Manager, Engagement & Business Development

CALIFORNIA LIFE SCIENCES ASSOCIATION•South San Francisco, CA

9h•$80,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Engagement & Business Development is responsible for strengthening, expanding, and retaining member relationships while driving revenue growth and long-term value across the CLS membership portfolio. This role serves as the primary point of contact for small member companies and plays a central role in shaping the end-to-end member experience. This position is highly relationship-driven and execution-focused, combining proactive engagement, strategic account management, and data-informed decision-making to increase member ROI, reduce churn, and grow member lifetime value. The Manager partners cross-functionally with internal teams to ensure members are fully leveraging CLS programs, benefits, and resources.

Requirements

Associate or Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent experience will be considered
Minimum 2+ years of experience in sales support, account management, or customer service, preferably in a life sciences or B2B environment
Strong relationship-building and customer service skills with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong organizational, time management, and problem-solving abilities with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
High level of initiative and ability to work independently in a team-focused environment
Demonstrated alignment with CLS core values: Impact, Integrity, Community, Equity, and Collaboration
Experience using Salesforce; familiarity with LinkedIn as a business development or engagement tool
Travel to and support in-person events, including some overnight travel, across California (primarily in South San Francisco, but also the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, Sacramento, and Los Angeles) and occasionally in Washington, DC, requiring reliable personal transportation and availability to travel by plane
This role requires standing for extended periods during events and the ability to lift up to 25 lbs. for event setup and handling materials

Nice To Haves

Background in life sciences, healthcare, or a related industry
Experience working in a membership organization, association, or mission-driven organization

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary relationship manager for assigned member accounts, delivering a high-touch, value-driven member experience
Proactively identify member needs and connect members with relevant CLS programs, resources, and internal partners
Conduct business reviews (virtual and in-person) to demonstrate value, cost savings, ROI, and future engagement opportunities using the Member Benefit Summary
Execute multi-touch engagement strategies throughout the year, promoting cost savings programs, Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) initiatives, and CLS events
Engage with stakeholders across member organizations, including C-suite, HR, Business Development, Marketing, IT/Facilities, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Lab teams
Own the renewal process for assigned member accounts, particularly small member companies, and achieve annual retention targets
Manage membership renewals and invoicing in collaboration with Membership, Accounting, and internal partners to ensure accuracy and efficiency
Identify, recommend, and implement process improvements to streamline the renewal experience for both members and internal teams
Support incubator strategy and engagement with selling partners to increase participation and utilization of CLS cost savings programs
Represent CLS at industry events, association meetings, and conferences to build relationships, generate leads, and stay current on industry trends
Act as an ambassador for CLS within assigned market segments, supporting organizational goals and strategic priorities
Follow up consistently with members and prospects to drive engagement, participation, and satisfaction
Document all member interactions and activities in Salesforce and maintain accurate records of engagement, renewals, and transactions
Utilize Salesforce dashboards and reports to track progress against defined goals and scopes of work
Review trends related to membership growth, retention, engagement, and benefit utilization to inform tactical adjustments
Support BBS commercialization efforts by reviewing monthly enrollment reports, onboarding new members, confirming contract understanding (e.g., Avantor), and relaying feedback to partners
Monitor and manage the member engagement and renewal pipeline using established sales and engagement processes