Associate Director, Search and Evaluation Cardiometabolic & Endocrinology (Seaport MA)

The businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany•Boston, MA

6d•$130,600 - $195,900•Onsite

About The Position

Drive access to key external innovations from biotech/biopharma companies globally for Cardiometabolic, Fertility & Endocrinology (CM +F&E), enabling critical advancement of the company pipeline. This role involves searching and evaluating external opportunities and supporting the scientific and technical assessment process for potential partners, acquisitions, or licensing deals. The Associate Director will take responsibility for Initial Assessments (IAs) as the initial step in a Due Diligence process with key functional experts and present high-quality decision-making documents to the Investment Board (IB) and lead respective multi-functional teams. This role will partner with internal stakeholders to identify search priorities and support defining the CM + F&E partnering strategy. The Associate Director will develop and maintain an overview of the External Innovation landscape within investment priorities in alignment with the CM+F&E Therapeutic Areas, drive proactive search to identify assets of interest and potential partners, and guide partner selection. They will select and prioritize opportunities for further evaluation in close collaboration with Business Development counterparts, maintain an overview of search and evaluation activities in CM+F&E, and maintain a longlist of potential opportunities. The role includes overseeing and guiding the filtering of potential opportunities (e.g., unsolicited, VC portfolios, conferences), executing CDAs, and providing aligned feedback to stakeholders. Benchmarking of potential partners based on aligned criteria to elucidate differentiation is also a key responsibility. The Associate Director will build and maintain an external network (e.g., biotech/pharma/VC) and represent/position the company externally towards potential partners. Collaboration with BD colleagues for partnering discussions to assess viability/feasibility of partnership, consultation on assessment of risks and mitigations, and ensuring seamless transition of IA projects to DD Lead are also part of the role. The Associate Director will drive the identification of big rocks and consolidation of the IB decision-making document to make a go/no-go decision, and provide decision-making documentation to IB and DRB level senior management to proceed into Due Diligence activities to assess Big Rocks or full data packages of external opportunities. This role generates strategic value by identifying high-value opportunities to develop and expand the innovative pipeline of opportunities in CM+F&E as key strategic therapeutic areas. The Associate Director will develop and mentor talents (e.g., GoGlobal Trainees and Short-Term Assignees) and lead multi-functional assessment teams to generate IAs and DD scopes.

Requirements

University degree (PhD) in pharmaceutical science or an equivalent qualification with high expertise, strong network, and substantial R&D experience in respective investment priority field

Nice To Haves

5+ years experience with 2+ years in BD&L / EI
Thorough understanding of the pharmaceutical drug discovery/development process
Scientific profile with substantial R&D experience
Strong leadership acumen to lead cross functional teams to develop search scopes, External Innovation strategy and IAs
Strong presentation skills enabling senior management decision making

Responsibilities

Drive access to key external innovations from biotech/biopharma companies globally for Cardiometabolic, Fertility & Endocrinology (CM +F&E), enabling critical advancement of the company pipeline
Search and evaluate external opportunities and support scientific and technical assessment process for potential partners, acquisitions, or licensing deals
Take responsibility for Initial Assessments (IAs) as the initial step in a Due Diligence process with key functional experts and present high quality decision making documents to the Investment Board (IB) and lead respective multi-functional teams
Partner with internal stakeholders to identify search priorities and support defining the CM + F&E partnering strategy
Develop and keep overview of External Innovation landscape within investment priorities in alignment with the CM+F&E Therapeutic Areas
Drive proactive search to identify assets of interest and potential partners and guide partner selection
Select and prioritize opportunities for further evaluation in close collaboration with Business Development counterparts
Maintain overview of search and evaluation activities in CM+F&E and maintain a longlist of potential opportunities
Oversee and guide filtering of potential opportunities (e.g., unsolicited, VC portfolios, conferences); execute CDA and provide aligned feedback to stakeholders
Benchmarking of potential partners based on aligned criteria to elucidate differentiation
Build and maintain external network (e.g., biotech/pharma/VC) and represent/position us externally towards potential partners
Collaborate with BD colleagues for partnering discussions to assess viability / feasibility of partnership
Consult on assessment of risks and mitigations and ensure seamless transition of IA projects to DD Lead
Drive identification of big rocks and consolidation of IB decision-making document to make a go/no-go decision
Provide decision making documentation to IB and DRB level senior management to proceed into Due Diligence activities to assess Big Rocks or full data packages of external opportunities
Develop and mentor talents (e.g. GoGlobal Trainees and Short-Term Assignees)
Lead multi-functional assessment teams to generate IAs, DD scopes