Director, Regional Ecosystem Lead (San Diego)

CSL; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

CSL is seeking a Director, Regional Ecosystem Lead for the US Northeast, based in the Waltham, MA area. This hybrid role requires onsite presence three days a week and leadership across key innovation hubs to source opportunities and grow CSL’s external deal flow.

The role partners with R&D, business development, and legal to align internal capabilities with external assets, while expanding relationships with universities, incubators, VC firms, and industry bodies to strengthen CSL’s pipeline.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in biopharma, external innovation, or business development with regional network.
• Advanced degree required (PhD, MD, or equivalent).
• Proven track record of enhancing Pharma senior leadership presence as partner of choice.
• Proven ability to source and evaluate external opportunities and lead deal execution.
• Strong relationships with academic, biotech, and investment communities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as CSL leader within regional innovation ecosystem; create partnerships aligned with TA strategies.
• Maintain relationships with universities, incubators, accelerators, VCs, and local orgs to boost CSL's external priorities.
• Collaborate with TA Search Leads on regional searches, engagements, and conferences.
• Lead regional deal teams through identification, due diligence, and deal close.
• Represent CSL at local external innovation events and increase ecosystem visibility.
• Engage in industry bodies and pursue board memberships to influence direction and networks.
• Leverage internal SMEs to strengthen credibility and external reputation.
• Provide regional biotech trend insights, competitive landscape, and innovation hotspots.
• Work with R&D, BD, and legal to evaluate and integrate external assets.

Skills

Ecosystem engagement

Deal leadership

Partnership development

Relationship building

Stakeholder management

Education

PhD/MD or equivalent

Job description

CSL's R&D organization is accelerating innovation to deliver greater impact for patients. With a project-led structure and a focus on collaboration, we’re building a future-ready team that thrives in dynamic biotech ecosystems. Joining CSL now means being part of an agile team committed to developing therapies that make a meaningful difference worldwide.

Could you be our next Director, Regional Ecosystem Lead (US Northeast)? The job is in our Waltham MA Office. This is a hybrid position and is onsite three days a week.

Position Description Summary

Serve as CSL’s key leader in the key innovation hubs to enhance the CSL external brand leading to BD deal flow to grow our pipeline. These senior leaders will combine ecosystem engagement, strategic scouting, and deal team leadership to ensure CSL maintains a strong presence and pipeline of opportunities across biotech, academia, and investment networks. This role partners with global R&D; business development, and legal teams to strengthen the organization’s innovation pipeline and competitive advantage. The individual will leverage deep internal organizational knowledge, align with the GLG, and internal subject matter experts (SMEs) to position CSL as the partner of choice in the key ecosystems of biotech innovation.

• Serve as the key CSL leader within the regional innovation ecosystem, actively sourcing opportunities aligned with all TA strategies and portfolio priorities. Create new partnership opportunities for GLG presence within each ecosystem.
• Maintain and expand strategic relationships with universities, incubators, accelerators, venture capital firms, and local organizations to amplify CSL’s external innovation priorities.
• Partner closely with TA Search Leads to conduct regional searches, plan engagements and conferences, and share regional insights and updates.
• Serve as a senior member of deal teams occurring in each region, supporting transactions from identification through due diligence and help lead relationships with external partners through deal close.
• Organize and represent CSL at local external innovation events, such as CSL-hosted innovation days, and ensure strong visibility in the ecosystem.
• Actively participate as a board member in key industry bodies and associations (e.g., MassBio, AusBiotech, Californai Bio, etc.) and pursue board or committee memberships to influence industry direction and strengthen networks.
• Maintain intimate knowledge of internal organizational capabilities, priorities, and SMEs and engage internal experts to enhance credibility and reputation externally.
• Provide insights on regional biotech trends, competitive landscape, and innovation hotspots.
• Work closely with R&D; BD, and legal teams to evaluate and integrate external assets.

Qualifications & Experience Requirements

• 12+ years in biopharma, external innovation, or business development with strong regional network and ecosystem knowledge.
• Advanced degree required (PhD, MD, or equivalent).
• Proven track record of enhancing Pharma senior leadership presence/reputation as a partner of choice in biotech ecosystems to drive BD deal flow.
• Proven ability to source and evaluate external opportunities and lead deal execution.
• Strong relationship-building skills with academic, biotech, and investment communities.