(Senior) Director, Business Development - AI Drug Discovery

Passionate about precision medicine and advancing the healthcare industry?

Recent advancements in underlying technology have finally made it possible for AI to impact clinical care in a meaningful way. Tempus' proprietary platform connects an entire ecosystem of real-world evidence to deliver real-time, actionable insights to physicians, providing critical information about the right treatments for the right patients, at the right time.

(Senior) Director, Business Development - AI Drug Discovery

About Tempus

Tempus is a healthcare technology company at the forefront of precision medicine and the Al revolution. Our proprietary platform connects an entire ecosystem of real-world evidence (RWD/E) to deliver actionable insights to providers and life sciences. Beginning in Oncology, Tempus has now expanded into other areas including Neurology, Cardiology, Radiology, rare diseases, and more. Tempus’ offerings can be segmented across two distinct, yet interconnected verticals:

• Diagnostics: molecular and algorithmic tests to generate insights for providers

• Data and Apps: multimodal data and solutions to power life sciences R&D

Within our Data and Apps business unit, we are pioneering the use of AI with Tempus’ vast data and sample repository to empower researchers to bridge the gaps from hypothesis to the lab and eventually to the clinic, and brings together a few of our key life science offerings. Most notably our oncology-focused AI-drug discovery platform for target identification and validation that connects multimodal real-world patient data and a clinically-annotated biorepository with high-throughput CRISPR screening on patient-derived organoids in a closed “lab-in-the-loop” workflow. These AI-enabled workflows rest on the industry’s largest oncology foundation model and can be validated in the largest human-derived clinically annotated biorepository for contextualization in Tempus’ real-world dataset to guide drug development.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a Director/Senior Director of Business Development to join our team, with a focus on AI drug discovery with large biopharma. This role is responsible for establishing and expanding high-value partnerships by deploying a consultative, enterprise sales approach.

Key Responsibilities

• Commercial Discipline: Maintain a rigorous focus on meeting/exceeding bookings and revenue goals, managing all activity and forecasting within Salesforce.

• Pipeline Execution: Drive top-of-funnel opportunity creation, manage contract pull-through, and stay informed on the shifting pipelines/priorities for target accounts

• Integrated Opportunity Generation: Build and execute an account-based prospecting strategy targeting Discovery, Translational, and Clinical Development functions.

• Consultative Solution Design: Work closely with pharma partners to understand their R&D objectives, determining where Tempus offerings can most effectively impact their pipelines, programs and research objectives

• Enterprise Relationship Management: Build and maintain deep relationships with R&D executives, navigating multi-faceted organizations to identify repeat business opportunities.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaborate with Tempus field teams, lab scientists, and computational biologists to develop novel, multimodal solutions for partners

• Product Evolution: Contribute to the development of the Tempus portfolio by providing "voice of customer" feedback to leadership regarding market trends and emerging scientific questions

• Scientific & Product Expertise: Serve as the technical expert for Tempus offerings relevant to the customer

• Pipeline Management: Drive the sales process end-to-end, from high-initiative outbound prospecting to qualifying RFPs and managing the close plan.

Qualifications & Experience

• Educational Background: BS/MS in a biological discipline (e.g., Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Computational Biology). An advanced degree (PhD, MS, or MBA) is strongly preferred.

• Industry Expertise: 7+ years of experience in Life Sciences Business Development, ideally in the AI drug discovery space 

• Scientific Fluency: Solid understanding of the drug development lifecycle, from target ID to clinical studies

• The "Tempus" Mindset: An entrepreneurial, proactive approach with the ability to thrive in a high-growth, fast-paced environment where science meets technology.

• Communication: Exceptional ability to articulate complex scientific issues and present technical capabilities to both internal stakeholders and external executives.

Success in the First Year

• First 90 Days: Build a prioritized account/territory plan and establish a consistent outbound cadence with pharma decision-makers.

• 6–12 Months: Generate a predictable flow of qualified pharma opportunities and maintain healthy pipeline coverage against quota.

Travel: Approximately 30–50%

Location: Remote (U.S.)

The expected salary range above is applicable if the role is performed from Illinois and may vary for other locations (California, Colorado, New York). Actual salary may vary based on qualifications and experience. Tempus offers a full range of benefits, which may include incentive compensation, restricted stock units, medical and other benefits depending on the position.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.