Scientific Business Development Specialist
Location: Remote (West Coast strongly preferred)
Territory: United States (excluding Northeast) + Canada
Travel: ~30%, including scientific conferences and client visits
Reports To: Head of Business Development
Seniority Level: Mid-Senior Level (Associate or Senior title based on experience)
Compensation: Base salary + Uncapped Commission + Tiered Accelerator
About the Company
Our organization is a UNC spinout biotech that has redefined preclinical gastrointestinal modeling through its proprietary RepliGut® Systems — a human stem cell-derived, physiologically relevant in vitro model of the intestinal epithelium.
Whether in kit form for internal use or offered via contract research services, RepliGut® enables drug developers to model intestinal responses without animal models — saving time, cost, and increasing clinical translation. Applications include:
DMPK: Absorption and permeability assessments for oral drugs
Toxicology: Detection of GI-specific liabilities often missed in animal studies
Inflammation: Mechanistic studies and efficacy testing in IBD, IBS, and microbiome-related disease
Role Overview
We are seeking a mission-aligned Scientific Business Development Specialist who can marry scientific credibility with commercial execution. You’ll play a central role in driving adoption of human-relevant GI models in pharma, biotech, and academic research — serving both inbound interest and generating new demand through strategic outreach.
This is not a catalog-sales position — your ability to interpret experimental design challenges and recommend customized solutions will determine your success.
Key Responsibilities:
Consultative Sales & Client Engagement
Serve as a technical liaison to scientists evaluating human GI models for absorption, metabolism, toxicology, or disease modeling
Lead discovery calls to qualify project needs, study endpoints, and research timelines
Translate client objectives into solutions using RepliGut® kits or custom CRO service offerings
Propose study designs in collaboration with Client Services Team (CST), ensuring scientific feasibility and commercial fit
Create and deliver customized pitch decks, SOWs, and proposals
Account Management & Customer Success
Cultivate long-term relationships with clients by tracking ongoing study progress and aligning future pipeline opportunities
Maintain scientific credibility throughout the project lifecycle — from proposal to data delivery
Champion customer feedback internally to guide product roadmap, assay development, and support materials
Territory & Pipeline Development
Own and execute a sales plan focused on biotech, pharma, and translational academic labs across your U.S. territory
Attend 10–12 targeted scientific conferences per year (e.g., AAPS, SOT, DDW, FASEB) to present Company offerings and identify new leads
Partner with internal marketing to identify passive outreach gaps and co-develop messaging strategies
Maintain accurate CRM records and forecast reports via HubSpot
Scientific & Market Expertise
Stay up to date on emerging trends in organ-on-a-chip, human-relevant modeling, 3Rs initiatives, and GI drug development
Understand competitive landscape including models
Deliver insights back to internal R&D and manufacturing teams to inform future innovation
The Science You’ll Represent
RepliGut® Systems provide a human primary cell-based model of the intestinal epithelium with:
Tight junction formation and barrier integrity (TEER monitoring)
Polarized transport mechanisms
Drug metabolism enzyme expression (e.g., CYP3A4)
Inflammatory cytokine response modeling (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6)
Differentiated enterocyte, goblet, and Paneth cell phenotypes
Use Cases Include:
Evaluating GI permeability in drug candidates
Detecting off-target intestinal toxicity earlier in development
Simulating human inflammatory responses for IBD therapeutics
Screening drug formulations to reduce adverse GI side effects
Supporting IND-enabling studies and regulatory submissions
You Might Be a Fit If You:
Have 2–5+ years in preclinical biotech/pharma or scientific CRO business development
Hold a BS/MS/PhD in biology, pharmacology, toxicology, or a related discipline
Can read a paper and pitch the implications to a PI or translational director
Enjoy “hunter-style” sales — energized by finding and closing new opportunities
Understand how pharma scientists think, because you used to be one
Thrive in early-stage environments with evolving processes
Want to sell a product with scientific integrity, clinical potential, and global relevance
Compensation & Perks
Uncapped commission structure with accelerator tiers:
Flexible remote work (West Coast time zone preferred)
Opportunity to work alongside scientists and founders who are shaping the next generation of preclinical models
Direct mentorship from BD leadership and cross-functional exposure
Why This Role, Why Now?
You’re not just selling — you’re shaping the future of how drugs are evaluated before they reach patients. Regulatory shifts like the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 are pushing the industry toward human-relevant systems. We are leading the way in GI modeling, and you can lead the charge commercially.
Ready to put your scientific insight back into action — and get rewarded for it?
Let’s talk.