Executive Director, Development Asset Lead

Biogen, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 332,000 - 469,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Fitness reimbursement

Disability insurance

Paid vacation

Company holidays

401(k) matching

Employee stock purchase plan

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Biogen is seeking an Executive Director of Development Asset Leadership to accelerate scientific promise into patient impact by shaping strategy, execution, and success across a diverse portfolio of therapies. You will lead Development Asset Leads and collaborate with cross-functional leaders to govern assets from early development to market.

The role requires a strategic, matrix-driven leader with 13+ years in drug development, strong people management, and a track record of aligning asset

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree strongly preferred (MS/MD/PhD/PharmD/MBA).
• At least 13 years of drug development experience in pharma or biotech.
• Strong people management skills and strategic leadership track record.
• Experience in creating and executing clinical development plans aligned to broader strategies.
• Ability to navigate matrix leadership and communicate portfolio value, risk, and cost.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Development Asset Leads with strategic oversight.
• Promote best practices for leadership of matrixed teams and portfolio communication.
• Guide programs through IND-enabling activities, first-in-human studies, and lifecycle planning.
• Develop integrated asset plans, optimize value creation and execution.
• Foster innovative approaches to accelerate timelines while maintaining rigor.
• Represent assets in discussions with senior stakeholders and governance forums.
• Mentor teams to align asset strategies with business goals and cross-functional plans.
• Contribute to department community of practice to share insights and synergies.

Skills

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree

Strategic leadership

People management

Drug development experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Portfolio governance

Education

Bachelor's degree

MS/MD/PhD/PharmD/MBA

Job description

About This Role:

As the Executive Director of Development Asset Leadership at Biogen, you will accelerate scientific promise into patient impact by shaping the strategy, execution, and success of a diverse portfolio of innovative therapies spanning multiple therapeutic areas and modalities. This role is ideal for a seasoned development leader who thrives at the intersection of science, strategy, and people leadership. Tasked with leading and mentoring a subset of Development Asset Leads (DALs), you will lead expert professionals and ensure the strategic application of resources across early development clinical stage and/or marketed assets while influencing some of Biogen’s most important portfolio decisions. Your leadership will be instrumental in driving consistency and best practices in Development Asset Team leadership, liaising extensively with cross‑functional leaders to support teams representing assets at portfolio governance forums. As a key figure in our strategic planning, you will mentor those who develop and execute integrated asset plans that align with our overarching business goals, fostering collaboration across functions and ensuring seamless execution of project plans. Your role promises real‑world contributions to the therapeutic areas we cover, influencing both regional and global accountability and ensuring our projects align with Biogen’s vision.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead and develop a team of Development Asset Leads, provide strategic oversight for optimized program optionality
• Establish and promote best practices for leadership of matrixed teams and efficient communication of portfolio value, risk, and cost
• Guide teams through critical development milestones including IND-enabling activities, first-in-human studies, proof-of-concept generation, and lifecycle planning
• Guide teams in developing program integrated asset plans, optimizing value creation and efficient execution
• Foster innovative approaches to accelerating development timelines while maintaining scientific rigor
• Ensure team drives accountability among functional team members, integrating functional level plans with overarching asset strategies while balancing scientific opportunity, risk, probability of success, competitive differentiation and resource allocation
• Represent assets in discussions with senior stakeholders and at portfolio governance forums
• Engage with stakeholders to support asset execution and portfolio decision-making, integrating scientific and business considerations
• Cultivate a strong team culture that facilitates effective planning and execution of asset strategies
• Contribute to the department community of practice to share insights and promote program synergies

Who You Are:

You are a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of drug development and a passion for leading cross‑functional teams. Your executive presence and enterprise mindset enable you to navigate complex decision‑making processes, integrating scientific, business, and risk considerations. You thrive in matrix leadership environments, inspiring and mentoring teams to achieve challenging goals. Your communication style is authentic and adaptable, allowing you to effectively reach and influence diverse audiences. Resilience and servant leadership define you, as you persistently drive projects forward, even in the face of setbacks.

Required Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Advanced degree strongly preferred (MS/MD/PhD/PharmD/MBA)
• At least 13 years of drug development experience in pharma or biotech
• Strong people management skills
• Proven track record of strategic leadership in cross‑functional or portfolio roles
• Experience in creating and executing clinical development plans aligned to broader strategies
• Scientifically and clinically astute with strong learning agility
• Ability to understand competitive and business implications of emerging scientific data

Preferred Skills:

• Deep understanding of Minimum and Target Product Profile concepts
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements for drug development and registration
• Experience in development and execution of early clinical studies for clinical proof-of-concept
• Experience managing development strategy within a highly complex pipeline environment
• Experience preparing assets for regulatory interactions
• Successful participation in NDA, BLA, MAA, or equivalent regulatory submissions a plus

Job Level: Management

Additional Information

The base compensation range for this role is: $332,000.00-$469,250.00

Base salary offered is determined through an analytical approach utilizing a combination of factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills & experience, job location, and internal equity.

Regular employees are eligible to receive both short term and long‑term incentives, including cash bonus and equity incentive opportunities, designed to reward recent achievements and recognize your future potential based on individual, business unit and company performance.

• Medical, Dental, Vision, & Life insurances
• Fitness & Wellness programs including a fitness reimbursement
• Short- and Long-Term Disability insurance
• A minimum of 15 days of paid vacation and an additional end‑of‑year shutdown time off (Dec26-Dec31)
• Up to 12 company paid holidays + 3 paid days off for Personal Significance
• 80 hours of sick time per calendar year
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave benefit
• 401(k) program participation with company matched contributions
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per calendar year
• Employee Resource Groups participation

Why Biogen?

We are a global team with a commitment to excellence, and a pioneering spirit. As a mid‑sized biotechnology company, we provide the stability and resources of a well‑established business while fostering an environment where individual contributions make a significant impact. Our team encompasses some of the most talented and passionate achievers who have unparalleled opportunities for learning, growth, and expanding their skills. Above all, we work together to deliver life‑changing medicines, with every role playing a vital part in our mission. Caring Deeply. Achieving Excellence. Changing Lives. At Biogen, we are committed to building on our culture of inclusion and belonging that reflects the communities where we operate and the patients we serve. We know that diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives make us a stronger and more innovative company, and we are focused on building teams where every employee feels empowered and inspired.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law.

Biogen is an E-Verify Employer in the United States.

As Biogen recently acquired Apellis, you can find additional open jobs on our Apellis website here.