Associate Director of Business Development & Licensing

About the role

Basecamp Research is dedicated to solving major challenges in the life sciences by exploring Beyond Known Biology. Our teams build frontier AI models using BaseData, the world's largest ethically-sourced and globally representative biological dataset. Our Global Research Team collects and curates our own biological data through partnerships with more than 152 organizations in 28 countries, giving its AI access to genetic diversity that doesn't exist for models trained on public database sources. This enables Basecamp Research to design novel protein sequences and biological systems that can accelerate therapeutic research and development. In October 2024 we closed Series B and in January 2026 finalised pre-Series C investment from NVIDIA. With hubs both in London, UK as well as Boston Massachusetts, USA and partners with biopharma companies and academic institutions worldwide, our work has been recognized with honors including Fast Company's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Biotech and the FT-backed Sifted AI100 list of Europe's leading AI startups. At Basecamp Research, we pride ourselves on being a diverse, exciting, fun, and flexible place to work. Our team of biologists, engineers, ML scientists, field explorers, and operations specialists are united by a sense of adventure and the belief that nature has already designed the solutions to our planet's greatest challenges - we just need to go out and discover them! If you feel passionate about the power of biology, data, and AI to build a better world, we'd love to hear from you. We are seeking a highly capable and proactive Associate Director of Business Development & Licensing to join our Business Development Team. This role is based in Cambridge/Boston MA, and will report directly to the Chief Business Officer. You will be responsible for therapeutic drug-specific deals - structuring, negotiation, and closing in-licensing and out-licensing transactions with biopharma companies, biotech partners, and academic institutions. You will also support our leadership team on larger, more complex transactions, acting as a key analytical and operational contributor across the full deal lifestyle. You have a strong scientific foundation, hands-on experience in BD&L deal execution, and the commercial instinct to translate Basecamp Research's unique biological data assets and therapeutic assets into compelling partnership propositions.

Responsibilities

• Deal Origination & Pipeline Development
• Identify, prioritise, and pursue out-licensing and in-licensing opportunities aligned with Basecamp Research's therapeutic strategy, covering early-to mid-stage assets, platform access, and data collaboration models.
• Conduct landscape mapping and competitive intelligence across therapeutic areas to surface relevant partnering leads and anticipate market demand.
• Build and maintain a disciplined, high-quality deal pipeline - from initial lead identification through qualification, business case formation, and stakeholder alignment.
• Represent Basecamp Research at key industry conferences,partnering events, and scientific meetings to cultivate a strong external network and generate inbound interest.
• Due Diligence & Deal Execution
• Lead or support end-to-end deal processes: opportunity assessment, scientific and commercial due diligence, term sheet negotiation, and contract execution.
• Coordinate cross-functional diligence teams (science, legal, finance,product) and hold team members accountable for timely, high-quality deliverables.
• Build and validate financial models, valuations, and business cases to support deal structuring and internal governance approvals.
• Draft, review, and negotiate key deal documents including CDAs, term sheets, license agreements, and collaboration frameworks, in partnership with legal counsel.
• Support more senior leaders on larger, more complex transactions - including platform-wide licensing deals, strategic alliances, and co-development arrangements.
• Cross-Functional & Partner Collaboration
• Serve as a credible scientific and commercial interface with external partners - engaging confidently with VP-level BD, research, and legal counterparts at pharma and biotech organisations.
• Work closely with Basecamp Research's product and science teams to ensure commercial commitments are grounded in product reality and to surface partner requirements that should inform our roadmap.
• Prepare high-quality materials for governance review, including opportunity reports, management presentations, and deal memoranda.
• Contribute to the development of Basecamp Research's BD&L playbook, including process design, evaluation frameworks, and partner-facing materials.
• Required Skills and Experience
• 5-8+ years of experience in business development, licensing, or strategic alliances within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences sector.
• Demonstrated track record of contributing to or leading complex BD&L transactions, includin

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