Director Business Development Transactions

Merck; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck in London seeks a Director, Business Development Transactions to lead end-to-end Early Stage pharma deals from structuring to signature. Based in Moorgate, the role is hybrid with onsite presence two days per week and involves close collaboration across BD&L, Commercial, Legal and other functions.

The successful candidate will develop deal structures, define terms and govern the process to enable timely execution, potentially supporting Europe-wide Commercial transactions as part of

Qualifications

• Extensive pharma business development experience with deal ownership.
• Experience leading Early Stage transactions and governance.
• Familiarity with deal structures and financial terms.
• Scientific fluency to engage credibly with partners.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end transaction and negotiation process with cross-functional teams.
• Develop deal structure, scope, ownership and financial terms.
• Lead internal deal governance and stakeholder alignment for timely Signature.
• Interface with Search & Evaluation, Commercial, Legal, Patents, and Alliance teams.
• Operate in a small, high-intensity team to meet BD&L goals.

Skills

Deal execution

Negotiation

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Financial terms

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA preferred

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Director Business Development Transactions to be based in Moorgate, London.

This role is hybrid and requires presence onsite 2 days a week.

The Transactions group within the Business Development & Licensing organisation in London is responsible for Early Stage (pre-Proof of Concept in humans) partnerships that advance our company's Human Health portfolio.

The team evaluates, structures, and executes collaborations that drive sustainable growth, including license/collaboration deals, options, acquisitions and other types of deals.

As the Director Business Development Transactions you will lead the structuring, negotiation, and execution of Early Stage transactions in the pharmaceutical arena for the European hub.

You will develop deal structure and economics, and lead internal governance through to contract signature.

This role may also support Commercial deals in Europe and other transactions as part of ongoing professional development.

What you will do:

• Own the end-to-end transaction and negotiation process, partnering closely with the cross-functional team during the term sheet and contract negotiations.
• Develop deal structure, define deal scope and ownership and set-up financial terms to support negotiation strategy.
• Lead internal deal governance and stakeholder alignment (e.g., decision memos, approvals, trade‑off framing), bringing teams together to solve complex problems and enable timely signature and effective handover to implementation teams.
• Interface with leaders and teams across Search & Evaluation Team, Commercial, Manufacturing/Supply Chain, Legal and Patents, and Alliance Management.
• You will operate on a small but high intensity team with significant responsibility for helping our company achieve its ambitious Business Development & Licensing goals.

Education:

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA) preferred.

Candidates must demonstrate sufficient scientific fluency to engage credibly with internal experts and external partners.

Required experience:

• Substantial experience in pharmaceutical business development, with demonstrated ownership of deal workstreams and relevant experience structuring, negotiating and executing similar type of agreements.
• Hands‑on experience with leading Early Stage transactions and familiarity with relevant market benchmarks.
• Strong working knowledge of common structures used in Early Stage transactions.

Skills/Competencies:

• Excellent deal execution skills, including ability to develop negotiation strategy, manage contracting/legal processes, and partner effectively with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Demonstrated leadership and structured problem‑solving skills, including the ability to frame complex issues, develop options and drive alignment across diverse stakeholders.
• Strong influencing skills with external counterparties and the ability to lead internal deal teams through ambiguity to timely, high-quality decisions.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly with executive leadership and to influence decisions through concise synthesis of science, strategy, risk and financial trade‑offs.
• Excellent judgment in structuring and negotiating agreements, escalating issues appropriately, and balancing risk, scientific uncertainty and strategic value.
• Self-motivated, attention to detail, and proven ability to work well on teams.

Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, and skills of our team, with an inclusive culture of respect, encouragement, and teamwork. Members of our global team have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues, while developing their own careers.

Required Skills:

Deal Strategy, Negotiation, Professional Networking, Project Management Leadership, Stakeholder Management

Employee Status:

Regular

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid