United BioSource Associate Director, Business Development interview questions

I'm sharing feedback in order to inform UBC leadership and other candidates. After submitting my official application to an opening listed on an industry job board, I was contacted for a phone screen. The phone screen began the call with small talk and continued with a rather informal conversation. In discussing my background for the role, the screener suddenly said, "You're older." -- which was a shock to hear -- not "You're an experienced candidate.” -- but "older." In addition, the screener began discussing their own health and family (spouse, children) while asking questions like "You ever think to yourself man, I'm getting old?" -- referring to challenges with exercising -- clearly fishing for any responses and details about my health and family situation. I was even more surprised when the screener hinted at the politics of the state (Pennsylvania) – all of which is not germane to the hiring process and was prevalent throughout the call. As the call concluded I was informed that my application/resume would be forwarded without hesitation and I should expect to be contacted within a couple of days to schedule an interview with the hiring manager -- and if I didn't receive any contact from the hiring team, to reach back out. After the phone screen, I sent a professional thank you email and a subsequent follow-up email several days later asking if my application was still "on-track" -- without any simple acknowledgment. According to the screener, they would be on vacation the week after I sent my follow-up email - hence, I sent the email before the screener was scheduled to be OOO. Two weeks later, I received a response expressing: "I received an update that the team has decided to take a different direction with the role, and they thank you for taking the time to consider UBC." Meanwhile, this same position remains advertised on the same industry job board where I found the job posting.