Director, Corporate Development and External Innovation

insitro; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 213,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a Director of Corporate Development and External Innovation to drive strategic partnerships and licensing opportunities. This role involves working closely with scientific teams to identify and execute collaborations that enhance capabilities in drug discovery. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in business development, with a focus on asset licensing and technology partnerships. Join a forward-thinking company that values data and computation in medicine, and be part of a team dedicated to transforming drug discovery through AI and machine learning.

Benefits

Performance Bonuses

401(k) with Employer Match

Medical, Dental, Vision Support

Flexible Vacation Policy

Paid Parental Leave

Budget for Books and Courses

Home Office Stipend

Onsite Cafe

Fitness Center

Transportation Options

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in business development at the intersection of science.
• Extensive experience in asset out-licensing and pharma collaborations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct landscape analyses of therapeutic opportunities relevant to priorities.
• Lead the full lifecycle of asset in-licensing and negotiations.

Skills

Business Development

Asset Licensing

Technology Collaborations

Machine Learning

Negotiation

Communication Skills

Education

PhD or MD in Biology, Chemistry, or Related Field

Tools

Generative AI Tools (e.g., ChatGPT)

Job description

Director, Corporate Development and External Innovation

Join to apply for the Director, Corporate Development and External Innovation role at insitro.

The Opportunity:
The convergence of multi-modal data, disease modeling, and computational power is transforming drug discovery. insitro is leveraging this to redefine medicine development for complex diseases through AI/ML-enabled platforms that rapidly uncover biological insights and identify new targets and drugs.

Reporting to the VP of Strategy and Corporate Development, we seek a results-oriented business development leader with a proven track record in asset licensing and technology collaborations. You will shape strategies and transactions to drive insitro's growth. If you are passionate about data and computation in medicine, we encourage you to apply.

This role is based in South San Francisco, with a hybrid schedule of at least 3 days in-office and 1-2 days remote.

About the Role:

As the Director of Corporate Development and External Innovation, you will identify, evaluate, and execute strategic external partnerships and licensing opportunities. Your focus will be understanding the objectives and challenges of our scientific teams, leading buy-side and sell-side licensing transactions, including landscape analysis, term sheet development, and negotiations. You will also develop and execute technology partnering strategies to enhance insitro's capabilities.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Conducting landscape analyses of external therapeutic and technology opportunities relevant to insitro's priorities, and monitoring competitive activities.
2. Leading the full lifecycle of asset in-licensing, from identification and term sheet development to due diligence and negotiation.
3. Managing out-licensing processes, including asset preparation, engagement, and deal negotiations.
4. Identifying and executing technology partnerships to accelerate discovery and development.
5. Formulating go-to-market strategies for external collaborations and internal capabilities, including target identification and value articulation.
6. Supporting partner engagements from initiation through milestones.
7. Participating in high-impact corporate strategy projects for senior leadership.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a motivated individual passionate about science and strategic business development, contributing to life-changing therapies.

About You:

• Advanced degree (PhD or MD) in biology, chemistry, biomedical/clinical informatics, machine learning, or related fields.
• 8+ years of experience at the intersection of science and business.
• Extensive experience in asset out-licensing and collaborations with pharma partners.
• Experience in asset in-licensing, partner engagement, diligence, deal structuring, and negotiation across multiple disease areas.
• Familiarity with machine learning-enabled drug discovery.
• Proven go-to-market capabilities for new technologies and multiple transactions.
• Experience in product planning and TPP development.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills across diverse teams.
• Ability to thrive in a startup environment with ambiguity and resource constraints.
• Extensive use of generative AI tools / LLMs (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity) in daily work.

Compensation & Benefits:

Starting salary: $213,000 - $240,000, based on skills and experience. Additional benefits include:

• Performance bonuses and equity plans.
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Medical, dental, vision, and mental health support.
• Flexible vacation policy.
• Paid parental leave.
• Budget for books and courses, conference support.
• Home office stipend, monthly stipends for cell & internet.
• Onsite amenities: cafe, fitness center, transportation options.

insitro is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. All candidates will be considered regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Please be aware of recruitment scams: we do not request payments. All communications are from @insitro.com. Contact us at [e-mail] if in doubt.

About insitro:

insitro is a drug discovery company using ML and data to decode biology for transformative medicines. Since 2018, it has raised over $700 million and collaborates with top investors and pharma partners. For more, visit www.insitro.com.