Sr Director Business Dev.

Illumina•San Diego, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a seasoned partnership and sourcing leader to serve as Senior Director, Business Development, responsible for building and scaling the upstream supply of biological samples and associated data that underpin Illumina's data generation strategy. This leader will secure access to high-value sample collections through partnerships with biobanks, healthcare systems, population genomics programs, and research organizations worldwide. Reporting to the VP, Data Products, the role requires building durable relationships with custodians of biological assets, structuring creative access and collaboration agreements, and ensuring a sustainable, diverse, and ethically sourced pipeline of samples and linked clinical or phenotypic data. Success requires deep familiarity with biobank governance, population genomics programs, health-system research ecosystems, and the regulatory and ethical landscape surrounding human biological samples and genomic data.

Requirements

15+ years of progressive experience in life sciences, genomics, biobanking, healthcare partnerships, population health, or related fields, with significant time spent in sourcing, partnership development, or institutional engagement roles.
Demonstrated success building and scaling sample or data sourcing programs , including structuring complex access agreements with biobanks, healthcare systems, or research organizations.
Deep familiarity with biobank governance models , including consent frameworks, data access committee processes, material transfer agreements, and institutional compliance requirements.
Experience engaging population genomics programs or large-scale national/international research initiatives , with an understanding of government funding landscapes and multi-stakeholder consortium dynamics.
Team leadership at Director level or above , including building teams, managing senior individual contributors or managers, and establishing new functional capabilities.
Strong executive presence and relationship management with ability to engage biobank directors, health-system research leaders, government agency officials, and C-suite executives credibly.
Global experience navigating diverse regulatory environments (GDPR, HIPAA, Nagoya Protocol), cultural contexts, and institutional norms across geographies.
Excellent strategic thinking, negotiation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with population-scale genomics programs (e.g., UK Biobank, All of Us, FinnGen, or comparable national initiatives).
Background in genomics, molecular biology, or a related scientific discipline with sufficient technical fluency to engage scientific counterparts on sample quality, assay requirements, and data standards.
Track record of building sample or data sourcing networks that operate at scale across multiple institutions and geographies.
Familiarity with health-system research ecosystems, including academic medical center governance, residual specimen programs, and clinical data warehousing.
Experience structuring data generation-for-access, co-investment, or revenue-sharing partnership models in a genomics or data context.
PhD and/or MBA or equivalent advanced degrees in relevant scientific and business disciplines.

Responsibilities

Define and execute the multi-year sourcing roadmap aligned to the Data Products commercial strategy, ensuring the right sample types, cohort profiles, phenotypic depth, and consent frameworks are available to meet downstream demand.
Identify and prioritize high-value sample sources — including population-scale biobanks, disease-specific cohorts, longitudinal health-system repositories, and emerging national genomics programs — based on scientific utility, commercial potential, and accessibility.
Establish sourcing models that balance breadth (population diversity, geography) with depth (rich clinical and phenotypic annotation, longitudinal follow-up, re-contactability).
Develop and maintain a structured pipeline of sourcing opportunities, with clear stage-gates, timelines, and resource requirements.
Build and manage strategic partnerships with biobanks and population genomics initiatives (e.g., national biobanks, research consortia, government-funded genomics programs) to secure long-term access to samples and linked data.
Structure creative partnership models — including data generation-for-access arrangements, co-investment agreements, sequencing service exchanges, and revenue-sharing frameworks — that deliver mutual value while protecting Illumina's commercial interests.
Serve as a trusted senior relationship holder with biobank directors, government research agencies, and consortium leadership; represent Illumina credibly in settings where scientific integrity and ethical stewardship are paramount.
Monitor the global landscape of population genomics investments and policy developments to identify emerging opportunities and position Illumina as a preferred partner.
Develop partnerships with healthcare systems, academic medical centers, and integrated delivery networks to access de-identified clinical samples, residual biospecimens, and linked electronic health record data.
Navigate complex institutional governance structures — IRBs, data access committees, material transfer agreements, institutional compliance offices — to establish compliant and sustainable access pathways.
Partner with Illumina's existing clinical and research sales teams to identify dual-value opportunities where sample access partnerships complement instrument and consumable relationships.
Build frameworks for scalable institutional engagement, including templated agreements, standard operating procedures, and partner onboarding playbooks.
Ensure all sourcing activities adhere to applicable regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, Common Rule, Nagoya Protocol), institutional policies, and Illumina's ethical standards for human sample use.
Collaborate with Legal, Regulatory, Privacy, and Compliance teams to develop and maintain robust consent, data governance, and material transfer frameworks.
Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in sourcing strategy — proactively building a sample portfolio that reflects global population diversity and addresses historical gaps in genomic representation.
Stay current on evolving regulatory, ethical, and public-policy landscapes affecting biobanking, genomic data sharing, and secondary use of clinical samples.
Partner closely with peers to align sourcing priorities with commercial demand signals, customer requirements, and revenue targets.
Collaborate with wet lab operations and data generation teams to ensure sourced samples meet quality, volume, and turnaround requirements.
Work with scientific leadership and data platform teams to define metadata and annotation standards that maximize the downstream analytical and commercial value of sourced data.
Engage Finance to model sourcing economics, partnership investment cases, and contribution to the Data Products P&L.
Represent Illumina at industry conferences, biobanking forums, and policy convenings to build visibility and strengthen the partnership pipeline.
Build and develop a high-performing team spanning sourcing, institutional partnerships, and governance/compliance support functions.
Establish clear goals, KPIs, and accountability frameworks aligned with sourcing volume, pipeline health, partnership milestones, and cost-efficiency targets.
Recruit and retain talent with a rare blend of scientific credibility, partnership development skill, and operational discipline.
Foster a culture of relationship stewardship, ethical rigor, and collaborative problem-solving.
Develop team members through coaching, mentoring, and professional growth opportunities.