Company Description

Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, El Capitan Biosciences comprises a team of passionate, versatile, and seasoned professionals. Our team's extensive research and industry backgrounds enable us to stay at the forefront of innovation.

At El Capitan Biosciences (ECB), our mission is to advance noninvasive diagnostics and monitoring by harnessing advanced machine learning algorithms and proprietary molecular methods to extract, quantify and interpret human RNA present in stool. By enabling whole transcriptome-sequencing of human transcripts shed from gut and immune cell populations, we aim to discover clinically meaningful biomarkers that reflect mucosal integrity, presence of disease, inflammatory activity and broader gastrointestinal health. Our multiplex RNA-based panels integrate signals across multiple pathways to deliver a comprehensive, actionable picture of disease biology, supporting improved diagnosis, monitoring, and overall understanding of gut health.

Company website: https://elcapitanbio.com/

Why Join Us

• Opportunity to help shape the commercial direction of a novel platform technology
• Direct impact on partnerships with leading pharma and diagnostics organizations
• Collaborative, science-driven startup environment

Job Description

The Business Development Director will play a key role at the intersection of science, strategy, and partnerships. This individual will help define the commercial and collaborative direction of our stool host RNA-seq platform, with a particular focus on pharmaceutical collaborations in IBD and other GI indications, as well as service and co-development opportunities.

This is a senior, high-impact role with direct exposure to executive leadership and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Guide the business and partnership strategy for El Capitan Biosciences’ stool host RNA-seq platform across pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic developers, and academic collaborators.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to co-develop companion diagnostic (CDx) products with pharmaceutical partners developing therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other GI-related indications.
• Develop and expand service-based business opportunities, offering stool host RNA-seq–based solutions to industry and academic users.
• Engage directly with external stakeholders, including pharma R&D, translational medicine, and biomarker teams, to understand needs and shape collaborative programs.
• Support deal structuring, partner discussions, and early commercial strategy in collaboration with internal scientific and leadership teams.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated professional connections with pharmaceutical companies working on IBD or GI-related drug development.
• Prior business development, partnerships, or strategic roles at a diagnostics, life-science, or biotechnology company.
• Solid working knowledge of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and their applications in translational research, diagnostics, or drug development.
• Ability to bridge scientific concepts with business and partnership discussions.
• Strong communication skills and comfort engaging with senior scientific and business stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with companion diagnostics, biomarkers, or translational medicine programs.
• Background working with early-stage or growth-stage biotech companies.
• Familiarity with GI disease biology, IBD, or molecular diagnostics is a plus.

Additional Information

• Base range: $150,000/year - $200,000/year. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and skill set.

• Financial security through competitive compensation, incentives, and retirement plan

• Health care and well-being programs including competitive medical, dental, vision & medical benefits.

• Generous paid time off including vacation, sick time, & holidays

• 401(k) retirement savings with a company match

• Other comprehensive voluntary benefits include but are not limited to pet insurance, life insurance, employee assistance program, discount programs, and many more.

• We continue to optimize our benefits & wellness programs as we grow our organization to make sure they meet our diverse workforce needs.

• The stability of a company with a record of strong financial performance year over year.