Vice President/Senior Vice President, Business Development

Vice President/Senior Vice President, Business Development

Avenzo Therapeutics, Inc. ("Avenzo" or "Company") is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing next-generation oncology therapies for patients. The Company was co-founded in 2022 by Drs. Athena Countouriotis and Mohammad Hirmand. With a proven track record in building and scaling biotech companies, our experienced management team is passionate about and committed to building a pipeline of potential best-in-class targeted oncology programs. The Company is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer, the Vice President/Senior Vice President, Business Development (BD) will lead the company's business development activities, including in-licensing, out-licensing, clinical collaborations, and other strategic transactions to advance the company's business priorities, and serve as a strategic thought partner to executive leadership. In addition, the Vice President/Senior Vice President, BD will manage a high-performing BD team, be responsible for building and sustaining key external partnerships and driving cross-functional alignment in support of all partnering activities.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Lead the identification, evaluation, negotiation, structuring, and execution of strategic transactions that create long-term value for the company
• Own the end-to-end transaction lifecycle, including opportunity assessment, cross-functional diligence, deal structuring, and contract execution
• Develop and execute short and long-range business development strategies aligned with Avenzo's corporate strategy and business priorities
• Define, communicate, and drive the company's partnering strategy in close collaboration with executive leadership
• Develop negotiation strategies and deal structures that align scientific, clinical, and business objectives, and provide clear recommendations to executive stakeholders
• Lead and ensure high-quality due diligence efforts, including scientific, clinical, financial, and commercial assessments
• Build strong cross-functional partnerships across Research, Clinical Development, Legal, Finance, and other functions to support efficient transaction execution and post-deal success
• Represent Avenzo externally at partnering meetings, conferences, and industry forums to proactively source opportunities and expand the company's network of partners and advisors
• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing business development organization, establishing scalable processes and a culture of collaboration and excellence
• Provide strategic oversight of the alliance management function, ensuring effective governance, performance tracking, and issue resolution across partnerships
• Effectively influence and align internal and external stakeholders while managing multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in life sciences, medicine, business, or a related field preferred (e.g., M.S., Ph.D., M.B.A.), with 15+ years of relevant life sciences industry experience (or an equivalent combination of education and experience)
• Record of progressive career advancement
• Demonstrated track record of leading and negotiating strategic transactions across a range of deal structures, pharma partnership experience required
• Deep understanding of oncology drug development and the ability to translate scientific and clinical insights into business opportunities
• Experience managing and developing BD professionals in a fast-paced, clinical-stage environment
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and inspire high-performing teams
• Experience leading cross-functional diligence and transaction teams, across scientific and clinical opportunities
• Established network of relationships across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a strategic mindset
• This position requires periodic/regular travel, including up to 25% of work time, which may include overnight travel

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

Physical Demands:

• Constant or continuous use of a computer keyboard, monitor, and mouse to perform a variety of tasks
• Constant or frequent sitting, standing, or walking
• May lift and/or move objects of various weights

Work Environment:

• San Diego-based: On-site requirement (Monday through Thursday)
• Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate
• Fast-paced, time sensitive environment with frequently changing priorities
• Handle multiple projects simultaneously

Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Local candidates are strongly preferred; limited relocation assistance may be offered.

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position at the VP level is $321,000 to $347,000 per year and the range at the SVP level is $368,000 to $395,000. The final pay offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include, but are not limited to, the type and years of experience within the job and the industry, education, and skills and certifications.

Benefits:

Provided they meet all eligibility requirements under the applicable plan documents, employees (and their eligible dependents) will be eligible to enroll in group healthcare plans that offer medical, dental, vision, and basic life and AD&D insurance. Additional benefit programs include short-term and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, and voluntary insurance programs, including voluntary life, AD&D accident, and critical illness. Employees will also be able to enroll in the Company's 401(k) plan. In addition, employees will receive discretionary paid vacation time and accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Employees also enjoy 17 paid holidays each calendar year, including a winter closure, subject to applicable Company policies. All benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plan documents and Company policies, which may be amended from time to time.

Other Compensation:

The hired candidate will be eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus and an equity award, subject to the terms of the applicable employment agreement, plan documents, and Company policies.

The information above is intended to provide a general description of benefits and other compensation and is not a substitute for applicable plan documents or company policies.

Applications for this position are anticipated to close on June 30, 2026. For more information about this posting, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Avenzo is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to an individual's actual or perceived protected characteristic or characteristics, or any combination of protected characteristics including race (including traits associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles, including braids, locks, and twists), ethnicity, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, sex (including childbirth, breast feeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniformed service member and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age (40 and over), protected medical condition (including cancer and genetic conditions), genetic information, disability (mental and physical), reproductive health decision-making, medical leave or other types of protected leave (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), the employee or their family member's status as a victim of a qualifying act of violence, political activity or affiliation, use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace, association with an individual who has, or is perceived to have, a protected characteristic or characteristics, or any combination of protected characteristics, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Notice to Search Firms/Third Party Agencies:

Avenzo does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies or search firms without a valid, executed search agreement in place.