Associate Director, Search and Evaluation Cardiometabolic & Endocrinology (Seaport MA) 1

Merck•Boston, MA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

This role drives access to key external innovations from biotech/biopharma companies globally for Cardiometabolic, Fertility & Endocrinology (CM +F&E), enabling critical advancement of the company pipeline. The position 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. The role requires partnering 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. Building and maintaining an external network (e.g., biotech/pharma/VC) and representing the company externally towards potential partners are crucial. Collaboration with BD colleagues for partnering discussions to assess viability/feasibility of partnership, consulting on assessment of risks and mitigations, and ensuring seamless transition of IA projects to DD leads 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 has strategic impact by identifying high-value opportunities to develop and expand the innovative pipeline in CM+F&E, which are key strategic therapeutic areas. The role also involves developing and mentoring talents (e.g., GoGlobal Trainees and Short-Term Assignees) and leading 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.
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 the 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 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.
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.
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 an external network (e.g., biotech/pharma/VC) and represent/position the company 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 leads.
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.