About This Role
Our Corporate Development team supports Biogen’s overall strategy by targeting, evaluating, and executing external growth opportunities for Biogen, including licenses, collaborations, and M&A. The Senior Director leads the assessment of growth opportunities, partners with External Innovation and R&D teams to oversee due diligence, and negotiates transactions. This is a high impact role working across many large functions with a high level of exposure to Biogen senior management.
The Senior Director, Business Development will be an integral part of the Business Development and M&A team at Biogen covering all BD activities for the Alzheimer’s Business Unit (AD BU) and R&D Platforms including biologics, small molecules and gene therapy. In addition, the Senior Director will be responsible for overseeing and leading out licensing and divestiture activities, and renegotiations of major existing alliance partners.  This individual will report to the SVP, Head of Business Development.

What You’ll Do
Strategic Development: Lead, develop and execute Business Development and M&A strategies and the evaluation of external growth opportunities aligned to Biogen’s core and growth therapeutic areas. Establish new scientific and strategic partnerships, joint ventures, acquisitions and alliances aligned with Biogen’s business objectives. Consider broad corporate priorities and participate in strategy planning for financial investment trade-off decisions required for corporate growth.

Market Assessment: Identify, evaluate and pursue strategic and financial prospects of new market opportunities. Propose licensing, acquisition and alliance opportunities which advance and enhance the company’s position in the marketplace. Assess growth opportunities, lead cross-functional search, evaluation and diligence teams and negotiate transactions. Lead evaluations of all aspects of therapeutic drug programs from preclinical through clinical stages across the relevant assessment areas: proposed clinical benefit, mechanism, preclinical data, manufacturing, regulatory strategy, clinical development path, intellectual property and commercial potential. Provide accurate assessment of competitors’ situations, strengths, weaknesses and strategies. Remain abreast of market trends and dynamics and engage the organization to continually stay ahead of the competition.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Effectively partner and collaborate with multiple stakeholders including Legal, Finance, Commercial, Clinical and Scientific, and Corporate Development teams, fostering unification across the organization. Demonstrate thought leadership, executive presence and influence with cross-functional partners. Provide a clear vision and focused direction to develop strategies and recommendations to enhance business relationships. Translate and communicate compelling business development & licensing opportunities to senior management. Establish credibility throughout the organization and position self as an effective problem solver, exceptional people-leader and driver of business growth.

External Relationship Management: Cultivate, maintain and facilitate strong relationships with key constituents in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Develop and maintain relationships with industry executives which advance and enhance the company’s position in the marketplace and presence in the industry. Leverage existing key contacts to generate leads and continuously forge new opportunities.

Deal Negotiation: Proficiently lead negotiations in business transactions in a manner which promotes and protects Biogen’s business interests. Ensure that all contracts and alliances are negotiated and executed according to plan and in compliance with all applicable policies and regulations. Establish best practices throughout organization.

• 12+ years in Biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry, including a minimum of 5 years in a business development function.

• Demonstrated independent leadership and negotiation of significant business development transactions, with experience in M&A process and out licensing required. 

• Demonstrated ability to build rapport with therapeutic and functional area leaders.

• Strong analytical skills required to provide sound inputs into financial evaluations.

• Ability to identify and prioritize risks across functional areas, weigh those appropriately with benefits of investment, and effectively frame business decisions for senior management.

• Executive presence and experience with presenting business development deals to C-suite senior leadership

• Strong communication and leadership skills necessary to effectively lead diligence teams and navigate the Biogen corporate structure, i.e., possessing organizational savvy.

• Ability to “think on your feet” both during negotiations with third parties and during internal discussions of risks and strategy.

• Strong presentation skills.

*Deal sheet submission required*

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field required.  Advanced degree strongly preferred. 
 

Our Corporate Development team supports Biogen’s overall strategy by targeting, evaluating, and executing external growth opportunities for Biogen, including licenses, collaborations, and M&A. The Senior Director leads the assessment of growth opportunities, partners with External Innovation and R&D teams to oversee due diligence, and negotiates transactions.