Raven Senior Associate

Summary

RA Ventures (Raven) is seeking a highly motivated Senior Associate to support the identification, evaluation, and creation of new biotechnology companies. This role sits at the intersection of science, strategy, and venture formation, working closely with Venture Partners, Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, and the broader RA Capital team. The Senior Associate will help translate novel scientific insights into compelling new company opportunities through rigorous diligence, market and financial analysis, operational excellence and thoughtful collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. This is an opportunity for a scientifically trained, analytically minded individual to play a hands-on role in company building within a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. We believe that diverse perspectives and an inclusive and welcoming culture to all are essential for achieving this goal. We value our working relationships that are founded on trust, collaboration, diligence, and integrity. We are also pleased to offer a competitive compensation package, including but not limited to employer-paid medical insurance, flexible PTO, and retirement benefits.

Responsibilities
Scientific and Venture Strategy
○ Partner with Venture Partners, Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs), and RA colleagues to identify, assess, and advance novel technologies, therapeutic programs, and platforms as the basis for new company formation.
○ Develop and maintain a deep understanding of scientific foundations, therapeutic hypotheses, and platform capabilities underlying Raven programs.
○ Research, track, and synthesize competitive landscapes, emerging technologies, and external programs, and communicate strategic implications for new and existing companies. 

Operational Execution and Program Support
○ Drive operational execution for Raven projects and newly formed companies, including direct oversight of internal and external technical teams (e.g., FTEs, CROs).
○ Collaborate with scientific and venture leadership to design, implement, and monitor research plans, ensuring timelines, budgets, and deliverables are met.
○ Support company infrastructure setup and operational readiness (e.g., budget planning, vendor selection, resource allocation) during incubation and early stages of company buildout.
○ Serve as a point of contact across cross-functional contributors to maintain executional momentum and proactively identify and resolve project bottlenecks.

New Venture Formation and Diligence
○ Support new project incubation and newco formation through scientific, commercial, and strategic diligence.
○ Evaluate therapeutic applications, indication strategies, and commercial potential for novel targets, programs, and technologies.
○ Contribute to the development of target product profiles, positioning, and early portfolio or pipeline strategy in collaboration with senior team members.
○ Assist in sourcing and evaluating external opportunities, including academic programs, licenses, partnerships, and collaborations.

Market, Financial, and Business Analysis
○ Conduct market research, including market sizing, competitive analysis, and growth assessments, to inform newco strategy and investment decisions.
○ Build and maintain financial models to evaluate budgets, capitalization structures, valuation scenarios, and strategic alternatives.
○ Work closely with newco finance team to support budgeting, forecasting, and preparation of board-level financial materials.
○ Collaborate with investment team members and Venture Partners to develop and execute financing and capitalization structures and valuations necessary to achieve funding and launching a company. Leverage AI-enabled tools as part of daily work to improve efficiency and quality of scientific, market, and financial analyses, and proactively identify, evaluate, and adopt new AI tools or workflows that enhance individual and team effectiveness.

Communication and External Engagement
○ Prepare high-quality written materials and pitch decks for internal decision-making, boards, investors, partners, and prospective hires.
○ Engage with academic thought leaders, key opinion leaders, entrepreneurs, service providers, and other ecosystem participants to inform strategy, diligence, and company building.
○ Represent RAVen and RA Capital Management at scientific and industry conferences, networking events, and external meetings as appropriate.

Qualifications

• PhD in biological sciences or a related field.
• 3+ years of relevant work experience, such as biotech or pharma scientific strategy, business development, venture creation, management consulting, or startup operations.
• Strong ability to analyze and synthesize complex scientific, technical, and market information.
• Knowledge of biotech ecosystem, emerging technologies, drug development process, and market trends.
• Experience with financial modeling, budgeting, valuation, or commercial analysis.
• Demonstrated proficiency with AI-enabled tools and a proactive, experimental mindset toward incorporating AI into analytical, research, and operational workflows to drive efficiency and impact.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop compelling scientific and investment narratives.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with a high level of autonomy and attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders.
• Critical thinking skills, ability to identify what’s most important, and ability to operate under uncertainty. Self-motivation and entrepreneurial drive.