portfolio. This role provides strategy and coordination across business development, licensing, strategy, and operations, ensuring a cohesive and partner‑focused approach. The ideal candidate is a strategic, analytical professional with a proven ability to advance complex partnerships while operating effectively as both a leader and individual contributor. The Program Director will help expand Innovations’ business through strategic alliances, co‑development agreements, sponsored research collaborations, and other partnership models, sourcing and negotiating opportunities that deliver mission‑aligned value. This includes accelerating the opportunity pipeline, supporting the translation of medical innovations to market, and leading business development and partnership activities.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in business, business administration, finance, accounting, education, social sciences, healthcare administration, public administration, communications, information systems, or a directly related field from an accredited institution.
A combination of education and related technical/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for the bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.
6-8 years of professional level direct life-sciences business development or technology transfer business development experience at a research university, academic medical center, or in industry.
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
Some domestic travel is required.
Understanding of complex science, including effectively discussing and communicating with an audience that often has MD and/or PhD level education.
Must have ability and confidence to effectively function independently, be a self-starter, and be a team player within a collaborative organization.
Other required skills include creativity, excellent communication (written and oral) skills, strong financial analysis, and strategic and innovative thinking capabilities.
Must have successfully led direct reports or project team members in previous positions.
Must have ability to effectively present to the senior leadership level of internal and external organizations.
High EQ and experience building strong client relationships.
Knowledge of pharmaceutical, cell and gene therapy development.
Ability to understand and communicate effectively about the science behind CU technologies and assets
Relevant business skills and knowledge, including strategic, financial, marketing and operational expertise are preferred.
Collaborative, outgoing disposition with the interest and natural ability to network across various situations and mediums.
Deep understanding of market feedback related to role, what it means and how to interpret it.
Self-starter that is driven to find quality deals, follow-up on those deals while working in tandem with CUI licensing mangers who will be responsible for closing the deal.

Nice To Haves

JD or MBA or master’s degree in a related field,
Experience generating and executing new business ventures and analyzing and reporting on new business opportunities.
Experience in commercial/solution sales in the Pharmaceutical / Biotech industry, with significant achievements and relevant network.
Experience in managing a team.
A successful corporate development and deal-making track record in smaller, entrepreneurial company situations and/or in a large corporate environment, where business skills and knowledge (including relevant strategic, financial, marketing and operational expertise) have been gained is required.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement business development and partnership strategies that advance CU Innovations’ priorities and support commercialization, and research collaboration.
Recommend and execute business development strategies that identify high‑value opportunities and drive revenue growth.
Identify leading assets in the Innovations portfolio and collaborate with internal teams to develop partner-facing materials.
Build and maintain a robust pipeline of potential deals for the Licensing team and other strategic Innovations partnership opportunities.
Cultivate relationships with industry partners across pharma, biotech, med‑tech, diagnostics, digital health, and other sectors.
Source, structure, negotiate, and close high‑value deals, including licensing agreements, partnerships, and strategic collaborations.
Lead due diligence on activities related to technologies, markets, partners, and ventures, including financial analysis and risk assessments.
Support ongoing partnership management, including tracking progress, addressing issues, and identifying opportunities to expand collaboration.
Manage cross‑functional teams with a hands‑on, collaborative approach.
Provide feedback from industry partners to Licensing, Marketing, and Strategy teams to guide next steps in asset development and commercialization.