Director, External Innovations (MD)

Role Summary

Director, External Innovations based in Cambridge, US, will identify and evaluate differentiated external opportunities with strong scientific merit, focusing on untapped or stealth-mode innovations. The role collaborates with senior management and key stakeholders to add scientific and business value, scouting for opportunities including preclinical/clinical assets and novel technologies. The director will generate ideas, assess external innovation opportunities, and implement clinical strategies in an entrepreneurial team, delivering valuable deals to BioNTech.

Responsibilities

• Work on clinical trial design of potential collaboration programs from early to late stage development, including data interpretation based on deep scientific and disease biology understanding, translational expertise, and medical knowledge.
• Collaborate with Clinical Development to develop clinical development plans for various collaborations and support clinical strategies and protocols.
• Analyze, interpret, and summarize preclinical/clinical data, scientific literature, and other technical information.
• Seek highly promising innovations for potential development at BioNTech.
• Interact with target companies to explore collaboration opportunities.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders in a collaborative and transparent manner, including clinical development, legal, IP, alliance management, and collaboration partners.
• Attend conferences, presentations, and symposiums to identify promising opportunities.

Qualifications

• Required: A bachelor’s degree; 8+ years of relevant experience including 3+ years of Oncology experience in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry.
• Required: Good understanding of clinical and scientific methods used in clinical development from FIH to registration; regulatory experience is a plus.
• Required: Experience contributing to trial designs and protocols; ability to plan clinical activities based on CDP guidance and translate them into trial designs.
• Required: Experience collaborating and communicating with external collaboration partners.
• Required: Subject matter expertise on drug development topics and a genuine interest to drive innovation and continuous improvement.
• Required: Strong data-searching and analytical skills with ability to synthesize large amounts of data into actionable recommendations for senior management.
• Required: Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment; self-starter, capable of acting independently and collaboratively across functions.
• Required: Integrity, strong work ethic, organized, detail-oriented, and capable of multi-tasking.
• Required: Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required; MD or equivalent advanced degree preferred ( Oncology background highly preferred).

Skills

• Strong analytical and data synthesis abilities; capable of transforming complex data into clear recommendations.
• Effective communicator with internal and external stakeholders; collaborative and transparent.