About us:

IOB is a research institute combining basic and clinical research. Its mission is to drive innovations in understanding vision and its diseases and develop new therapies for vision loss. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your abilities challenged, and your knowledge expanded. We are seeking a dynamic and driven individual to join our team as an External Relations Manager, Tissue Donations to expand and strengthen our network of partners and drive our biospecimen acquisition efforts.

Position overview:

The External Relations Manager, Tissue Donations will play a key role in establishing and maintaining relationships with external partners, including hospitals and medical centers, to secure donations of human retinal tissues and other biospecimens. This role is ideal for a highly motivated individual with a background in pharmaceutical or medical sales who excels in building long-term professional relationships, has a passion for medical research, and is driven by the opportunity to contribute to ground-breaking discoveries.

• Develop and manage relationships with hospitals, clinics, eye banks, and other medical institutions to facilitate the donation of retinal tissues and other biospecimens.
• Act as the primary liaison between the research institute and external partners, including physicians, surgeons, and medical staff, to promote awareness and encourage participation in our tissue donation programs.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including research scientists and compliance officers, to ensure all donations are acquired ethically and in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
• Create and execute strategic outreach plans to expand the network of participating centers and increase the volume and variety of biospecimen donations.
• Provide education and training to external partners on donation protocols, consent processes, and the impact of their contributions on medical research.
• Monitor and report on acquisition goals, program success metrics, and partner engagement.
• Represent the institute at conferences, symposia, and meetings to promote tissue donation programs and establish new collaborations.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, donation regulations, and competitive landscape.

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Business, Marketing, or a related field from a University of Applied Science or a University Institution.
• 3+ years of experience as a pharmaceutical sales representative, medical sales representative, medical affairs manager, or similar role in a healthcare setting.
• Proven track record of successful relationship management and sales achievement.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to engage with diverse audiences, including medical professionals and institutional leaders.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Passion for medical research and understanding of the importance of biospecimen donation.
• Willingness to travel frequently to meet with external partners and attend industry events.
• Fluent in German and English and Swiss German would be a plus.

• Competitive salary among the academic world.
• Five weeks of vacation for all employees, with increasing amount of vacation days by age.
• Paid Maternity-leave up to 16 weeks plus the opportunity to extend it through unpaid leave.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development, including training and education support.
• Family Friendly: we offer childcare subsidy, a family room.
• The chance to be part of a groundbreaking research institute making a real impact in the field of medical science.
• Additional discounts and benefits: e.g. cafeteria, access to the Uni Sport offerings at university Basel, and more.

Application / Contact

To apply, please submit your application through our online recruitment platform. For more information, visit www.iob.ch. If you have questions after applying, you can contact us by simply replying to the confirmation email you will receive or via jobs@iob.ch

Please note that we only accept applications via the recruiting portal.

IOB - Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel
Human Resources
Recruiting team