Senior Director, Corporate Development

City Therapeutics•Cambridge, MA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

City Therapeutics is seeking a strategic and execution-oriented Senior Director of Corporate Development to help shape the company’s long-term growth strategy. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this individual will lead the identification, evaluation, and execution of strategic opportunities that strengthen City’s platform, advance its pipeline, and create sustainable value. The role partners closely with executive leadership to turn corporate priorities into actionable initiatives, including strategic partnerships, licensing transactions, asset or technology acquisitions, and other growth opportunities. The successful candidate brings scientific and financial judgment, transaction experience, and the ability to build alignment across functions, shifting readily between market analysis, financial evaluation, external negotiations, and executive-level recommendations. City Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics. The company combines RNAi trigger engineering with targeting technologies to expand the therapeutic potential of RNAi in and beyond the liver. Its work is pursued through a proprietary pipeline and strategic collaborations. The position is based onsite at City’s Kendall Square offices five days per week. The company states that it can be flexible and supportive when individual needs arise. City welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and experiences and is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, finance, or a related discipline.
At least 10 years of relevant experience in biotechnology or pharmaceuticals, with significant experience in corporate development, business development, strategic transactions, or related roles.
Demonstrated track record executing licensing agreements, strategic collaborations, acquisitions, or other transactions involving therapeutic assets or platform technologies.
Strong understanding of drug discovery and development, including scientific, regulatory, intellectual property, and commercial factors that influence value.
Ability to evaluate complex opportunities and translate scientific and financial information into actionable recommendations.
Strong financial modeling, valuation, and deal-structuring skills.
Experience leading cross-functional diligence and managing complex negotiations.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, including experience engaging executive leadership and senior external stakeholders.
Established relationships within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and drive execution in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

MBA, advanced scientific degree, or equivalent relevant experience.
Experience with RNAi, oligonucleotide therapeutics, or other innovative therapeutic platforms.
Experience in an emerging biotechnology company with a hands-on operating environment.
Background spanning corporate development and investment banking, consulting, investing, or corporate strategy.
Experience evaluating both platform-level opportunities and individual therapeutic assets.
Experience with transaction implementation, integration planning, or alliance governance.

Responsibilities

Partner with the COO and executive leadership to develop and execute corporate development strategy.
Evaluate opportunities that complement City’s capabilities, expand its platform or pipeline, and support long-term objectives; contribute external-opportunity assessments to strategic planning and portfolio discussions.
Monitor industry trends, competitive developments, and relevant transactions, and develop strategic recommendations grounded in scientific, commercial, financial, and operational analysis.
Build and maintain relationships with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, investors, advisors, and other potential partners.
Identify and prioritize licensing, collaboration, asset acquisition, technology acquisition, and other strategic transaction opportunities.
Assess opportunities for strategic fit, scientific differentiation, development potential, commercial value, and execution feasibility; maintain an opportunity pipeline with clear criteria, milestones, and recommendations.
Coordinate cross-functional diligence across Research, Clinical Development, Regulatory, Finance, Legal, Intellectual Property, and other relevant functions.
Partner with Finance on valuations, financial models, scenario analyses, and transaction economics; evaluate deal structures, investment requirements, risk allocation, and potential returns.
Lead or support transactions from initial engagement through diligence, negotiation, definitive agreements, and closing.
Work with the COO, Legal, Finance, and other stakeholders to negotiate terms aligned with City’s strategic and financial objectives.
Prepare decision materials and presentations for executive leadership and, as appropriate, the Board of Directors.
Manage transaction timelines, advisors, documentation, and internal communications.
Develop materials communicating City’s scientific differentiation and strategic value to prospective partners; represent City in external discussions, partnering meetings, and industry forums.
Establish implementation plans for completed transactions, including governance, ownership, milestones, and success measures; support integration planning for acquired assets, technologies, or capabilities as applicable.
Partner with internal leaders to monitor strategic and financial outcomes and identify opportunities to expand the value of existing relationships.
Advise the COO and executive team on corporate development opportunities and strategic tradeoffs; build cross-functional alignment and guide complex decisions with clear analysis and sound judgment.
Establish scalable processes for opportunity assessment, diligence, transaction approval, and execution, and build corporate development capabilities as the company grows.
Maintain integrity, discretion, and professionalism when handling confidential information.