Associate Director, Business Development

Summit Therapeutics, Inc.; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 14,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Summit Therapeutics Inc. seeks an Associate Director, Business Development to drive external innovation in oncology. You’ll identify and evaluate strategic partnerships, lead deal processes, and coordinate cross-functional teams to advance collaborations and joint clinical trials.

Strong scientific and business acumen, plus alliance experience, are essential. You will work with R&D, Clinical, Commercial, Market Planning, Legal, and Finance teams to assess fit, risks, and integration needs, while

Qualifications

• 7+ years of biopharma experience focused on business development, strategy and alliances.
• Advanced degree preferred; Bachelor's degree required; dual scientific/business background is a plus.
• Experience with oncology drug development licensing, M&A, or partnerships preferred.

Responsibilities

• Strategize and plan BD activities; analyze landscape and shape action plans.
• Evaluate external assets, companies, platforms aligned with oncology strategy.
• Lead deal processes including diligence, contracting, and executive materials.
• Manage alliances and track performance with governance structures.
• Prepare high-impact presentations for leadership and joint committees.
• Identify whitespace opportunities and shape external growth initiatives.

Skills

Biopharma experience

Strategic thinking

Public speaking

Stakeholder communication

Financial & qualitative analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or Master’s preferred

Tools

Smartsheets

MS Project

MS Office

Job description

About Summit

Summit Therapeutics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical oncology company with a mission focused on improving quality of life, increasing potential duration of life, and resolving serious unmet medical needs. At Summit, we believe in building a team of world class professionals who are passionate about this mission, and it is our people who drive this mission to reality. Summit’s core values include integrity, passion for excellence, purposeful urgency, collaboration, and our commitment to people. Our employees are truly the heart and soul of our culture, and they are invaluable in shaping our journey toward excellence.

Summit’s Team Is Inspired To Touch And Help Change Lives Through Summit’s Clinical Studies In The Field Of Oncology. Summit Has Multiple Global Phase 3 Clinical Studies, Including.

Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

• HARMONi: Phase 3 clinical study which was intended to evaluate ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy compared to placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with EGFR-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC who were previously treated with a 3rd generation EGFR TKI.
• HARMONi-3: Phase 3 clinical study which is intended to evaluate ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy compared to pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in patients with first-line metastatic NSCLC.
• HARMONi-7: Phase 3 clinical study which is intended to evaluate ivonescimab monotherapy compared to pembrolizumab monotherapy in patients with first-line metastatic NSCLC.

Colorectal Cancer (CRC)

• HARMONi-GI3: Phase 3 clinical study intended to evaluate ivonescimab in combination with chemotherapy compared with bevacizumab plus chemotherapy.

Ivonescimab is an investigational therapy not presently approved by any regulatory authority other than China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Summit is headquartered in Miami, Florida, and has additional offices in California, New Jersey, the UK, and Ireland.

Overview Of Role

The Associate Director, Business Development plays a critical role in advancing the company’s external innovation strategy by identifying, evaluating, and supporting the execution of strategic partnerships or combinations opportunities. This role reports to the Director BD, works closely with the VP BD and Strategic Alliances, partners with the Alliance Management Lead and engages cross-functional teams to drive company growth through external collaborations & joint clinical trials. The ideal candidate brings strong scientific & business acumen, transaction & alliance experience, and the ability to navigate complex strategic landscapes with speed, rigor, and creativity. This is a hands‑on, end-to-end experience role, where you’ll engage on strategy, searching and securing opportunities, communicate with external companies, tactically progress contracting, as well as contribute to the department’s maintenance of strategic alliances.

Role And Responsibilities

• Strategy & Scenario Planning Maintain a deep understanding of the oncology competitive landscape, emerging modalities, and deal trends to inform BD strategy and prioritization. Partner with internal experts and strategy team members to shape future scenarios and action plans.
• Search & Evaluation Evaluate external assets, companies, platforms, and technologies aligned with the company’s oncology strategy and pipeline needs. Ability to triangulate, prioritize opportunities and conduct robust financial and qualitative business case analysis.
• Transaction Support & Execution Support or lead deal processes including diligence, external communication with potential collaborators, coordinating contracting and related requirements, and preparation of executive materials.
• Alliance & Relationship Management Contribute to collaboration alliance activities or clinical trial project oversight with partner, governance and performance tracking of key alliances, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and operational milestones.
• Executive Communication Prepare high-impact presentations and recommendations for the Department Head or executive leadership, translating complex data into actionable insights & plans. Ability to serve on joint committees and/or facilitate alliance working groups.
• Innovation Mindset & Strategic Agility Bring a proactive, solutions-oriented approach to identifying whitespace opportunities and shaping external growth initiatives.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration Partner with R&D, Clinical, Commercial, Market Planning, Legal, and Finance teams to assess strategic fit, risks, and integration requirements for potential deals.

Experience, Education And Specialized Knowledge And Skills

• 7+ years of experience in biopharma, with consulting or pharma investment with a focus on business development, strategy, and alliances.
• Advanced degree preferred (MBA, Masters, etc.), Bachelors degree required; dual scientific and business background is a strong plus.
• Prior oncology drug experience in late-stage development and/or commercial stage required; strong understanding of oncology drug development, scientific platforms, and global commercial dynamics.
• Experience supporting or leading pharma or biotech drug development licensing, M&A, or strategic partnership processes required.
• Understanding or experience in collaboration kick-offs, joint clinical trial or project management to ensure successful contract implementation & relationship management.
• Proficient user of MS Office suite (e.g., PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Project), experience using electronic document management systems, document review tools and can quickly build presentations for leaders/teams.
• Prior experience with technology tools (e.g. Smartsheets, MS Project) in planning, maintenance and communication of information is highly desirable.
• Excellent communicator in public-speaking, meeting facilitation and email communication
• Ability to excel in a fast-paced, demanding and diverse environment that includes global virtual meetings outside standard business hours.
• Ability to travel key congresses, collaboration meetings or business meetings, to include semi-frequent travel to hub office locations in Summit territories.
• Role is primarily office-based.
• All other duties as assigned

Pay

Pay Transparency

$10 - $20 USD

Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, certifications, and specific work location. This may be different in other locations due to differences in the cost of labor. The total compensation package for this position may also include bonus, stock, benefits and/or other applicable variable compensation.

Summit does not accept referrals from employment businesses and/or employment agencies in respect of the vacancies posted on this site. All employment businesses/agencies are required to contact Summit’s Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail] to obtain prior written authorization before referring any candidates to Summit.

Summit Therapeutics Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and takes pride in creating and maintaining diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training or promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.