About Us:

Ridge Biotechnologies enables the development and construction of the next generation of precision medicines through enzyme and targeted therapeutic design. Using our powerful experimental and computational platform built on large datasets generated by cell-free synthesis, bioorthogonal chemistries, and ever-improving machine learning models, Ridge Bio is developing new medicines and scalable production methods that enable our partners to bring lifesaving biotherapeutics to patients in need.

Ridge Bio's founders are industry veterans who have previously built successful biotechnology companies and academic leaders from top institutions including Stanford and MIT with world-leading expertise in cell-free systems, therapeutic development, and protein engineering. We are backed by Sutter Hill Ventures, a quiet powerhouse that has been building successful companies since 1962 by focusing on bringing together great people to solve hard technological problems in big markets. Our company culture is dedicated to intellectual integrity, service ownership, and creative impact.

Role Description:

We are looking for an experienced business development leader to join Ridge Bio as our Chief Business Officer. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will focus on identifying and closing external partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies, emerging biotechs, CROs, and CDMOs to put to our three core product lines to work - NativeLink™ (site-specific antibody bioconjugation for ADCs without modifying the antibody sequence), ProTrigger™ (ML-designed linkers for tissue and tumor microenvironment-specific payload release), and Catalytic Medicines™ (enzyme-based therapeutics).

You'll complement a brilliant scientific and operational team at the cutting edge of precision medicine design. Ideal candidates for this role have spent years initiating, structuring, and closing major licensing deals. You will bring a network, a deal track record, and scientific fluency that lets you represent our platforms credibly to R&D and corporate development counterparts at the world's leading life sciences organizations. We are open to working with the right person to find an arrangement that fits their situation (an initial engagement of 25-50% effort is highly preferred).

Required Qualifications:

• Deep deal-making experience in life sciences. You have personally led the identification, structuring, and negotiation of licensing, collaboration, or strategic agreements in biopharma—including multi-program platform deals, milestone-based collaborations, and pharma partnerships. The best candidates will have been in the room for deals measured in the hundreds of millions or more in total value.
• Fluency in ADCs, bioconjugation, or precision biologics. You know and can speak credibly with R&D scientists and corporate development executives in the ADC and bioconjugation space. You understand the competitive landscape, can explain technical differentiation clearly, and know what makes a platform story land with a pharma audience.
• A strong, active network in pharma and biotech. You have relationships with decision-makers at major pharmaceutical companies and relevant biotechs that you've maintained over time. You can open conversations at the right level and move them forward.
• Senior BD or corporate development background. 10+ years of business development experience in life sciences, with meaningful time at the VP level or above, either at a platform-stage biotech or large pharma. Experience on both sides of the table is a plus.
• Scientific foundation. A graduate degree (MS, MBA with a science background, or PhD) in a relevant life sciences or business discipline, or equivalent demonstrated scientific fluency from years of working closely with R&D teams.
• Comfort in a lean, early-stage environment. You are used to operating without a large support structure and are energized by building something new. You take initiative, follow through, and work well with a small, high-trust team.
• Flexibility to travel for key meetings and conferences. Regular travel to represent Ridge Bio at partner sites and relevant conferences.

How You'll Contribute:

• Develop and pursue a targeted partnership pipeline. Working with the CEO, identify the highest-priority partnership opportunities across pharma, biotech, CRO, and CDMO targets. Match Ridge Bio's platform capabilities to external needs and move those conversations forward systematically.
• Lead engagement and dealmaking with partners. Engage BD and R&D leadership at target organizations with the scientific fluency and credibility to have productive conversations. Drive the commercial side of deal execution—outreach, relationship building, term sheet development, negotiation of key commercial and technical terms, and coordination with legal counsel through to a signed agreement.
• Contribute perspective on business strategy. Share what you're hearing from the market to inform internal decisions around pipeline priorities, platform positioning, and where we focus our partnership energy.
• Work hand-in-hand with the Ridge Bio team. Collaborate closely with our team to make sure deals are technically tractable and help the Ridge Bio platform reach its full potential. Move efficiently from first conversation to executed agreement. Being physically present at our Bay Area location is preferred if possible to maximize your impact in this role.

We offer competitive compensation, meaningful equity, and a chance to achieve high impact by building upon a differentiated set of technologies. If you have spent your career closing meaningful deals in the ADC or precision biologics space and are looking for a high-impact BD role at a company solving compelling problems found across the industry, this is the role for you.