Senior Director, Business Development

Senior Director, Business Development

A clinical-stage biotechnology company is seeking an accomplished Senior Director, Business Development to join its growing global organization. This is a highly visible, externally facing role focused primarily on asset-level business development and out-licensing across a growing portfolio of preclinical and clinical-stage therapeutics. The successful candidate will identify and originate new partnering opportunities, develop relationships across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem, and lead transactions from initial outreach through diligence, negotiation, execution, and post-deal transition. The position is best suited for a scientifically credible, commercially driven BD leader who combines a strong network with the ability to operate hands-on in a fast-moving biotechnology environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead out-licensing and strategic partnering activities for preclinical and clinical-stage therapeutic assets.
• Originate new opportunities and proactively identify pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners aligned with individual assets and portfolio strategy.
• Own transactions throughout the deal lifecycle, including partner identification, outreach, evaluation, due diligence, valuation, negotiation, and execution.
• Develop compelling partnering strategies and positioning for individual therapeutic programs.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships across biotechnology, pharmaceutical, investment, and broader life sciences organizations.
• Partner closely with scientific, clinical, finance, legal, and executive leadership throughout transaction processes.
• Evaluate market, competitive, scientific, and commercial intelligence to inform BD and portfolio strategy.
• Develop financial models and assess deal structures, economics, and strategic value.
• Support broader strategic transactions, collaborations, and potential M&A activities as needed.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to more junior members of the Business Development organization.
• Represent the organization at industry conferences and external partnering meetings.
• Operate effectively across a global and highly cross-functional organization.

Candidate Profile:

Advanced scientific degree strongly preferred, ideally a PhD in Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline. Approximately 10+ years of biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry experience, with significant experience in Business Development, licensing, or strategic partnerships. Demonstrated track record of personally leading or materially contributing to large out-licensing transactions involving therapeutic assets. Proven ability to originate opportunities, rather than relying solely on inbound, inherited, or pre-existing transactions. Strong existing network of decision-makers and partnering contacts across biotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations. Deep understanding of the drug discovery and development lifecycle with the scientific fluency to assess assets and identify appropriate potential partners. Experience developing asset partnering strategies, financial models, valuations, and deal structures. Combination of large pharmaceutical and biotechnology experience strongly preferred. Commercially aggressive and entrepreneurial while remaining scientifically credible. Comfortable operating hands-on without extensive infrastructure or layers of support. Strong executive presence, negotiation skills, and ability to influence senior internal and external stakeholders. Experience mentoring or developing junior BD professionals. The position will involve periodic travel for conferences, partnering meetings, and client discussions. The formal specification identifies Boston as the location and emphasizes the ability to work independently while collaborating across a globally distributed organization.