Executive Director, Research – Integrative Sciences — Immunology

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co; Virginia (MN); Hybrid; USD 264,000 - 319,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Time Off

Wellbeing support

Insurance offerings

Job summary

Bristol Myers Squibb’s Integrative Sciences unit seeks an Executive Director focused on immunology external innovation. You will identify high-value opportunities, lead cross-functional diligence, and shape collaboration strategies across academia, biotech, and industry partners. Travel approx.

30% domestic and international; preferred location Cambridge, MA, with remote arrangements considered. This senior role reports to the U.S.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent advanced training in immunology or inflammation biology.
• 10+ years of drug discovery and/or early development experience in pharma/biotech.
• Deep, hands-on expertise in immunology.
• Strong understanding of immune-mediated disease biology across indications.
• Experience shaping external collaboration plans and negotiating them.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate external immunology opportunities, collaborations, and assets.
• Lead cross-functional diligence teams for external opportunities and provide scientific input.
• Design collaboration plans with clear objectives, milestones, governance, and success measures.
• Represent Integrative Sciences to internal stakeholders and external partners and regulators.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

PhD or equivalent advanced training in immunology

Job description

At Bristol Myers Squibb, our employees often ask, “Who are you working for?”—a question that fuels collaboration, accountability, and urgency in our work. Our purpose-driven culture inspires us to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines to prevail over serious diseases. We offer uniquely interesting and meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and a supportive environment that values inclusion, wellbeing, flexibility, and comprehensive benefits. This is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it.

About Integrative Sciences

Integrative Sciences is the external innovation engine of BMS Research. The group identifies and shapes collaborations with biotech, academic, platform, and venture partners that complement internal Discovery and Early Development priorities. Integrative Sciences connects Research strategy with external opportunity flow, working closely with Business Development, Global Alliance Management, Thematic Research Centers, and Therapeutic Area leadership to convert promising science into decision-ready, industry-workable collaborations. The group is expected to source strategically, triage rigorously, shape executable collaboration plans, manage scientific relationships effectively, and ensure external innovation strengthens the BMS pipeline and the broader Research operating system.

Position Summary

The Executive Director is a senior leader within Integrative Sciences focused on immunology external innovation, and serves as a key interface across Global Research, Early Development, Business Development, Alliance Management, and external collaboration partners. The role is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and advancing high-value external scientific opportunities, collaborations, and assets in immune-mediated diseases across rheumatology, dermatology, gastroenterology, and other immunology-driven conditions. Where appropriate the Executive Director will participate in Site Leadership teams. Where appropriate, the Executive Director may serve as a Board Observer, or in other relevant governance roles, for external immunology companies on behalf of BMS. This position sits within the BMS Research organization and reports to the U.S. Head of Integrative Sciences. Travel is approximately 30%, domestic and international. The preferred location is Cambridge, MA (CMX); remote arrangements will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Opportunity Triage

Communicate internal Immunology Research pipeline priorities to the Integrative Sciences group, and align external search, evaluation, and triage activities with BMS Research principles and the Enterprise Immunology Therapeutic Area strategy. Lead the Immunology triage process within Integrative Sciences, ensuring disciplined, criteria-driven evaluation of external opportunities. Identify, evaluate, and bring forward immunology opportunities — academic collaborations, biotech partnerships, platform technologies, and pre‑IND or IND-stage assets — that add to or complement the internal pipeline. Form and lead cross-functional diligence teams for the evaluation of Integrative Sciences collaboration opportunities, and provide expert scientific opinion during Business Development reviews and due diligence. Partner with Search & Evaluation and Business Development transaction leads to advance prioritized opportunities on disciplined, accelerated timelines. Work with Research Finance to ensure activities are aligned, captured, and approved within Research budgets.

Collaboration Design and Execution

Contribute to the design and execution of a blended external innovation strategy spanning corporate and academic collaborations. Shape opportunities into practical collaboration plans with clear scientific objectives, work plans, milestones, governance structures, decision points, and success measures. Advise on collaboration structures and contract development as the scientific lead, working closely with Business Development, transaction leads, Legal, and IP.

