Executive Director, Research – Integrative Sciences — Neuroscience

Bristol Myers Squibb•San Diego, CA

12d•$263,500 - $319,300•Hybrid

About The Position

At Bristol Myers Squibb, our employees often ask, “Who are you working for?”—a question that fuels collaboration, accountability, and urgency in our work. Our purpose-driven culture inspires us to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines to prevail over serious diseases. We offer uniquely interesting and meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and a supportive environment that values inclusion, wellbeing, flexibility, and comprehensive benefits. This is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. About Integrative Sciences Integrative Sciences is the external innovation engine of BMS Research. The group identifies and shapes collaborations with biotech, academic, platform, and venture partners that complement internal Discovery and Early Development priorities. Integrative Sciences connects Research strategy with external opportunity flow, working closely with Business Development, Global Alliance Management, Thematic Research Centers, and Therapeutic Area leadership to convert promising science into decision-ready, industry-workable collaborations. The group is expected to source strategically, triage rigorously, shape executable collaboration plans, manage scientific relationships effectively, and ensure external innovation strengthens the BMS pipeline and the broader Research operating system. Position Summary The Executive Director is a senior leader within Integrative Sciences focused on neuroscience external innovation, and serves as a key interface across Global Research, Early Development, Business Development, Alliance Management, and external collaboration partners. The role is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and advancing high-value external scientific opportunities, collaborations, and assets in neurology, neuropsychiatry, neuromuscular, and specialty neurological diseases. The Executive Director will represent Neuroscience and BMS as required as a member of 1) internal research teams partnering with the Neuroscience Thematic Research Center (TRC), 2) Global Project Teams in the clinical development of internal Neuroscience assets and 3) the discovery and development Joint Executive Committees, Joint Scientific Committees, Joint Research Committees in external blended partnership programs and projects. When required, the Executive Director will ensure timely completion of disclosures, publications and manuscripts related to these activities. Where appropriate the Executive Director will participate in Site Leadership teams and lead governance of site activities such as IACUC. Where appropriate, the Executive Director may serve as a Board Observer, or in other relevant governance roles, for external neuroscience companies on behalf of BMS. This position sits within the BMS Research organization and reports to the U.S. Head of Integrative Sciences. Travel is approximately 30%, domestic and international. The location is San Diego, CA (SD) or Cambridge, MA (CMX); remote arrangements will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Requirements

PhD or equivalent advanced scientific training in neuroscience, CNS biology, or a related discipline relevant to nervous system diseases.
10+ years of drug discovery and/or early development experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, with deep, hands-on expertise in neuroscience research.
Strong understanding of neurology, neuropsychiatry, neuromuscular, or specialty neurological disease biology, with the ability to assess external opportunities against BMS Research priorities.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate external scientific opportunities, including academic collaborations, biotech partnerships, platform technologies, and pre-IND or IND-stage assets.
Experience shaping external collaboration plans — scientific objectives, work plans, milestones, governance structures, decision points, and success measures — and negotiating them with external partners.
Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to represent Neuroscience external innovation and the broader Integrative Sciences mission to internal and external stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Track record of advancing therapeutic programs toward IND stage or beyond, with knowledge of the scientific, translational, and operational requirements for decision-ready programs.
Experience working across Research, Early Development, Business Development, Alliance Management, Legal, IP, Finance, Thematic Research Centers, and Therapeutic Area leadership — or equivalent cross-functional structures — to support disciplined opportunity triage and execution.
Strong capability in building productive relationships, setting clear expectations, and keeping collaboration structures scientifically focused and operationally accountable.
Understanding of the financial, legal, contractual, and geographic considerations that affect external research collaborations, including non-U.S. partnerships.

Responsibilities

Communicate internal Neuroscience Research pipeline priorities to the Integrative Sciences group, and align external search, evaluation, and triage activities with BMS Research principles and the Enterprise Neuroscience Therapeutic Area strategy.
Lead the Neuroscience triage process within Integrative Sciences, ensuring disciplined, criteria-driven evaluation of external opportunities.
Identify, evaluate, and bring forward neuroscience opportunities — academic collaborations, biotech partnerships, platform technologies, and pre-IND or IND-stage assets — that add to or complement the internal pipeline.
Form and lead cross-functional diligence teams for the evaluation of Integrative Sciences collaboration opportunities, and provide expert scientific opinion during Business Development reviews and due diligence.
Partner with Search & Evaluation and Business Development transaction leads to advance prioritized opportunities on disciplined, accelerated timelines.
Work with Research Finance to ensure activities are aligned, captured, and approved within Research budgets.
Contribute to the design and execution of a blended external innovation strategy spanning corporate and academic collaborations.
Shape opportunities into practical collaboration plans with clear scientific objectives, work plans, milestones, governance structures, decision points, and success measures.
Advise on collaboration structures and contract development as the scientific lead, working closely with Business Development, transaction leads, Legal, and IP.
Serve on joint governance committees and oversight bodies established to coordinate agreed research plans with academic and industry partners, ensuring collaborations remain scientifically focused and operationally accountable.
Represent Integrative Sciences, as appropriate, to other BMS organizations, regulatory agencies, investors, partners, and the broader scientific community.
Communicate regularly to internal client and partner groups — and their leadership — on external research activities and progress.
Compose progress reports and decision documentation for senior management, and deliver presentations and briefings on the scientific and organizational activities within the area of responsibility.
Model scientific leadership, collaborative behavior, and an enterprise mindset across Research and Integrative Sciences, consistent with BMS values.

Benefits

wellbeing support
retirement and financial protection benefits
insurance offerings (medical, dental, vision, life and disability)
Flexible Time Off (FTO)
11 paid company holidays
160 hours of paid vacation annually for new hires
3 optional holidays
paid sick leave
up to two paid volunteer days per year
summer hours flexibility
leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, or military needs
annual Global Shutdown between Christmas Day and New Year's Day