DIRECTOR, EXTERNAL INNOVATION & ASSET EVALUATION

Almirall; Barcelona; On-site; EUR 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Almirall is seeking a Director, External Innovation & Asset Evaluation to own the end-to-end external opportunity funnel, translating portfolio priorities into focused search strategies and leading decision-ready asset evaluations. The role offers senior scientific and strategic leadership across cross-functional inputs, with governance representation to support portfolio decisions.

You will shape opportunity funnel priorities, align external activities with portfolio strategy, and lead due

Qualifications

• Advanced degree and extensive pharma/biotech leadership experience.
• Proven track record in external innovation, licensing, diligence or asset evaluation.
• Strong communication, storytelling and executive-level stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Set and own external search strategy aligned with portfolio priorities.
• Lead early asset evaluations integrating scientific, clinical, commercial, and strategic inputs.
• Coordinate due diligence through NBTS and support NB stage governance.
• Develop hypothesis and investment narratives with senior stakeholders.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive storytelling

Fluent English

Stakeholder management

Education

Advanced degree (PhD/MD/PharmD or equivalent)

Job description

We’re building the future of medical dermatology by focusing on unmet patient needs and giving people the space to think independently, take ownership and make an impact that matters.Our purpose is simple: to transform patients’ lives by addressing real needs. We work with care, act with courage, keep things simple and focus our innovation where it makes a difference.Recognised as a Top Employer in Spain since 2008 and in Germany since 2025, we continue to invest in an environment where people can grow and move forward.If you care differently, you belong here.MissionThe Director, External Innovation & Asset Evaluation owns the end-to-end external opportunity funnel at strategic level, translating portfolio and disease-area priorities into focused external search strategies and leading decision-ready asset evaluations. The role provides senior scientific and strategic leadership, integrates cross-functional inputs across scientific, clinical, commercial and access dimensions, and represents the function in governance forums to support high-quality portfolio decisions.This role should carry strategic accountability for the overall opportunity funnel and for decision-ready recommendations, while relying on the Associate Director role for scouting execution, initial screening and analytical preparation.Key responsibilitiesSet and own the external search strategy by translating portfolio, disease-area and corporate priorities into focused search criteria, including mechanism of action, modality, development stage and geography.Ensure alignment between external innovation activities and portfolio strategy, shaping priority search areas, investment focus and portfolio recommendations to support long-term business objectives.Define the opportunity funnel priorities and ensure strong coverage of strategic priorities, with clear trade-offs, escalation points and decision criteria.Lead early asset evaluations for priority opportunities, integrating scientific, clinical, commercial, market access and strategic inputs into a consolidated evaluation view.Coordinate due diligence efforts up to NBTS and support the Corporate Development Strategy team during NBO stage, ensuring that workstreams are aligned, risks are surfaced and recommendations are decision ready.Develop asset-level hypotheses and preliminary investment narratives in collaboration with functions and other senior stakeholders.Assess strategic fit of opportunities versus portfolio ambition, including disease fit, mechanism of action, sequencing synergies and potential contribution to long-term value creation.Lead preparation and senior alignment of decision-ready materials for governance forums, including key assumptions, risks, mitigations and recommended next steps.Build and maintain senior external networks with biotech and pharma companies, academia and other relevant ecosystem actors to anticipate emerging opportunities and shape strategic optionality.Provide direction and coaching to scouting and evaluation contributors, ensuring consistency of methodology, quality of analysis and alignment with corporate objectives.Education & ExperienceAdvanced degree (PhD, MD, PharmD or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline.10–12+ years of experience in pharma/biotech, with increasing leadership responsibility and exposure to external innovation, licensing, diligence or asset evaluation.Proven track record of strategic leadership, cross-functional program delivery and senior stakeholder influence.Strong understanding of R&D strategy, global regulatory environments, scientific standards and portfolio decision-making processes.Excellent communication, executive-level storytelling, stakeholder management and decision-making skills; fluency in English.Experience in early-stage company, platform or asset assessments.Network with VCs, incubators, academic tech transfer offices, biotech companies or relevant scientific communities.Familiarity with IP landscapes, freedom-to-operate concepts and due diligence documentation.Ability to operate with autonomy while escalating strategic trade-offs and material risks appropriately.