Development

One of the most attractive areas in which to develop a career in biotechnology is business development. This department is focused less on the scientific responsibilities that any biotech firm should deal with, and rather on enabling the business organization to grow in a healthy and appropriate manner. As a research analyst your main tasks will be to carry out extensive research and provide thorough analytical reports that will help your superiors to better determine not only how the firm can grow, but also with whom it should partner, ensuring its business goals are met.

Research analysts contribute with development managers to decide whether the company should acquire new organizations, whether it should grow organically instead, or even the best partner with which to enter business in order to gain more competitiveness.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in biotech in business development, you will work with other fellow research analysts, as well as with lawyers and financial experts that will help you decide whether a development project is feasible or worthy, ensuring that any property or licensing issues are solved, enforcing agreements with other companies, and securing licenses. In larger companies you can be appointed manager of corporate planning.

It is a position that entails plenty of responsibility; your main focus will be to develop long-term strategic plans as well as short-range tactics, so that both long and short-term goals of the biotech firm can be met. You will also work shoulder to shoulder with the CFO developing financial plans.

After a decade of experience, providing you have strong knowledge of science, due diligence, asset valuation, alliance integration and portfolio management, as well as an MBA degree, you may be appointed vice president of management development. It is one of the most important positions to be occupied at a biotech company.