J-1 Visa Commercial Director Jobs
Commercial Director roles in the United States are accessible to international professionals through the J-1 visa Trainee or Specialist program categories, both requiring a designated sponsor organization to issue your DS-2019 and oversee compliance. Securing sponsorship depends on matching your credentials to a structured training plan your host employer agrees to document and support.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Our mission is to make biology easier to engineer. Ginkgo is constructing, editing, and redesigning the living world in order to answer the globe’s growing challenges in health, energy, food, materials, and more. Our bioengineers make use of an in-house automated foundry for designing and building new organisms.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Enterprise Sales team is an integral part of a cross-functional team within Ginkgo to help RAC Automation. As a Commercial Intern, on the Automation - Commercial team, you will play an integral role in accelerating the growth of Ginkgo’s automation sales with pharma and biotech companies.
You will be mentored by members of the Commercial team and gain excellent exposure to various aspects of the BD transaction cycle including ideation of new opportunities, leading customer outreach, customer pitches, customer proposals, and deal closing. In addition, you will have the opportunity to lead and support the launch of new strategic initiatives that enable the Automation - Commercial team to operate more effectively.
Possible projects to include:
- Identifying potential customer segment
The Ginkgo Bioworks Early Talent program is open to students who will return to their degree programs upon completion of their employment at Ginkgo. Candidates must be enrolled in a United States based institution and/or have work authorization in the United States to be eligible to participate.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct industry deep dives including mapping of sub-sectors across various therapeutic modalities (e.g., small molecules, biologics, cell and gene therapy, etc.) and business models (e.g., therapeutic platform companies, CDMOs, CROs, etc.)
- Identify, analyze and recommend new business opportunities for Ginkgo and work closely with Pharma BD team members to develop go-to-market strategies
- Support deal transactions with quantitative assessments including comparable deals analysis, financial modeling (rNPV), and market sizing
- Lead outreach efforts for major partnering conferences, build pitch decks, and generate target lists for new partnership opportunities
- Support internal operations and initiatives to allow Pharma BD team to operate more efficiently and effectively
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Current enrollment in a MBA or similar master’s degree program
- Minimum of 1 year prior experience in management consulting, life sciences strategy consulting, or business development, corporate strategy or commercial roles at a Biotech/Pharma Company
- Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with an ability to independently develop fact-based and informed opinions
- Passion for collaboration and significant experience in relationship-building, and leveraging and converting market knowledge and relationships into business opportunities
- Eagerness to learn quickly in a fast-paced environment and enthusiasm to be a part of Ginkgo’s mission
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with confidence in communicating with both commercial and technical stakeholders
PREFERRED CAPABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE:
- Prior master’s degree completed in a science-related field (or dual-degree master’s with current MBA) a plus
- Prior bachelor’s degree in a science or business-related field preferred
- Strong PowerPoint and Excel modeling skills a plus
- Understanding of synthetic biology and drug discovery and development a plus
It is the policy of Ginkgo Bioworks to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees, employment applicants, and EOE disability/vet.
Privacy Notice
I understand that I am applying for employment with Ginkgo Bioworks and am being asked to provide information in connection with my application. I further understand that Ginkgo gathers this information through a third-party service provider and that Ginkgo may also use other service providers to assist in the application process. Ginkgo may share my information with such third-party service providers in connection with my application and for the start of employment. Ginkgo will treat my information in accordance with Ginkgo's Privacy Policy. By submitting this job application, I am acknowledging that I have reviewed and agree to Ginkgo's Privacy Policy as well as the privacy policies of the third-party service providers used by Ginkgo's associated with the application process.
INTRODUCTION
Our mission is to make biology easier to engineer. Ginkgo is constructing, editing, and redesigning the living world in order to answer the globe’s growing challenges in health, energy, food, materials, and more. Our bioengineers make use of an in-house automated foundry for designing and building new organisms.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Enterprise Sales team is an integral part of a cross-functional team within Ginkgo to help RAC Automation. As a Commercial Intern, on the Automation - Commercial team, you will play an integral role in accelerating the growth of Ginkgo’s automation sales with pharma and biotech companies.
You will be mentored by members of the Commercial team and gain excellent exposure to various aspects of the BD transaction cycle including ideation of new opportunities, leading customer outreach, customer pitches, customer proposals, and deal closing. In addition, you will have the opportunity to lead and support the launch of new strategic initiatives that enable the Automation - Commercial team to operate more effectively.
Possible projects to include:
- Identifying potential customer segment
The Ginkgo Bioworks Early Talent program is open to students who will return to their degree programs upon completion of their employment at Ginkgo. Candidates must be enrolled in a United States based institution and/or have work authorization in the United States to be eligible to participate.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct industry deep dives including mapping of sub-sectors across various therapeutic modalities (e.g., small molecules, biologics, cell and gene therapy, etc.) and business models (e.g., therapeutic platform companies, CDMOs, CROs, etc.)
