Director of Business Development and Licensing – Biotechnology

Warman O'Brien; Massachusetts; Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Warman O'Brien is seeking a Director of Business Development and Licensing to drive a partnering strategy for a Massachusetts-based biotechnology client. The role focuses on sourcing licensing opportunities, evaluating assets and coordinating cross-functional due diligence across R&D, Clinical Development, Commercial, Finance and Legal.

The candidate will lead negotiations, develop business cases and financial models, and represent the company at industry events.

Qualifications

• BDL experience within biotech or pharma company.
• Experience sourcing, evaluating, negotiating or executing licensing and partnership transactions.
• Strong knowledge of drug development and asset valuation.
• Experience assessing opportunities by therapeutic area, modality and stage of development.
• Cross-functional due diligence experience.
• Established network in MA/Greater Boston life sciences market.

Responsibilities

• Identify and source licensing, acquisition, collaboration and strategic partnership opportunities.
• Evaluate therapeutic assets, technologies, platforms and potential partner organisations.
• Lead or support scientific, clinical, commercial and financial assessments of potential opportunities.
• Coordinate cross-functional due diligence involving research, clinical, regulatory, IP, commercial, legal and financial stakeholders.
• Prepare business cases, opportunity assessments and recommendations for senior leadership.
• Develop valuation assumptions and support the preparation of financial models.
• Structure and negotiate licensing, option, collaboration, co-development and other strategic agreements.
• Support transactions from initial sourcing and evaluation through negotiation, execution and closing.
• Develop relationships with biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical organisations, investors, academic institutions and other potential partners.
• Represent the company at partnering conferences and relevant industry events.
• Support the transition of completed transactions into alliance management and governance structures.

Skills

Business development

Licensing

Strategic partnerships

Due diligence

Negotiation

Communication

Relationship building

Financial modeling

Presentation skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Advanced degree in life sciences or related field

Job description

Director of Business Development and Licensing – Biotechnology

Working arrangement: Hybrid

Employment type: Full-time, permanent

The Opportunity

We are partnering with an innovative biotechnology company seeking an experienced Director of Business Development and Licensing to support its continued growth and partnering strategy.

Based in Massachusetts, the successful candidate will identify, evaluate and execute strategic opportunities involving therapeutic assets, technologies and platform capabilities. The position will work closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams across Research and Development, Clinical Development, Commercial, Finance and Legal.

This opportunity would suit a biotechnology or pharmaceutical business development professional with direct experience in search and evaluation, licensing, transactions or strategic partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and source licensing, acquisition, collaboration and strategic partnership opportunities.
• Evaluate therapeutic assets, technologies, platforms and potential partner organisations.
• Lead or support scientific, clinical, commercial and financial assessments of potential opportunities.
• Coordinate cross-functional due diligence involving research, clinical, regulatory, intellectual property, commercial, legal and financial stakeholders.
• Prepare business cases, opportunity assessments and recommendations for senior leadership.
• Develop valuation assumptions and support the preparation of financial models.
• Structure and negotiate licensing, option, collaboration, co-development and other strategic agreements.
• Support transactions from initial sourcing and evaluation through negotiation, execution and closing.
• Develop relationships with biotechnology companies, pharmaceutical organisations, investors, academic institutions and other potential partners.
• Represent the company at partnering conferences and relevant industry events.
• Support the transition of completed transactions into alliance management and governance structures.

Candidate Profile

• Business Development and Licensing experience gained within a biotechnology or pharmaceutical company.
• Direct involvement in sourcing, evaluating, negotiating or executing licensing and partnership transactions.
• Strong knowledge of drug development and the factors affecting asset valuation.
• Experience assessing opportunities by therapeutic area, modality and stage of development.
• Demonstrable involvement in cross-functional due diligence.
• Strong commercial judgment and the ability to communicate complex opportunities clearly.
• Excellent relationship-building, presentation and negotiation skills.
• An established network within the Massachusetts, Greater Boston or wider US life sciences market.
• An advanced degree in a scientific, medical or business discipline would be advantageous.

Experience in one or more of the following areas would be particularly relevant:

• Oncology
• Rare diseases
• Neurology or central nervous system disorders
• Cardiometabolic diseases
• Small molecules
• Biologics
• Cell and gene therapies
• RNA therapeutics