Governance, Representation, and Communication

Serve on joint governance committees and oversight bodies established to coordinate agreed research plans with academic and industry partners, ensuring collaborations remain scientifically focused and operationally accountable. Represent Integrative Sciences, as appropriate, to other BMS organizations, regulatory agencies, investors, partners, and the broader scientific community. Communicate regularly to internal client and partner groups — and their leadership — on external research activities and progress. Compose progress reports and decision documentation for senior management, and deliver presentations and briefings on the scientific and organizational activities within the area of responsibility.

Leadership

Model scientific leadership, collaborative behavior, and an enterprise mindset across Research and Integrative Sciences, consistent with BMS values.

Qualifications

Required

PhD or equivalent advanced scientific training in immunology, inflammation biology, or a related discipline relevant to immune-mediated diseases.

10+ years of drug discovery and/or early development experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, with deep, hands‑on expertise in immunology.

Strong understanding of immune-mediated disease biology across rheumatology, dermatology, gastroenterology, or related indications, with the ability to assess external opportunities against BMS Research priorities.

Demonstrated ability to evaluate external scientific opportunities, including academic collaborations, biotech partnerships, platform technologies, and pre‑IND or IND-stage assets.

Experience shaping external collaboration plans — scientific objectives, work plans, milestones, governance structures, decision points, and success measures — and negotiating them with external partners.

Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to represent Immunology external innovation and the broader Integrative Sciences mission to internal and external stakeholders.

Preferred

Track record of advancing therapeutic programs toward IND stage or beyond, with knowledge of the scientific, translational, and operational requirements for decision-ready programs.

Experience working across Research, Early Development, Business Development, Alliance Management, Legal, IP, Finance, Thematic Research Centers, and Therapeutic Area leadership — or equivalent cross-functional structures — to support disciplined opportunity triage and execution.

Strong capability in building productive relationships, setting clear expectations, and keeping collaboration structures scientifically focused and operationally accountable.

Understanding of the financial, legal, contractual, and geographic considerations that affect external research collaborations, including non‑U.S. partnerships.

Compensation Overview

Compensation Overview: $263,500 - $319,300 The starting pay range(s) listed above is for full‑time employees (FTE). You may also be eligible for additional discretionary incentive cash and stock opportunities. We determine starting pay thoughtfully – carefully considering the nature of the role, required skills, work location, schedule and the knowledge and experience you bring. Final compensation is guided by pay equity principles and applicable employment laws. Compensation programs are reviewed on an ongoing basis and may be adjusted over time to reflect evolving market factors, and individual, team or Company performance.

Benefits

• Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, you may be eligible to participate in our comprehensive benefit plans – including wellbeing support, retirement and financial protection benefits, and insurance offerings (medical, dental, vision, life and disability).
• U.S.-based exempt employees are eligible for Flexible Time Off (FTO), which provides paid time off without a set accrual limit, subject to manager approval, along with 11 paid company holidays each year.
• Non‑exempt employees, RayzeBio employees, and employees located in Puerto Rico receive 160 hours of paid vacation annually for new hires (subject to manager approval), 11 paid company holidays, and 3 optional holidays.
• Depending on eligibility, employees may also have access to additional time‑off benefits, including paid sick leave, up to two paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, and leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, or military needs.
• Eligible employees also enjoy an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
• U.S.-based job seekers can explore full benefit offerings at https://careers.bms.com/benefits

How We Work

Where you work matters – because collaboration, innovation and patient impact happen in many settings. Our roles are structured across four work models: site‑essential, site‑by‑design, field‑based and remote‑by‑design. The model assigned to this role is based on its core responsibilities. Learn more at https://careers.bms.com/ways-of-working.

Supporting People with Disabilities

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to [e-mail]. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

Candidate Rights

BMS will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area. For roles based in Los Angeles County only: If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/

Data Protection

We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://careers.bms.com/fraud-protection. Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations. If this posting is missing required information required by local law or incorrect, contact BMS at [e-mail] with the Job Title and Requisition number. Do not send application‑related inquiries to this email. To check your application status, please login to your Candidate Home Account.

We’re creating innovative medicines for patients fighting serious diseases. We’re also nurturing our own diverse team with inspiring work and challenging career options. No matter the role, each one of us makes a contribution. And that makes all the difference.