Lead Director, New Business Development, Life Sciences Innovation

CVS Health•Island, KY

4d•$100,000 - $231,540•Remote

About The Position

The Lead Director, New Business Development, is a strategic leadership role responsible for advancing enterprise growth through innovative partnerships with pharmaceutical manufacturers. As a key member of the Life Sciences Innovation team, this leader supports the Executive Director, New Business Development, Life Sciences Innovation by evaluating partnership opportunities from external companies, internal leadership priorities, and enterprise strategy teams. The role also helps define the vision and strategy for pharma-facing initiatives, develop business cases, and advance new programs from concept through execution. The Lead Director, Life Sciences Innovation is expected to be entrepreneurial, analytical, and skilled at translating insights from diverse data sources into innovative business opportunities. This leader will manage a high-performing team of two Senior Managers while building strong cross-functional relationships across the enterprise. To support enterprise growth goals, the team will monitor healthcare trends, identify where CVS Health is best positioned to win, develop business cases for priority ideas, and incubate and launch high-impact initiatives. Success in this role requires strategic thinking, deep understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturer challenges, strong business and financial acumen, and the ability to identify innovative models that address evolving market needs. The Lead Director must possess strong executive presence, credibility with internal and external partners, and the ability to build alignment across enterprise teams with competing priorities while maintaining momentum through ambiguity and risk.

Requirements

8+ years of progressive leadership experience in life sciences, healthcare, or another regulated industry, with a proven record of leading high-impact, cross-enterprise initiatives and driving measurable growth through strategic partnerships.
8+ years of experience in Strategy and/or Corporate Development within healthcare, with focus on expertise and experience working in the PBM or pharmaceutical segments.
10+ years of overall professional experience.
Demonstrated experience developing analyses, presentations, and support material to successfully recommend strategy or change initiatives and ability to generate new ideas and new potential deals.
Demonstrated experience in bringing new, ‘non-traditional’ ideas to leadership and successfully obtaining buy-in (e.g., investment).
Strong executive presence with the ability to effectively influence, communicate, and present to senior leaders both internally and with external business partners.
Demonstrated ability to develop strong relationships across all levels within an organization and with relevant external constituents.
Demonstrated analytical, communication, and entrepreneurial skillsets; must operate comfortably in ambiguous environments.
Demonstrated understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturer business challenges, with the ability to proactively identify and deliver innovative, value‑driven solutions.
Direct leadership of people or matrix leadership of stakeholder partners.
Ability to manage risk, ambiguity, and competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment while maintaining focus and execution momentum.
Mature problem solving, analytical, oral and written communication, and presentation skills; advanced MS Office skills.
Bachelor's Degree required.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience in generating new ideas, backed by business cases, and shepherding them to in-market launch, especially within large organizations.
Strong understanding of the life sciences ecosystem, including regulatory and compliance, as well as patient access, pricing, reimbursement, commercialization dynamics, and relevant clinical, scientific, or technical workflows.
Proven experience collaborating with internal business leaders and cross‑functional teams to design, develop, and contract innovative new business partnership models.
Proven track record of successfully negotiating and executing contracts with pharmaceutical manufacturers across access, affordability, education, and related patient support initiatives.
At least 5 years of experience in managed care which may include PBM, Pharma, market access, account management, specialty pharmacy, or health plan experience.
MBA or management consulting experience.
Masters Degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Evaluating partnership opportunities from external companies, internal leadership priorities, and enterprise strategy teams.
Defining the vision and strategy for pharma-facing initiatives.
Developing business cases for priority ideas.
Advancing new programs from concept through execution.
Monitoring healthcare trends.
Identifying where CVS Health is best positioned to win.
Incubating and launching high-impact initiatives.
Managing a high-performing team of two Senior Managers.
Building strong cross-functional relationships across the enterprise.
Negotiating and executing contracts with pharmaceutical manufacturers across access, affordability, education, and related patient support initiatives.