VP, Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships

About Us

The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization driving the next generation of cancer treatment by accelerating the development of breakthrough immune therapies to turn all cancers into curable diseases. Founded in 2016 through the vision of Sean Parker, PICI unites the nation’s top cancer centers into a collaborative consortium that fuels high-risk, high-reward science with shared goals, data, and infrastructure.

Unlike traditional research models, PICI goes beyond discovery by actively advancing promising innovations through clinical testing, company formation and incubation, and commercialization. PICI has supported more than 1,000 investigators across its network and has a portfolio that includes 17 biotech ventures with over $4B raised in capital. PICI is uniquely positioned to close the gap between scientific discovery and patient access.

By integrating scientific excellence with entrepreneurial execution, PICI is reimagining how cures are made, and accelerating their path to the people who need them most. Find out more  and follow us on Linked In, X, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) is actively seeking a high-impact, results-driven executive to fill the role of Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategic Partnerships. This is a unique and pivotal leadership position, designed to be strategically situated at the convergence of non-profit mission, transformative drug discovery, and commercial venture creation. This role moves distinctly beyond the scope of conventional non-profit corporate relations.

The successful candidate will be the primary driver responsible for a core PICI strategic objective:
Building a Sustainable Financial Engine
. This involves the proactive establishment of high-value, mutually beneficial collaborations with the global biopharmaceutical industry and the systematic identification and engagement of institutional investors and corporate entities interested in PICI’s highly curated, consortium-wide innovation pipeline. This executive must possess the sophisticated commercial acumen to translate PICI’s world-class scientific advancements, robust clinical portfolio achievements, and unique network assets into quantifiable, compelling partnership and revenue-generation opportunities that drive the institute's long‑term mission and financial sustainability.

The VP, Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships reports to Chief Organizational Advancement Officer (COAO).
FLSA Status:
Exempt.

Driving Commercial Growth and Strategic Alliances

• Industry Partnership Building & Network Positioning
  • Strategic Cultivation:
    Systematically identify, rigorously vet, and proactively manage executive‑level professional relationships with Business Development (BD), Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), and Research & Development (R&D) leaders within the world’s leading biopharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations.
  • Market Positioning:
    Establish the PICI Network—comprising top academic centers, proprietary data, and clinical trial capabilities—as the preeminent and reliable source of de‑risked innovation in cancer immunotherapy.
  • Performance Metric:
    Develop and manage a formalized pipeline of at least twenty active, high‑potential biopharma engagement opportunities within the first year.
• Revenue Generation & Innovative Funding Models
  • Securing Substantial Sponsor ships:
    Lead the effort to secure significant financial sponsor ships, strategic research agreements, and master collaboration agreements with industry partners.
  • Impact Investing & Venture Philanthropy:
    Investigate, structure, and execute innovative funding structures that move beyond traditional grants, such as impact investments, venture philanthropy funds, and programmatic royalty‑bearing deals.
• Innovation Scouting & Venture Liaison
  • Market Intermediation:
    Act as the critical interface between the external market (biopharma, venture capital, private equity) and PICI’s internal Venture and Business Development teams.
  • Asset Monetization:
    Identify, engage, and manage corporate…