Director / Sr Director Business Development

Job Summary:

The Director of Business Development will lead and oversee all business development activities from scouting potential partners through due diligence, internal project planning, and negotiating deals. This individual will work closely with pharmaceutical partners and internal teams to drive strategic initiatives and expand the company’s offerings in the rare disease space. The Director will be a key contributor to global business development efforts, identifying key growth markets and evaluating opportunities in the global pharmaceutical landscape. This role will contribute to the company’s overall strategy by cultivating new partnerships and leading negotiations with pharma partners.

Job Responsibilities:

• Identify and establish new pharmaceutical partnerships for the company’s unique offerings in the rare disease sector.
• Regularly engage with pharma customers to identify potential project ideas and build strong, lasting customer relationships.
• Lead partner negotiations, including drafting proposals with medical rationale, reviewing contracts, and building consensus with external partners.
• Collaborate with internal departments (R&D, M&S, operations, clinical trials) to design competitive and tailored offerings for each pharma partner in the rare disease space.
• Maintain and communicate a deal funnel, providing business forecasts for new partnerships to the management team on a quarterly basis.
• Leverage industry contacts from academia, venture firms, biotech/biopharma companies, and large pharmaceutical firms to identify and secure new opportunities.
• Lead due diligence efforts on new opportunities, presenting business, scientific, and commercial analyses to optimize decision-making.
• Utilize internal data assets to identify new partnership opportunities within the pharmaceutical space.
• Drive strategic recommendations and business development work, particularly within the orphan drug market.
• Analyze market, industry, and technology trends to inform and strengthen business strategies.
• Foster positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, promoting the company as a preferred partner for strategic transactions.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant internal and external policies and standards.
• Promote a high-performance, results-oriented, and collaborative work culture.
• Establish clear expectations and exemplify high standards of performance across teams.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred, with a PhD highly desirable in a scientific discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of business development experience within the pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences industries.
• Knowledge of the neurological, metabolic, and orphan drug markets and clinical development.
• Experience in international business development within the pharmaceutical and/or biotech industries, including working with CROs.
• Proven ability to work with both small and large organizations and cross-functional teams.
• Strong business development skills, particularly in the rare disease environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Well-organized and detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Self-motivated, performance-driven, and results-oriented.
• Strong understanding of scientific and medical concepts, with a background in science/medicine and business development.
• Ability to analyze the healthcare business environment, competitive trends, and forecast future developments.
• Ability to work effectively in a global, matrixed organization.
• Strong aptitude for leading and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 30% travel may be required.