Chief Business Officer, Medicines for All Institute

Chief Business Officer, Medicines for All Institute Medicines for All (M4ALL), a part of Virginia Commonwealth University, is an entrepreneurial, impact-oriented institute dedicated to improving access to lifesaving medicines. We achieve this through synthetic process innovation and advanced technology deployment to reduce costs, improve quality, in small molecule drug substance manufacturing. Our work supports treatments for diseases such as TB, malaria, HIV, oncology, metabolic diseases, CNS, and immunology. The Chief Business Officer (CBO) is a core member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), working alongside the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMO) to advance the organization’s mission of increasing access to medicines. The CBO provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all business-facing functions, including Human Resources, Finance, Commercial Services, Partnerships, Communications, and Technical Sales. This role blends strategic vision with hands‑on execution, ensuring the organization’s business infrastructure, revenue‑generating activities, and stakeholder relationships are aligned to deliver sustainable impact. Responsibilities Serve as a core member of the ELT, contributing to organizational strategy, governance, and long‑term planning, including defining and setting organizational goals and objectives, aligning resources and capabilities, and establishing performance metrics to drive accountability and business outcomes. Partner with the CEO and CTO to ensure scientific, operational, and business strategies are fully integrated and mutually reinforcing. Anticipate market, funding, and policy trends that could impact the organization’s mission, and position the organization to respond proactively. Champion a culture of accountability, innovation, and collaboration across all business functions. Strategic Oversight of Business Functions Human Resources Define and execute the long‑term talent strategy to attract, develop, and retain exceptional people. Influence organizational culture, ensuring values are embedded in leadership practices and employee experience. Finance Provide strategic oversight of financial sustainability, resource allocation, and risk management. Assess systems within existing Finance function, and work with finance team to develop plan for evolution of finance function towards growing requirements of M4ALL. Ensure financial strategies support both mission delivery and long‑term organizational resilience. Commercial Services & Technical Sales Shape the vision for service offerings and market positioning, ensuring they align with scientific priorities and partner needs. Further build‑out commercial development team to strengthen strategic client relationships and drive business growth. Partnerships & External Relations Set the partnership strategy to expand reach, influence, and impact. Guide the partnerships team in cultivating high‑value relationships with industry, academia, NGOs, and government stakeholders. Communications Lead the build‑out and hiring of a communications team; support ongoing communications initiatives while team leadership is being developed. Define the overarching communications and brand strategy to position the organization as a trusted leader in access‑to‑medicines initiatives. Ensure messaging is consistent, mission‑driven, and impactful across all channels. Minimum Qualifications 10+ years of senior leadership experience in pharma services, biotech, or life sciences research with exposure to commercial or non‑profit environments. Strong candidates will have a proven track record providing supervision for at least three of the following functions: HR leadership, financial management, business development, partnerships, communications, or technical sales. Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and strategic resource allocation related to commercial activities. Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver results in resource‑constrained, mission‑driven settings. Exceptional relationship‑building skills with diverse stakeholders, including funders, partners, and internal teams. Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU and Medicines for All. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas to varied audiences. Preferred Qualifications Mission Alignment: Experience bringing industry expertise into a mission‑oriented organization; able to tell both the commercial and impact story on behalf of the organization. Sector‑Specific Experience: Experience within a contract development or manufacturing organization (CDO/CMO) environment, understanding the nuances of commercializing scientific services. Demonstrated experience working with and in public sector entities. Network within Industry: Established network of contacts within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, facilitating business development and partnership opportunities. Innovation and Change Management: Experience in implementing new commercial processes, with the ability to drive change and foster alignment across the organization. Reporting Structure The role reports to the Chief Executive Officer and embodies everyday leadership, with an expectation to lead through actions, discussions, decisions, and interactions. As a role model within the organization, you will influence others by consistently demonstrating the values and behaviors that drive our mission forward. Additionally, as a people leader, you will inspire, coach, and develop your team, fostering a culture of accountability, growth, and collaboration to ensure both individual and organizational success. Work Environment & Location Since M4ALL’s inception in 2017, we have received significant financial support from a diverse portfolio of major donors. This position is grant‑funded, with continued employment contingent upon ongoing funding. The ideal candidate will be local to the Greater Richmond area or able to relocate within a reasonable timeframe following the offer. This position will also require occasional travel within the region and internationally to support relationship‑building and strategic initiatives. Salary & Benefits Salary Range: $225,000 - $275,000; Commensurate. FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt. Hours per Week: Minimum 40 hours/week; Monday - Friday. Benefits: All full‑time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax‑deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well‑being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Additional Information Restricted Position: Yes. ORP Eligible: Yes. Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid. Eligible for sponsorship (e.g., H‑1B visa status, etc.): No. Unit: Medicines for All Institute. Contact: m4all@vcu.edu #J-18808-Ljbffr