Director of Business Development

BioSpace; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 187,000 - 279,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Long-term incentives

Company vehicles

Comprehensive health coverage

Job summary

Novo Nordisk in Cambridge, MA seeks a Director of Corporate Development to evaluate external growth opportunities and execute transactions across therapeutic areas. You will interface with area heads, alliance management, and senior leadership to assess value and drive strategic investments.

The role requires leading due diligence and negotiating terms, partnering with legal, finance, and commercial teams to advance the best opportunities for patients and the company.

Qualifications

• Experience evaluating external growth opportunities and executing transactions.
• Strong presentation skills and ability to influence senior management.
• Proven ability to lead due diligence and negotiate deals.

Responsibilities

• Partners with Search & Evaluation and therapeutic leads to identify promising deals.
• Lead cross-functional diligence across clinical, regulatory, manufacturing, and commercial areas.
• Participate in and, ideally, lead negotiations in business transactions.
• Collaborate with legal, finance, and commercial teams to present proposals to executives.
• Contribute to strategy planning for financial investments and trade-offs.

Skills

Strategic deal evaluation

Negotiation leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Financial analysis

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree preferred

Job description

About The Department

The Novo Nordisk Cambridge location is the headquarters for Global Business Development across all of our therapeutic and technology areas. We contribute to innovation in one of the world's largest life sciences ecosystems by participating in events and discussions with renowned and upcoming scientists looking for the next scientific breakthrough to bring transformative treatments to patients. We work with start-ups, established companies, venture capitalists, teaching hospitals, and academic institutions to support the development of innovation for mutual benefit, and to help patients in all of our current therapy areas. Through a variety of partnership models, we accelerate ideas from the lab and clinic to advance and expand our product portfolio and to improve outcomes for the patients we serve

About The Department

The Novo Nordisk Cambridge location is the headquarters for Global Business Development across all of our therapeutic and technology areas. We contribute to innovation in one of the world's largest life sciences ecosystems by participating in events and discussions with renowned and upcoming scientists looking for the next scientific breakthrough to bring transformative treatments to patients. We work with start-ups, established companies, venture capitalists, teaching hospitals, and academic institutions to support the development of innovation for mutual benefit, and to help patients in all of our current therapy areas. Through a variety of partnership models, we accelerate ideas from the lab and clinic to advance and expand our product portfolio and to improve outcomes for the patients we serve

The Position

Corporate Development contributes to innovation in one of the world's largest life sciences ecosystems by participating in events and discussions with renowned and upcoming scientists–looking for the next scientific breakthrough to bring transformative treatments to patients. We work with start-ups, established companies, venture capitalists, teaching hospitals, and academic institutions to support the development of innovation for mutual benefit, and to help patients in all of our current therapy areas. Through a variety of partnership models, we accelerate ideas from the lab and clinic to advance and expand our product portfolio and to improve outcomes for the patients we serve. The Director of Business Development (BD) will have responsibility for evaluating external growth opportunities and, where appropriate, executing transactions to access the assets of interest. The Director BD regularly interfaces with therapeutic area heads, search and evaluation, alliance management, and senior management. This position is at the epicenter of the evolving landscape and is critical in helping identify, evaluate, and weigh-in on opportunities in the marketplace.

Relationships

The Director of Business Development is a member of the global transactions group and reports to the Senior Director, Business Development. The Director works with colleagues through a matrix organization. Key stakeholders include members of executive management and global members of management in Research and Development and Commercial organizations. External collaborators include, industry peers and executives, and academic researchers. External collaborators include, industry peers and executives, and academic researchers.

Essential Functions

• Partners with Search & Evaluation team and the therapeutic area heads to improve identification of deals of interest and drive diligence to quickly come to “go” or “no go” decisions
• Leads cross-functional evaluations of all aspects of therapeutic drug programs from preclinical through clinical stages across the relevant assessment areas: proposed clinical benefit, mechanism, preclinical data, manufacturing, regulatory strategy, clinical development path, intellectual property and commercial potential
• Participates in and, ideally leads negotiations in business transactions
• Works effectively with legal, finance, commercial, clinical and scientific teams and make business development proposals to senior management
• Considers broad corporate priorities and participate in strategy planning for financial investment trade-off decisions required

Physical Requirements

5-10% overnight travel required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• Experience Level: 8+ years of relevant experience required. Experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology organizations preferred. Advanced degree may be substituted for experience as appropriate
• Demonstrated record of presenting to senior management of partnership opportunities
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport with therapeutic and functional area leader
• Strong analytical skills required to provide sound inputs into financial evaluations
• Strong presentation skills
• Proven ability to lead all elements of due diligence and deal negotiation
• Ability to identify and prioritize risks across functional areas, weigh those appropriately with benefits of investment, and effectively frame business decisions for senior management
• Ability to successfully navigate internal dynamics, experience working in a matrix organization preferred

The base compensation range for this position is $187,000 to $279,000. Base compensation is determined based on a number of factors. This position is also eligible for a company bonus based on individual and company performance. Novo Nordisk offers long-term incentive compensation and or company vehicles depending on the position’s level or other company factors.

Employees are also eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs including medical, dental and vision coverage; life insurance; disability insurance; 401(k) savings plan; flexible spending accounts; employee assistance program; tuition reimbursement program; and voluntary benefits such as group legal, critical illness, identity theft protection, pet insurance and auto/home insurance. The Company also offers time off pursuant to its sick time policy, flex-able vacation policy and parental leave policy.

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.

At Novo Nordisk, we're not chasing quick fixes – we're creating lasting change for long-term health. For over 100 years, we've been driven by a single purpose: to defeat serious chronic diseases and help millions of people live healthier lives. This dedication fuels our constant curiosity and inspires us to push the boundaries of what's possible in healthcare. We embrace diverse perspectives, seek out bold ideas, and build partnerships rooted in shared purpose. Together, we're making healthcare more accessible, treating and defeating diseases, and pioneering solutions that create change spanning generations. When you join us, you become part of something bigger – a legacy of impact that reaches far beyond today.

Novo Nordisk is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations.