Director, Search and Evaluation New Areas

Role Summary

Director, Search and Evaluation for New Areas focuses on the proactive identification and scientific/technical evaluation of external growth opportunities in Rare Disease, supporting inbound partnerships, collaborations, licensing, and M&A. The role contributes to Biogen’s strategy in a New Disease Area and leads cross-functional evaluation and due diligence to inform senior leadership decisions.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with Corporate Strategy and R&D Leadership to understand external business strategy and search priorities within new Rare Disease therapeutic areas.
• Proactively identify and scientifically/technically evaluate external growth opportunities for inbound partnering or acquisition in new Rare Disease therapeutic areas.
• Survey the emerging scientific and technological competitive landscape in new Rare Disease therapeutic areas.
• Benchmark opportunities and propose prioritization within Rare Disease areas for further evaluation.
• Develop assessments, scenarios, prosecution rationales, and recommendations for external opportunities.
• Lead focused cross-functional teams in early evaluation of opportunities, integrating data sets with an interdisciplinary perspective.
• Lead scientific and clinical cross-functional due diligence deal teams to advance external opportunities to term sheet; develop strategy for project execution.
• Build internal and external networks to survey the landscape in Rare Disease areas of strategic interest, including pre-clinical and clinical development programs.
• Scout external opportunities by contributing to systematic screens, attending conferences, and maintaining a strong network in the scientific/clinical and biotech/pharma/VC communities.
• Create written summaries of evaluations (memos, visual presentations) and lead governance discussions with senior leadership, framing scientific and strategic importance of opportunities.
• Collaborate with the Transactional lead during negotiation of term sheets and definitive agreements.
• Prepare and present business cases and briefing materials for senior management and internal governance bodies, with cross-functional support.

Qualifications

• PhD in the life sciences or related field (e.g., neuroscience drug discovery/development) or MD with clinical development experience.
• 12+ years in pre-clinical development, clinical development, and/or search & evaluation within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Track record in Neuroscience, Immunology, and/or Rare Disease therapeutic areas.
• Expertise in Neuroscience, Immunology, and/or Rare Disease therapeutic areas and multiple modalities.
• Ability to think critically, creatively and to anticipate and solve problems.
• Ability to navigate and succeed in a fast-paced, matrixed work environment.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Broad knowledge of drug development and key R&D disciplines.
• Comprehensive experience in cross-functional project leadership.
• Experience aligning with cross-functional stakeholders to bring evaluations and external opportunity recommendations to senior management.
• Experience presenting proposals of notable risk and complexity to senior management.
• Travel about 3 to 4 times per year with one international trip.