Chief Commercial Officer

Role: Chief Commercial Officer

Location: USA

Role type: Perm/ FTE , Hybrid, Remote, On-site

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer

The Role:

As a Chief Commercial Officer at Ascend Advanced Therapies, you will play a crucial role in the strategic development and shaping the success of Ascend Advanced Therapies. As the Chief Commercial Officer, you will work with the CEO and management team to define, lead, and execute the business and corporate development strategy, developing and maintaining a strong brand through marketing and a robust sales and business relationships with current and prospective clients to establish new and repeat business and ensure progressive revenue streams.

You will represent Ascend among the gene & cell therapy sector, improving their global brand awareness and executing deals. Your expertise will define the commercial strategy for future growth of the organization.

About Ascend: 

Ascend is pioneering the future of healthcare through relentless innovation, our forward-thinking company is on a mission to manufacture safe, efficacious, and scalable gene therapies. Our vision is to set a new standard for gene therapy manufacturing through continuous scientific and process innovation. Our teams, rooted in biopharma, possess regulatory knowledge, and prioritize the quality and potency of manufacturing high-class products.

Our goal is to inspire the next generation of experts and breakthrough start-ups in the gene and cell therapy field. With a startup mindset and a track record of rapid growth, we aim to exceed boundaries and achieve continued success. Join us to pursue your passion and make a difference in the industry where there are no limits to what we can achieve.

Main Responsibilities:

Business Development:

·        Build and maintain a commercial revenue growth plan for Ascend in the short and long term

·        Establish and maintain strong relationships with academia and biotech companies, identifying potential strategic business partners now and for the future.

·        Participate in the development of strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and alliances, as well as platform technology and intellectual licensing opportunities

·        Proactively assess growth opportunities and lead assessments. 

·        Lead and close in/out-licensing transactions, including preparing term sheets, financial analysis, and negotiation.

·        Serve as a visible external liaison and ambassador in the scientific and biotech communities to raise awareness of Ascend and its manufacturing & development capabilities.

·        Work closely with the Chief Scientific Officer to ensure the companies scientific capabilities are always on display via marketing or business development efforts.

 Corporate Strategy & Financing:

·        Work closely with leadership to develop, drive and implement corporate strategy and long-range planning based on current opportunities and risks, financing needs and organizational capabilities.

·        Contribute to the company communication plan to support the strategy and raise its profile (including press releases, website, events, presentations, publication plan, etc.). 

·        Collaborate with leadership on preparing and executing future fund-raising activities.

Other responsibilities:

·        Support IR/PR activities and fund-raising activities

·        Lead all companies Marketing and Branding efforts.

·        Lead competitive / business intelligence activities and incorporate learnings into key business functions.

·        Lead a small team responsible for business development and corporate strategic work

·        Mentor other members of the Business Development function.

·        Involved in the hiring and growth of the Business Development and Marketing teams

·        Responsible for budgeting and expense management related to business / corporate development.

Requirements

What you’ll bring:

·        A BSc/MSc/PhD Degree within a life sciences discipline.

·        Demonstrable business development expertise, preferably in a CRO, CDMO or service led organisation with a track record of structuring & closing deals.

·        Demonstrable previous experience in leading and successfully implementing a business development strategy.

·        Cross-cultural exposure in dealing with clients internationally, with a focus in North America and the UK.

·        Experience in defining and executing a partnering strategy.

·        Experience in negotiating collaboration agreements and licensing deals.

·        Experience working with external partners and alliance management.

·        Excellent presentation and communication skills.

Benefits

Company Values:

Aim Higher – Our motto and values. 

·        Quality by integrity - We set high standards, putting quality and evidence first to seek the best solutions.

·        Adaptability is in our DNA - We are forward-thinking problem solvers, driven by the developing science and to deliver the best medicines.

·        Serving patients by serving our partners - We can depend on each other, and on the organisation, to deliver goals and services.

To start your journey with us at Ascend, kindly submit your resume and a cover letter showcasing your qualifications and interest in the role. We value diversity and oppose discrimination. While we eagerly await all applications, we'll only reach out to selected candidates for interviews. Please note that successful candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States and will undergo E-verify authentication. Thank you for considering joining our team as we shape the future together!