Business Development Specialist

Business Development Specialist at Cellerator

Novo Nordisk Foundation · Lyngby, Denmark · Full-time · Posted 2026-11-11

Workplace: on_site

Department: NNF Cellerator

Description

At Cellerator, the partnerships you will build make life-changing therapies possible. We are a philanthropic organisation founded and funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, dedicated to turning cell-based therapies into treatments that reach the people who need them.

About the role

As our Business Development Specialist, you will turn interest from biotechs, spin-outs, academic groups and pharma into well-qualified programmes and signed agreements. You will assess scientific and strategic fit, guide clients through intake and due diligence, and shape proposals and deals. This is consultative business development, not hard selling. Just as importantly, you will design the commercial engine itself: the client journey, funnel, stage gates, CRM, pitch and pricing.

You will join a supportive team that values collaboration as we build the site together. If you are excited to shape how a new cell therapy facility partners with academia and industry from day one, this is the opportunity for you.

What you'll do

• Drive the funnel from first contact to signed agreement and a smooth handover to the Program Director and Project Manager, managing several  opportunities at a time
• Assess the scientific, technical and strategic fit of programmes together with the Program Director and our Process Development and GMP experts, and lead intake and due diligence
• Build proposals and deals, including scope, assumptions, pricing input and timelines, and take them through contracting (NDA, MSA, SOW) with Legal and Finance
• Design and continuously improve our sales process and client journey: pipeline, lead criteria, stage gates, workshops, pitch materials and pricing models
• Own pipeline management and CRM, and work with Communications on campaigns, events, content and the website, so that marketing feeds the funnel
• Build long-term relationships with founders, academic teams, biotechs, pharma, investors and ecosystem partners, and represent Cellerator at events in the Nordics and Europe

Requirements

What you'll bring

• An MSc in life sciences or a related field, with a strong understanding of drug development. Experience within cell or gene therapy is highly valued (PhD is an advantage)

• Around 8–10 years of professional experience, including solid experience in commercial or business development roles in drug development – ideally from a CDMO, CRO or biotech.

• The scientific credibility to understand cell therapy programmes and translate technical considerations into commercial discussions
• Experience working with structured sales processes, funnels or client journeys, combined with the ability and motivation to help build and improve our commercial setup.
• Hands-on experience with CRM, structured pipeline management and contracts such as MSAs, SOWs and change orders (SAP experience and an understanding of demand generation and marketing are an advantage)
• Excellent English, written and spoken (Danish and a network in the Nordic or European cell therapy ecosystem are an advantage)
• An entrepreneurial, consultative people person who builds trust quickly, is credible with scientists and executives alike, and is comfortable designing structure in an organisation that is still taking shape

Interested? 

Send your CV and a short note about why this role interests you. We review applications on an ongoing basis, so do not wait for the deadline.  

Life at Cellerator 

We’re building something meaningful from the ground up. If you thrive in complexity, value pragmatic solutions over perfect theory, and want your work to directly influence how advanced therapies reach patients, you’ll feel at home here. 

Built with you, not before you. We’re a scale-up, so our processes, culture, and ways of working are still taking shape. You won’t inherit a rigid playbook—you’ll help create it. 

Work well, sustainably. We take work–life balance seriously and aim for a supportive, enjoyable workplace. Good science happens when people feel trusted, supported, and able to do their best work. 

Flat by design. We work across teams rather than in silos. Whether you’re collaborating with GMP production, academic partners, or leadership, your perspective matters. We prioritise partnership over hierarchy. 

Backed, but independent. The Novo Nordisk Foundation provides the stability and credibility to deliver on our mission. At the same time, our culture and direction are distinctly our own, and we move with the pace and spirit of a scale-up.

Apply

Apply at Novo Nordisk Foundation

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