Business Development Director (Core Scientific Assets)

Context

The Barcelonaβeta Brain Research Center (BBRC) is a research center dedicated to the prevention of Alzheimer's disease and the study of cognitive functions affected in healthy and pathological aging. It was created in 2012 by the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, with the support of the Pompeu Fabra University.

The mission of the BBRC is to provide innovative solutions to decipher and prevent biological changes and cognitive dysfunction associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Due to the aging of the world population, these diseases constitute a global challenge, since for example, dementia can reach epidemic levels in 2050, with a forecast of more than 150 million people affected, if is not found a way to prevent its appearance and development.

The BBRC received the HR Excellence in Research award (HRS4R) granted by the European Commission; a recognition that shows its adherence to the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Research Staff. The center offers a stimulating and favorable working environment in accordance with the Charter and Code, which describes the rights and responsibilities of researchers and their employers, and contributes to the creation of a transparent, attractive and open ecosystem at an international level.
Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Pompeu Fabra University and “la Caixa” Foundation are permanent members of the BBRC Board. The center is affiliated with and located in the Ciutadella Campus of the Pompeu Fabra University of Barcelona, in a building inaugurated in 2016. The BBRC headquarters has excellent technical facilities, including a 3TMR scanner dedicated to research, and spaces for conducting Clinical Trials and EEG. State-of-the-art scientific facilities, effective management and continuous high-standard peer-review evaluation are the BBRC core proceedings to ensure achieving world-class research results.

BBRC is also part of the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), a large research facility that hosts other seven different research institutions related to biomedical research, including the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG), the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), the Department of Experimental and Health Sciences of the Pompeu Fabra University (CEXS-UPF), the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE CSIC-UPF), the Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal) and the Barcelona site of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), among others, in a multidisciplinary, collaborative and stimulating international environment in close contact with a clinical setting, thus conducive to translational research.

More information about us: www.fpmaragall.org , www.barcelonabeta.org 

About the Position

The Fundació Pasqual Maragall and its research center BBRC are leading institutions in Barcelona dedicated to Alzheimer prevention and the development of scientific and technological solutions for neurodegenerative diseases. BBRC combines high-impact research, clinical cohorts and strong links with the local health and research ecosystem with an increasingly international portfolio of collaborations. 
The Core scientific Assets are central pillar of BBRC that integrates the centre’s research cohorts and core facilities, including specialized units in Neuroimaging, Biomarkers, Data, and Clinical Research Operations. These units ensure efficient data collection and drive technological innovation, all in support of BBRC’s mission to advance clinical research for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and the promotion of global brain health, BBRC collaborates with major pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, digital health organisations and health data partners to accelerate translational research and biomedical innovation. These collaborations leverage BBRC’s scientific expertise, high-value datasets, specialised laboratory capabilities and strong connection to both local and international ecosystems.

The Strategic Partnerships & Core Scientific Assets lead is responsible for identifying, developing and managing high-value collaborations with pharmaceutical, biotech, med-tech and health data partners. The role encompasses partnerships related to biomarkers, clinical research, access to data and samples, AI-driven biomedical innovations and emerging opportunities involving organoid-based technologies and advanced computational models. This is a transversal leadership position requiring strong scientific fluency, a solid understanding of biomedical R&D, and the ability to transform BBRC’s scientific capabilities into compelling value propositions and commercially viable partnership structures.
Reporting to the COO (Joan Vives), this is a transversal leadership role aligning platform leads with enabling services (Legal, Finance, Data, Communications) to deliver integrated, compliant execution end-to-end.
 

Main responsabilities

•   Strategic Business Development
  -    Develop commercialisation strategies for biomarkers, clinical trials, data and samples, and the Bio AI platform.
  -    Identify collaborations with pharma, biotech, digital health and organoid or computational model developers.
  -    Map and prioritise partners for drug discovery, biomarker validation and algorithm development.
  -    Define platform access models (fee-for-service, on-demand service, co-development, equipment access, instrumental show room, milestone-/success-based partnerships, consortia, other).
  -    Pricing strategy for each access model, including academic/clinic/private and pricing guardrails (target, and IP/publication conditions) ranges.
  -    Lead go-to-market packs per asset  (biomarkers, clinical trials interface, Bio-AI, data & samples, organoid collaborations) to ensure fast, consistent and compliant deals:
  o    define key use cases; 
  o    create qualification decision trees that route opportunities to the right access and collaboration model.
•  Partnership and Client Engagement
  -    Build relationships with pharma, biotech, CROs, digital health and organoid technology groups.
  -    Identify partner needs and propose collaborations leveraging BBRC capabilities.
  -    Serve as the primary contact point for industry interactions.
•  Proposal Development and Contracting
  -    Prepare proposals, capability presentations, budgets and multi year plans.
  -    Support negotiation of data access agreements, MTAs, service contracts and algorithm validation partnerships.
  -    Coordinate contracting with legal to ensure ethical and operational feasibility.
  -    Create model agreements (CDAs, MTAs, contract typologies)  & define processes with Legal to compress time-to-contract.
• Data, Samples and Technology Valorisation
  -    Contribute to responsible valorisation of data, samples, biomarkers and AI ready datasets.
  -    Help design access models aligned with GDPR and institutional policies.
  -    Support collaborations integrating algorithmic analytics with biological readouts or organoid based screening.
• Market Intelligence and Positioning
  -    Monitor trends in biomarkers, neurodegeneration, organoids, digital biomarkers and AI.
  -    Benchmark peer institutions to refine BBRC positioning.
  -    Represent FPM and BBRC at partnering meetings and industry events.
•  Internal Coordination
  -    Collaborate with platform leads across biomarkers, clinical research, data management, AI and organoid initiatives.
  -    Translate scientific capabilities into clear value propositions.
  -    Report KPIs and business insights to senior leadership.

Required Qualifications
•    Degree in Life Sciences, Biomedicine, Biotechnology, Neuroscience, Pharmacy or related fields.
•    Advanced training in business, biomedical management or innovation is an asset.
•    Minimum 3 to 5 years in business development, industry collaborations or technology transfer.
•    Experience in pharma, biotech, CROs or biomedical innovation environments.
•    Experience with data and sample valorisation strongly preferred.

Personal Skills
•    Strong scientific background, including biomarkers and emerging technologies such as organoids and AI algorithms.
•    Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
•    Strategic and analytical mindset with proactive, opportunity oriented approach.
•    Fluent in English and either Catalan or Spanish, both preferred.

We Offer
•    Immediate incorporation.
•    Permanent contract with salary in accordance with BBRC scales.
•    Full-time position (38 hours/week) with extended vacation and flexible working hours.
•    Hybrid work model (on-site + teleworking) and flexible compensation scheme.
•    Unique research opportunity in an innovative, multidisciplinary environment.
•    Support for professional development and career growth.
•    Inclusive, diverse, and welcoming workplace.
•    Opportunity to contribute to pioneering work in Alzheimer's prevention.
•    A mission driven environment within a leading international research center.
•    Collaboration with top academic partners and health industry stakeholders.
•    Professional development opportunities and flexible working conditions.
•    A strategic role with real institutional impact.

Application Process
To apply, please submit a single PDF file including:
•    Cover letter describing research interests and relevant experience.
•    CV (max. 2 pages).
Send to: talent@barcelonabeta.org  Subject: Business Development Director

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