Associate Director, Corporate Development

Associate Director, Corporate Development

At Renasant Bio, we are driven by a simple goal: to change what's possible for patients with kidney disease. ADPKD remains one of the most challenging areas in medicine, and we believe it requires bold thinking, rigorous science, and a team committed to doing things differently.

We're looking for individuals who bring both scientific rigor and creativity to hard problems, and who believe great work is built through respectful, direct collaboration. You communicate with honesty and transparency, adapt quickly as priorities evolve, and hold yourself—and others—to a high standard. Above all, you operate with urgency and purpose, grounded in the knowledge that patients are waiting.

Based at Bakar Labs in Berkeley, CA, we are advancing new therapies designed to make a meaningful difference for patients.

The Associate Director, Corporate Development will serve as a key strategic partner to the executive team, supporting fundraising efforts, business development, Board communications, competitive intelligence, and external stakeholder engagement. This highly visible role sits at the intersection of science, finance, and strategy, helping ensure Renasant is well-positioned with investors, Board members, potential partners, and key opinion leaders.

The ideal candidate combines strong scientific literacy with exceptional communication and project management skills, and is energized by operating in a fast-paced startup environment where priorities evolve rapidly.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Vice President, Strategy & Operations, CEO and leadership team to prepare for investor meetings, fundraising processes, and strategic partnering discussions.
• Develop and maintain investor-facing materials, including pitch decks, company overviews, diligence responses, and financial and operational updates.
• Coordinate investor due diligence activities and manage information requests throughout financing processes.
• Build and maintain virtual data rooms, ensuring materials are organized, current, and accessible.
• Track fundraising activities, investor engagement, and follow-up actions.

Board & Executive Communications

• Coordinate preparation of Board meeting materials, including presentation development, data gathering, and narrative creation.
• Partner with functional leaders to synthesize complex scientific and operational information into concise executive-level communications.
• Support Board meeting logistics, follow-up actions, and ongoing communication with Board members and observers.
• Assist with strategic planning exercises, business reviews, and executive presentations.

Competitive Intelligence & Strategic Analysis

• Monitor the kidney disease, ADPKD, and broader nephrology landscape for scientific, clinical, regulatory, and business developments.
• Track competitor pipelines, clinical trial activity, financing events, partnerships, and M&A transactions.
• Develop competitive intelligence reports and strategic assessments to support executive decision-making.
• Analyze emerging technologies, therapeutic modalities, and market trends relevant to Renasant's portfolio.
• Support evaluation of potential partnering, licensing, and business development opportunities.

Scientific & KOL Engagement

• Help identify, map, and maintain relationships with key opinion leaders, patient advocacy organizations, and scientific advisors in the ADPKD and nephrology communities.
• Support planning and execution of scientific advisory boards, KOL meetings, and major medical conferences.
• Capture and synthesize external insights to inform corporate strategy, clinical development planning, and investor communications.
• Maintain awareness of evolving standards of care, treatment paradigms, and unmet needs within the ADPKD community.

Cross-Functional Strategic Projects

• Support special projects spanning corporate strategy, pipeline prioritization, financing, and business operations.
• Collaborate closely with Research, Clinical Development, Regulatory, and Finance teams to gather information and drive execution.
• Help establish processes and systems that enable efficient communication with external stakeholders as the company scales.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, business or related field
• 8+ years of experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, healthcare consulting, investment banking, venture capital, equity research, corporate strategy, or corporate development.
• Experience building and managing diligence data rooms.
• Strong understanding of drug development and biotechnology financing.
• Experience preparing executive-level presentations and synthesizing complex scientific information for diverse audiences.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of operating independently in a dynamic startup environment.

Preferred

• Advanced degree in a life sciences field (PhD preferred; MBA or additional business training is a plus).
• Experience supporting venture financings, Board communications, investor relations, or strategic transactions.
• Knowledge of nephrology, rare disease, or ADPKD therapeutic landscapes.
• Experience engaging with scientific advisors, key opinion leaders, and patient advocacy organizations.

$180,000 - $210,000 a year Final compensation will be based on a candidate's qualifications, experience, and geographic location. Employees are also eligible for performance bonuses, equity participation and comprehensive health benefits.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics. Please note that we do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies and external recruiters. No fees will be paid for such submissions.