How to apply for Director, Government Partnership Development

About GinkGo Bioworks

Ginkgo Bioworks is a publicly-traded biotech company that programs cells to solve problems in health, materials, energy, food, and sustainability. Its in-house automated foundry and data capabilities let bioengineers design and build new organisms at scale. Working there means contributing to a platform that aims to make biology easier to engineer across multiple industries.

About the role

The Director, Government Partnership Development joins the Government team to build and manage partnerships with U.S. government agencies and labs. The role focuses on accelerating American innovation in therapeutics, diagnostics, medical countermeasures, AI/ML training datasets, AI-enabled research workflows, and reshoring pharmaceutical supply chains. You will connect Ginkgo's automation and biological engineering capabilities to government needs and funding opportunities.

A typical day

You might spend your day meeting with government agency representatives to discuss partnership opportunities, working with Ginkgo's technical teams to shape proposals, and tracking funding announcements or contract vehicles. You could also be preparing briefings or internal updates on partnership progress. The role is remote, so much of the work happens over video calls and shared documents.

Who GinkGo Bioworks is looking for

• Has direct experience developing and managing partnerships with U.S. government agencies, national labs, or defense/health organizations.
• Understands government contracting, funding mechanisms, and how to align technical capabilities with federal priorities.
• Can communicate complex biotech and automation concepts to non-technical government stakeholders and translate government needs into partnership proposals.
• Has worked in biotech, life sciences, or a related technical field and can speak credibly about therapeutics, diagnostics, or AI/ML in research workflows.
• Is comfortable working remotely and collaborating across a growing government team.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific government partnerships you have developed or managed, including agency names, contract values, and outcomes.
• Connect your experience to Ginkgo's stated government focus areas: therapeutics, diagnostics, medical countermeasures, AI/ML training datasets, AI-enabled research workflows, and reshoring pharmaceutical supply chains.
• Mention Ginkgo's automated foundry and how you would position it to government partners as a unique capability.
• If you have worked with U.S. government labs or defense/health agencies, name them and describe your role in the partnership lifecycle.
• Address your ability to work remotely and collaborate with a distributed government team, since the role is remote in the US.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your track record of building and closing government partnerships, with concrete examples of agencies and programs.', "How you would apply Ginkgo's platform to government priorities like medical countermeasures, AI/ML datasets, and pharmaceutical supply chain reshoring.", 'Your understanding of government funding and contracting processes, and how you navigate them to create successful partnerships.', "Why you want to work at the intersection of government and synthetic biology, and how Ginkgo's mission fits your experience."]

Research before applying

• Ginkgo's government team and any publicly announced government contracts or partnerships.
• The company's automated foundry and how it is described in public materials or press releases.
• U.S. government initiatives related to biomanufacturing, medical countermeasures, AI/ML in biology, and pharmaceutical reshoring.
• Ginkgo's recent public filings or earnings calls for mentions of government revenue or strategy.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Describe a government partnership you developed from start to finish. What was the agency, the goal, and the result?
• How would you identify and prioritize U.S. government opportunities for Ginkgo's automation and biological engineering capabilities?
• What do you know about Ginkgo's automated foundry and how could it support government research or biomanufacturing needs?
• How would you handle a situation where a government agency's requirements do not align with Ginkgo's current platform capabilities?
• What experience do you have with government contracting vehicles, funding mechanisms, or proposal processes?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic resume that does not mention government partnership experience or specific agencies.
• Focusing only on biotech science without showing how you would translate it into government contracts or partnerships.
• Ignoring the remote nature of the role or failing to show you can work effectively with a distributed team.