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

EMD Serono Research & Development Institute•Boston, MA

42d•$130,600 - $195,900•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. This role also involves partnering with internal stakeholders to identify search priorities and support defining the CM + F&E partnering strategy, developing and maintaining an overview of the External Innovation landscape within investment priorities in alignment with the CM+F&E Therapeutic Areas, and driving proactive search to identify assets of interest and potential partners. The Associate Director 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. They will oversee and guide the filtering of potential opportunities (e.g., unsolicited, VC portfolios, conferences), execute CDAs, and provide aligned feedback to stakeholders. Benchmarking of potential partners based on aligned criteria to elucidate differentiation, building and maintaining an external network (e.g., biotech/pharma/VC), and representing/positioning the company externally towards potential partners are also key responsibilities. 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 Lead are expected. The role drives the identification of big rocks and consolidation of IB decision-making documents to make a go/no-go decision, and provides 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. The 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
5+ years experience
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
External applicants must be eligible to work in the US.

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
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