- Identify, analyze and recommend new business opportunities for Ginkgo and work closely with Pharma BD team members to develop go-to-market strategies
- Support deal transactions with quantitative assessments including comparable deals analysis, financial modeling (rNPV), and market sizing
- Lead outreach efforts for major partnering conferences, build pitch decks, and generate target lists for new partnership opportunities
- Support internal operations and initiatives to allow Pharma BD team to operate more efficiently and effectively
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Current enrollment in a MBA or similar master’s degree program
- Minimum of 1 year prior experience in management consulting, life sciences strategy consulting, or business development, corporate strategy or commercial roles at a Biotech/Pharma Company
- Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with an ability to independently develop fact-based and informed opinions
- Passion for collaboration and significant experience in relationship-building, and leveraging and converting market knowledge and relationships into business opportunities
- Eagerness to learn quickly in a fast-paced environment and enthusiasm to be a part of Ginkgo’s mission
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with confidence in communicating with both commercial and technical stakeholders
PREFERRED CAPABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE:
- Prior master’s degree completed in a science-related field (or dual-degree master’s with current MBA) a plus
- Prior bachelor’s degree in a science or business-related field preferred
- Strong PowerPoint and Excel modeling skills a plus
- Understanding of synthetic biology and drug discovery and development a plus
It is the policy of Ginkgo Bioworks to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees, employment applicants, and EOE disability/vet.
Privacy Notice
I understand that I am applying for employment with Ginkgo Bioworks and am being asked to provide information in connection with my application. I further understand that Ginkgo gathers this information through a third-party service provider and that Ginkgo may also use other service providers to assist in the application process. Ginkgo may share my information with such third-party service providers in connection with my application and for the start of employment. Ginkgo will treat my information in accordance with Ginkgo's Privacy Policy. By submitting this job application, I am acknowledging that I have reviewed and agree to Ginkgo's Privacy Policy as well as the privacy policies of the third-party service providers used by Ginkgo's associated with the application process.
See all J-1 Visa Commercial Director Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship in Commercial Director
Frame your credentials around a training plan
J-1 Trainee and Specialist categories require a formal training plan, not just a job offer. Translate your commercial leadership experience into measurable learning objectives, such as cross-functional sales strategy or market expansion methodology, before approaching host employers.
Target host employers with existing DS-2019 relationships
Multinational corporations and research-linked commercial divisions often already work with designated sponsors like Cultural Vistas or AIPT. Prioritize organizations with documented exchange visitor hosting history, since they understand the DS-2019 process and training plan documentation requirements.
Use Migrate Mate to identify J-1-aligned commercial roles
Search Migrate Mate to find U.S. Commercial Director positions at companies that have hosted J-1 exchange visitors. Filtering by sponsorship history cuts prospecting time and surfaces roles where the host employer already understands the designated sponsor model.
Clarify the two-year home residency requirement early
Specialist and Trainee participants from certain countries, or funded by their home government, face a two-year home residency requirement before changing to most other visa statuses. Confirm your country's treaty obligations with the designated sponsor before accepting a host offer.
Align your role's SOC code to J-1 program eligibility
Designated sponsors verify that your occupation qualifies under the Trainee or Specialist category using Standard Occupational Classification codes. Pull the O*NET profile for Commercial Director to confirm the role's typical duties and degree requirements match what your training plan describes.
Negotiate training plan specifics before the DS-2019 is issued
The designated sponsor, not your host employer, approves the final DS-2019 and training plan. Resolve any mismatches between your proposed duties and the program category's scope with the host employer before the sponsor review stage to avoid delays.
Commercial Director J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a Commercial Director role?
Most Commercial Director placements fall under the J-1 Trainee or Specialist category. Trainee applies if you're within five years of completing a degree and haven't accumulated significant full-time commercial leadership experience. Specialist applies to established professionals with recognized expertise in a specific commercial field. The designated sponsor confirms which category fits your background before issuing the DS-2019.
Who actually sponsors a J-1 visa for a Commercial Director position?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as Cultural Vistas, AIPT, or CIEE, not the hiring company. The hiring company is your host employer and designs the training plan, but it does not issue the DS-2019 or carry legal responsibility for program compliance. The designated sponsor does both.
How do I find U.S. employers willing to host a Commercial Director on a J-1 visa?
Search Migrate Mate for Commercial Director roles at companies with J-1 sponsorship alignment. Because J-1 hosting requires a formal training plan and designated sponsor coordination, targeting employers already familiar with that process significantly increases your chances of a successful match. Cold outreach to unfamiliar companies often stalls at the documentation stage.
Does the two-year home residency requirement apply to Commercial Director J-1 participants?
It depends on your country of nationality, your country of last permanent residence, and whether your participation is funded by a government or international organization. J-1 Specialist and Trainee participants from countries on the Exchange Visitor Skills List, or those receiving government funding, are typically subject to the requirement. The designated sponsor confirms applicability before issuing your DS-2019.
What documentation does a host employer need to prepare for a J-1 Commercial Director placement?
The host employer must complete a structured training plan, often called a Training or Internship Placement Plan, outlining your learning objectives, supervision arrangements, and evaluation schedule. The designated sponsor reviews and must approve this plan before issuing the DS-2019. Incomplete or vague training plans are the most common reason Commercial Director placements are delayed or declined at the sponsor review stage.