Associate Director, M&A Corporate Development (San Diego/Hybrid)

Illumina • San Diego, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity? At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients. Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible. Position Summary: The Associate Director, Corporate Development, is a senior leader responsible for driving Illumina’s global growth agenda through M&A, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, new business creation, and equity investments. This role leads the full deal lifecycle—from strategy formation and opportunity sourcing to execution, negotiation, and integration—while shaping long-range strategic priorities for the company. The Associate Director partners closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to evaluate transformational opportunities, build investment theses, and ensure successful delivery of strategic initiatives. This position sits within Illumina’s Corporate & Business Development (CBD) organization, which oversees the analysis, execution, and governance of strategic partnerships, acquisitions, and high-impact commercial initiatives. This is a full-time role, Monday through Friday, with an expectation of 2- 3 in-office days per week and additional on-site presence as needed. The individual must reside in the San Diego area and be able to commute to our corporate offices.

Requirements

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 15 years of related experience leading or significantly contributing to M&A transactions, including evaluation, diligence, negotiation, and integration, with 7+ years of Management experience, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
• Demonstrated track record of independently driving deal analysis and cross-functional workstreams at a leading investment bank, private equity/venture firm, or corporate development team.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate scientific, commercial, and financial insights into actionable recommendations.
• Exceptional communication, executive presence, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to partner effectively across senior leadership.

Nice To Haves

• Global transaction experience strongly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of the biotechnology, genomics, or diagnostics sectors, with familiarity across emerging technologies and competitive dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Inorganic Strategy and Target Landscaping Lead and shape Illumina’s strategic opportunity pipeline by defining external growth strategy (build vs. buy vs. partner), priority spaces, unmet needs, and long-term growth themes. Establish clear investment theses, articulate where Illumina must play to win, and build forward-looking landscapes that integrate market trends, competitive dynamics, scientific innovation, and technology inflection points.
• Deal Sourcing & Evaluation Independently identify, source, and evaluate M&A and partnership opportunities across global markets. Conduct targeted assessments of companies and technologies—including competitive positioning, scientific and IP strength, commercial models, and financial implications—and translate insights into clear, actionable recommendations for senior executives.
• Transaction Leadership Independently lead transactions of varying scale and complexity. Develop investment theses, coordinate early-stage discussions, lead valuation, deal structuring, diligence planning and management, and complex deal structuring and negotiation, partner with Legal and Finance, and prepare executive- and board-level materials. Establish and drive diligence timelines, synthesize findings, identify risks, and develop mitigation plans. Provide clear, actionable conclusions to executive leadership. Act as a point of accountability for advancing deals through Illumina’s governance process.
• Integration & Value Capture Partner with integration leaders to design integration strategies, operating models, and synergy plans for completed acquisitions. Support PMO execution through structured workstreams, governance cadence, KPI reporting, and risk management to ensure effective operational and financial value realization.
• Executive Communication & Influence Develop high-quality materials and analyses for the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), CEO, CFO, and Board of Directors. Communicate complex strategic, financial, and technical issues with clarity and authority. Influence decision-making across senior stakeholders.

Benefits

• Additionally, all employees are eligible for one of our variable cash programs (bonus or commission) and eligible roles may receive equity as part of the compensation package. We offer a wide range of benefits as innovative as our work, including access to genomics sequencing, family planning, health/dental/vision, retirement benefits, and paid time off.
• We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission.
• We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees