CSTL Director of Strategy and Business Development - University of Pennsylvania

University Overview


The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.




Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.




The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.








Posted Job Title

CSTL Director of Strategy and Business Development





Job Profile Title

Director D, Research





Job Description Summary

The Center for Cytokine Storm Treatment & Laboratory (CSTL) at the University of Pennsylvania is a cutting-edge, internationally-recognized Center dedicated to advancing treatments for cytokine storm disorders and pioneering novel approaches to drug repurposing with external partners such as Every Cure. We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Director of Strategy & Business Development to serve as the right-hand person and strategic advisor to the CSTL’s Founding Director, Dr. David Fajgenbaum. Inspired by his team’s success repurposing over a dozen drugs for new uses, including one that is saving his own life, Dr. Fajgenbaum and his teams are on a mission to unlock the life-saving potential of FDA-approved drugs to treat every disease and patient possible. The ideal candidate will have a blend of scientific expertise and business acumen, allowing them to effectively foster collaborations, identify strategic opportunities, and engage with key stakeholders across academia, biotechnology, pharmaceutical industries, and funding agencies. This position will stay abreast of emerging technologies, trends, and breakthroughs in immunology and drug repurposing, leveraging innovative approaches to drive scientific discovery and therapeutic development.





Job Description


The Director of Strategy & Business Development’s primary responsibility will be to provide strategic leadership to the CSLT as well as support and strategic assistance to Dr. Fajgenbaum in fulfilling his responsibilities effectively and efficiently. The individual will act as a bridge between Dr. Fajgenbaum and other senior leaders, facilitating communication, decision-making, and the execution of key initiatives. The Director of Strategy & Business Development requires a deep understanding of drug development and/or repurposing, ideally in immunology, through master’s, PhD, or MD training, experience working in biopharma, and/or an MBA. This person will need to work collaboratively across teams to drive Dr. Fajgenbaum’s vision forward and will develop deep connections with leaders across drug development, biomedical research, venture capital, venture philanthropy, and government and have substantial career development opportunities. This position has a broad scope of influence, extending across all areas of Dr. Fajgenbaum’s initiatives, including the CSTL, Every Cure, Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA, Castleman Disease Collaborative Network, and biotech companies.




DUTIES include but not limited to:



+ Provide strategic leadership and advice to Center Director as well as project leads and teams, managing staff, resources, and effective use of materials and finances.


+ Partner with the Center Director to develop and advance the vision and strategic priorities of the Center.


+ Collaborate with scientists and computational biologists to support the advancement of immunology and/or drug repurposing research.


+ Advise and monitor complex projects, protocols, grants, and budget development, implementation, and reporting.


+ Oversee project statuses in partnership with the Center Director.


+ Collaborate closely with Center leadership to successfully execute projects.


+ Lead and motivate the team with vision, integrity, and flexibility.


+ Develop and maintain key performance indicators for measuring team performance.


+ Facilitate communication within the Center and externally.


+ Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.





Qualifications



+ Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and 7 to 10 years or Master of Science, Master of Arts, and 5 to 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.


+ Advanced degree (MS MBA in a biomedical field and/or PhD, MD) 3-5 years of experience within the healthcare sector preferred. Experience working as a consultant, Chief of Staff, or similar role with a growth-stage start-up preferred. Demonstrated success in leading and developing high-performing teams is PREFERRED


+ Knowledge of immunology concepts, biomedical research, and healthcare operations required. Strong understanding of immunology is a plus.


+ Familiarity with data science concepts required. Knowledge of data science methodologies and machine learning techniques a plus.


+ A strong understanding of academic science and research execution in an academic medical center a plus.


+ Commitment to our mission of making urgent impact in patients’ lives required.


+ Strong strategic planning and execution skills required.


+ Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills as well as attention to detail required.


+ Ability to develop strategies to accelerate progress required.


+ Ability to work both independently and as part of a diverse and close-working team in a fast-paced, leadership setting requiring initiative, strong organization, flexibility, sound judgment, and the prioritization of multiple demands required. Ability to provide supportive feedback to colleagues required.


+ Ability to anticipate problems relating to the Center and external initiatives and to develop and implement solutions, as well as handling complex problems related to business strategy required.


+ Ability to exercise diplomacy, tact, and judgment in interacting with a wide range of constituents at varying levels of organizations across sectors required.


+ Ability to communicate a clear vision required.


+ Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required.







Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine





Pay Range

$90,860.00 - $168,837.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.




Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.




Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.




University Benefits

+ Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

+ Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

+ Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

+ Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

+ Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

+ Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

+ Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

+ University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

+ Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

+ Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

+ Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

+ Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.




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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay



The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.