Scientific Collaboration Manager (Business Development)

Zymo Research Corporation•Tustin, CA

22h•Onsite

About The Position

Zymo Research is seeking a dynamic Scientific Collaboration Manager to join their Commercialization Team. This is a highly technical, customer-facing role designed to build scientist-to-scientist partnerships. The individual will engage customers as a scientific peer, building trust, opening doors, and shaping collaborations across academic, government, biotech, and clinical markets. As an advanced-degree scientist (MS or PhD) with hands-on domain expertise (e.g., microbiome, genomics, clinical research, molecular biology), the role involves understanding customer workflows, uncovering unmet needs, and demonstrating how Zymo technologies deliver innovation, quality, and impact. This role functions as both a hunter, prospecting and developing new scientific and commercial opportunities, and a technical collaboration lead, complementing Zymo’s non-technical Business Development and Territory Sales teams. Beyond customer engagement, the role contributes to Zymo’s long-term growth by identifying emerging technologies, building data-driven business cases, and surfacing potential partnership, licensing, or M&A opportunities aligned with corporate strategy. The role requires up to 50% travel for customer visits, lab interactions, presentations, and conferences. Success is measured by business growth, quality of relationships built, opportunities created, and strategic insights delivered.

Requirements

Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in biological sciences, biochemistry, molecular biology, or related field.
Hands-on laboratory or industry experience in a relevant domain (e.g., microbiome, genomics, clinical research).
Strong scientific communication and presentation skills across diverse audiences.
Proven ability to build trust and influence through consultative, peer-to-peer engagement.
Entrepreneurial, opportunity-driven mindset with demonstrated success creating new business.
Willingness to travel up to 50%.
CRM proficiency and disciplined documentation habits.

Responsibilities

Hunt and Build New Relationships: Prospect and identify high-value opportunities across academic, government, biotech, and clinical markets; develop outreach strategies that establish credibility and open doors.
Consultative Scientific Engagement: Act as a trusted scientific advisor by understanding customer workflows, technical challenges, and strategic goals; position Zymo solutions to deliver measurable scientific and commercial value.
Collaboration & Opportunity Development: Advance collaborations by connecting Zymo technologies with unmet customer needs and positioning opportunities for long-term growth.
Field Innovation & Strategy Testing: Pilot new engagement models, messaging, and strategies in the field; provide structured feedback to inform broader companywide deployment.
Business Case Development: Build clear, data-driven business cases for new opportunities, technologies, and collaborations; deliver recommendations that guide investment and commercialization decisions.
Technology & Market Scouting: Identify emerging scientific trends, breakthrough technologies, and potential strategic partnerships, including licensing or M&A opportunities.
Technical Thought Leadership: Represent Zymo at conferences, symposia, and customer sites through presentations, talks, and scientific discussions.
Cross-Functional Integration: Work closely with Business Intelligence, Market Segment Managers, Commercial & Innovation Strategy, Product Marketing, Sales, and other stakeholders to ensure aligned execution.
CRM & Pipeline Discipline: Document all interactions, opportunities, and pipeline activity in Zymo’s CRM with accuracy and consistency.
Clean Ownership Handoffs: Ensure smooth transitions of long-term account ownership to Territory Sales Managers or Partnership Managers for sustained growth.
Customer Value Focus: Ensure every customer interaction delivers insight, credibility, and practical scientific value consistent with Zymo’s commitment to innovation and quality.