Business Development Program Director

Job Summary:

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.

Key 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.

Work Location:

Hybrid – this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of 4 days per week on campus and as needed for in-person meetings.

Why Join Us:

CU Anschutz Innovations is an integral part of The University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus, a top-tier academic medical institution, collaborating with pioneering researchers, clinicians, staff, and external partners at the University of Colorado, staff at UCHealth and Children’s Hospital Colorado. Together, we power innovation by imagining, discovering and commercializing advanced healthcare solutions, including treatments, medical devices, and cutting-edge technologies.

Our mission at CU Anschutz Innovations is driven by the unique collaborative environment we operate in, and our guiding principle is to transform breakthrough discoveries and treatments into realities within an efficient ecosystem that accelerates their availability to patients. This approach not only empowers our partners to have an immediate and meaningful impact but also enhances the quality of life and outcomes for patients now and in the future, at both CU and beyond.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 15/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage .

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:  

• 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.  Substitution: 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.

Condition of Employment:

• Some domestic travel is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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.

Competencies/Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• 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.
• 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.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

       1.    A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

       2.    Curriculum vitae / Resume

       3.    Three to five professional references, including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Questions should be directed to: Lindley Pagels, Lindley.pagels@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

Immediately and continues until position is filled. For best consideration, apply by March 27, 2026.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range ) for this position has been established as $107,819 - $170,000.

The above salary range (or hiring range ) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@cuanschutz.edu ​.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases . If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program .