Strategic BD Leader — Animal Health & M&A

Elanco; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation packages

Two weeklong shutdowns

8-week parental leave

Employee Resource Groups

Annual bonus offering

Flexible work arrangements

Up to 6% 401K matching

Job summary

Elanco is seeking a Senior Director of Business Development to lead end-to-end strategy, structuring, and execution of complex transactions across animal health. You will drive M&A, licensing, and strategic partnerships, coordinating cross-functional teams and presenting to executives.

Strong financial modeling, valuation, and negotiation skills are essential. The role requires 8+ years in BD/strategy within life sciences, with MBA preferred.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate Degree (BS) in a relevant scientific or business field.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in business development, corporate development or strategy, or healthcare investment banking/finance, or a closely related field within animal health, pharmaceutical, or biotechnology industries.
• Proven ability to independently lead and close complex transactions (M&A, licensing, commercial partnerships) with advanced financial modeling, valuation, deal structuring, contract review and negotiation, and executive-level deal communication.
• Proven ability to build and maintain high-level external partnerships while aligning cross-functional internal stakeholders behind deal rationales.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end strategy, structuring, and execution of complex business development transactions, including M&A, in/out-licensing, commercial agreements, joint ventures, asset divestments.
• Lead term sheet and contract negotiations in close partnership with Elanco Legal and Finance, safeguarding enterprise value, IP rights, and strategic flexibility.
• Own the transaction business case, financial models, and valuation frameworks, authoring high-impact deal overviews and championing deal recommendations through executive governance committees.
• Direct cross-functional diligence and deal teams (R&D, Legal, Finance, Commercial, Manufacturing, etc) to rigorously assess strategic fit, risks, synergies, and post-transaction integration readiness.
• Proactively build and manage external partner relationships while providing strategic insights to senior leaders on industry trends, pipeline gaps, and market opportunities.

Skills

M&A

Licensing

Deal negotiations

Financial modeling

Valuation

Contract review

Executive communication

Education

BS in relevant field

MBA

Job description

Elanco is seeking a Senior Director of Business Development to lead end-to-end strategy, structuring, and execution of complex transactions across animal health. You will drive M&A, licensing, and strategic partnerships, coordinating cross-functional teams and presenting to executives.

Strong financial modeling, valuation, and negotiation skills are essential. The role requires 8+ years in BD/strategy within life sciences, with MBA preferred.