Executive Director of Corporate Partnerships, Perelman School of Medicine

Executive Director of Corporate Partnerships, Perelman School of Medicine

The Executive Director (ED) for Corporate Partnerships for the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) will be the School's go-to person to help faculty build relationships with external research partners and funders (e.g., industry, government, venture capital firms) and proactively identify, cultivate, and pursue promising opportunities that align with PSOM priorities. The ED for PSOM will strengthen the interactions between PSOM and major corporations in all four phases of technology commercialization - research, development, demonstration (inclusive of clinical trials), and deployment. By facilitating strategic partnerships with selected corporations, PSOM's vast research capabilities can be leveraged by partners to create, enhance and further develop new technologies towards FDA approval and business opportunities. Through a deep and comprehensive understanding of PSOM faculty's research programs and our expertise translating Penn discoveries to approved products combined with an ability to navigate partners with similar interests, the ED will accelerate the business development strategies of the Penn Center for Innovation (PCI) and the Office of Clinical Research (OCR), as well as the corporate relations vision of the Dean of the Perelman School of Medicine. The ED will work with PSOM faculty, researchers, trainees, and administration as well as executives from industry to advance these mutual research interests and to foster new relationships with corporations, non-profits, investors and government agencies. The ED will have dual reporting to PCI's Managing Director and to PSOM's Senior Vice Dean and Chief Scientific Officer.

Principal Responsibilities

• Work with PCI and PSOM leadership to define and implement a strategic outreach plan for PSOM that aligns with industry / external priorities
• Create and maintain a prioritized list of target companies and agencies; identify key decision makers and understand their priorities
• Develop long-term relationships with external decision makers and identify areas where PSOM's portfolio can support companies' /agencies' short- and long-term strategic goals
• Develop relationships with VC firms and other investors to identify and cultivate spinout opportunities and explore new funding models
• Conduct scientific and commercial due diligence to evaluate partnership, licensing, and investment opportunities
• Represent PSOM in external meetings, industry conferences, and strategic forums; identify relevant high-profile external events (e.g., JP Morgan Healthcare Conference) where PSOM presence is important
• Serve as the primary support system for PSOM researchers and leadership pursuing PSOM-industry partnerships, from initial contact through follow-up and relationship-building
• Help faculty prepare for partner meetings, (e.g., corporate visits, conferences, responding to inbound inquiries) by, for example, providing slide templates, coaching, and honing the 'pitch' to ensure the right message
• Prepare university leadership for their engagement with potential partners on PSOM research, e.g., by providing executive summaries and partner-ready pitches
• Once a connection has been made by PSOM faculty or university leadership, take ownership to ensure there is disciplined follow-up, clear next steps, and sustained momentum (e.g., follow up, shape the opportunity, and help move it forward)
• Build a deep understanding of PSOM faculty and programmatic research strengths to facilitate the aforementioned outreach activities and effectively respond to the wants and needs of the government and private sector
• Proactively identify opportunity areas in PSOM's research portfolio; work with faculty to understand how their activities could potentially bridge into external interests
• Create and maintain a living internal database of PSOM expertise areas, regulatory applications and potential opportunities (e.g., interview faculty, catalog expertise of faculty interested in working with corporate research groups, assemble associated papers and available Penn IP) to effectively connect industry partners to the appropriate PSOM stakeholders
• Interact with faculty, PCI, and PSOM leadership, and industry partners to understand and reduce barriers to collaboration
• Identify relevant grant opportunities, understand and communicate application and vetting process
• Steward potential partnership opportunities, working with PCI and PSOM colleagues to position PSOM as a preferred industry partner
• Identify longer-term strategic opportunities for industry engagement, e.g., framing of new funded research programs, licensing of Penn IP, creation of research alliances, executive education, and/or new company formation
• Work closely and collaboratively with the PCI teams responsible for these activities and operate as a trusted business partner, providing insight and ongoing guidance around the wants and needs of potential partners and potential strategies to streamline negotiations and contract implementation
• Work with PSOM faculty to develop materials that articulate how and where Penn can support longer-term opportunities for industry engagement that align with Penn's interdisciplinary programs with a focus on PSOM
• Work closely with faculty and corporations to facilitate project success, which may include working to address areas of concern
• Establish processes and metrics to monitor partnership progress, including maintaining close alignment with corporate engagement colleagues outside of PSOM
• Collaborate closely with external engagement peers at other schools (e.g., School of Engineering and Applied Sciences) to share best practices and align the University's overall industry research partnership strategy
• In collaboration with external engagement peers, and in consultation with PCI and PSOM leadership, develop key metrics of success and process to monitor collaborations and ensure continued productivity

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific, medical, or technical discipline, and 7-10 years of related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience required.

Preferred qualifications:

• PhD, MD, ScD, or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant scientific, medical, engineering, or other technical discipline.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in business development, corporate strategy, alliance management, venture creation, or investment analysis within the biotech, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or related industries.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex research / commercialization alliances, licensing technologies, or supporting new venture creation and incubation
• Proven track record in deal structuring, execution, and negotiation of strategic partnerships, preferably with multinational corporations
• Research experience in academia and biopharma, or a related industry
• Academic research administration experience / worked directly with academic researchers
• Experience engaging with multiple areas within biomedical research, e.g., therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, instrumentation, digital health
• Product development experience, e.g., FDA regulatory pathways, drug development
• Extended professional network across biopharma and related sectors including key decision makers, e.g., pharma executives, VC investors
• Experience in investor ecosystems, including deal evaluation, investment analysis, and private equity

Core Competencies & Leadership Qualities

• Strong alignment with Penn's mission and culture, with a passion for driving positive real-world impacts for human health
• Strategic, entrepreneurial attitude and ability to proactively seek out new opportunities
• Project ownership mindset with the ability to manage inbound requests, drive projects end-to-end in close collaboration with PCI and PSOM partners, and orchestrate cross-functional teams to deliver partnerships
• Scientific credibility and ability to engage with faculty and industry R&D leaders
• Deep understanding of research and development lifecycles (e.g., drug discovery, diagnostics, health technologies, etc.)
• Partnership mindset, comfortable with sourcing and developing opportunities that can be handed off to colleagues
• Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder management skills across academic and industry environments; able to effectively interface across campus, including with faculty, administration, tech transfer teams, and senior leadership
• Strong executive communication skills (i.e., able to translate complex scientific research into clear, compelling opportunities)

Application Requirement

• A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Provost's Center

Pay Range

$135,327.00 - $200,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry