Senior Director, Business Development

Job Overview

We are currently seeking a dynamic, highly motivated, and experienced individual for the position of Senior Director, Business Development. The Senior Director, Business Development will report to the Executive Director (ED) of Business Development and play an active role in negotiations and transactions for potential partnerships, in-licensing, acquisition, or divestitures across the SMPA group. This role will also work closely with Sumitomo Pharma Japan (SMP) BD and will assist and support on divestitures, licensing and partnerships originating out of SMP Japan BD and R&D strategy as needed. This is a hybrid role with the expectation of being in the Marlborough, MA office at least one day a week. Candidates need to be located in the greater Boston, MA area.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Establish and nurture relationships across the SMPA organization as well as SMP Japan
• Align with SMP BD, SMP Global Corporate Strategy, and SMP R&D strategy to drive SMPA/SMP BD activities with attention to detail.
• Lead the execution of BD key business activities under guidance of the ED of BD;
  • Execute on SMP and SMPA leaders’ strategy for partnerships, license agreements and divestiture of internal programs
  • Develop process to achieve the strategic goals of the executive’s strategy within the timeline provided
  • Work closely with legal in the development of definitive agreements during transactions
  • Manage process and interactions with stakeholders across the organization for review of definitive agreement sections
  • Work with R&D, Finance, IP, legal, CMC, corporate communications, commercial and others
• Work with ED of BD on external company/counterpart interactions and communication
  • Establish cross company process and communication
  • Manage issues list and other definitive agreement negotiations
  • Create, populate and manage confidential data rooms
• Work with ED of BD and other stakeholders to develop proposals of non-binding offers and non-binding counter proposals, go/no-go decision and contract conclusion in SMPA for final decision making by higher-level committee (e.g., Global Management Committee, US Management Committee and SMPA board) while seeking inputs from relevant stakeholders incl. SMPA Corporate Planning, R&D Strategy, business departments, Finance and Legal.
• Search, evaluate, keep access to, and assimilate promising/emerging or existing technologies and assets that advance SMPA's interests
  • Contribute to develop the mid to long term BD strategy for SMPA
  • Specifically, areas that complement SMP’s existing core commercial and development assets
  • Receive input from SMPA R&D strategy and/or Corporate Planning, including revenue projections, analysis of strategic fit of the potential BD assets to ours, and other commercial assessments to develop BD plans
• With the ED of BD and the VP of alliance management and BD, help drive alliance management of newly established collaborations and steering committees
  • Drive cross-functional planning and execution of alliance programs within North America
  • Work with commercial, development, CMC and other stakeholders to help establish and launch steering committee as part of the alliance management team
  • Help Manage the alliance with external partners to maximize the return for entire SMPA/SMP, in cooperation with other business departments
• Provide periodic detailed and executive level updates to multiple audiences on Business Development activities to ensure awareness and alignment across the SMP/SMPA group.

Key Core Competencies

• High degree of organizational awareness, ability to connect the dots to understand all the interdependency and big picture
• Attention to detail
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to work independently
• Comfortable working across a wide swath of pharma/biotech departments, from scientists and CMC to legal and IP
• Experience in biotech/pharma BD transactions such as in/out-licensing, acquisitions, partnerships, and divestitures; oncology experience preferred

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, PhD/MD/JD/MBA preferred

• Minimum 15 – 20 years (w/o Master’s) or 10 – 15 years (with Master’s) of relevant experience in biotech or pharmaceutical industry
• At least 3-5 years’ experience in biotech/pharma transactions from a previous role in BD/banking or legal; experience should include term sheet creation to full definitive agreements and everything in between
• Preference towards candidates with previous experience in alliance management leading joint steering committees, joint development committees, or joint collaborative committees.

The base salary range for this role is $230,240 to $287,800. Base salary is part of our total rewards package which also includes the opportunity for merit-based salary increases, short incentive plan participation, eligibility for our 401(k) plan, medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurances and leaves provided in line with your work state.  Our robust time-off policy includes flexible paid time off, 11 paid holidays plus additional time off for a shut-down period during the last week of December, 80 hours of paid sick time upon hire and each year thereafter.  Total compensation, including base salary to be offered, will depend on elements unique to each candidate, including candidate experience, skills, education and other factors permitted by law.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Confidential Data: All information (written, verbal, electronic, etc.) that an employee encounters is considered confidential.

Compliance: Achieve and maintain Compliance with all applicable regulatory, legal and operational rules and procedures, by ensuring that all plans and activities for and on behalf of Sumitomo Pharma America (SMPA) and affiliates are carried out with the "best" industry practices and the highest ethical standards.

Mental/Physical Requirements: Fast paced environment handling multiple demands. Must be able to exercise appropriate judgment as necessary. Requires a high level of initiative and independence. Excellent written and oral communication skills required. Requires ability to use a personal computer for extended periods of time.

Sumitomo Pharma America (SMPA) is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law.