Senior Director, Transactions

Role Summary

Senior Director, Transactions (Business Development Operations) based in Boston, USA. Leads all aspects of the transactional phase of transactions, including initial evaluation and external marketing for externalisation/divestment projects, and coordinates cross-functional teams to develop business cases and present to senior management.

Responsibilities

• Establish and independently lead international, senior level, diverse, multifunctional teams to prosecute transactions across therapy areas and development phases.
• Interpret and synthesize data from third parties, desk sources, and internal knowledge to build compelling business cases.
• Prioritize and rank transactions across the business; identify risks and opportunities and make recommendations to senior management.
• Engage with Partners, Targets, Investment Banks, Law Firms, and other advisers at Board level as needed.
• Manage relationships with potential partners during the transaction phase; ensure AZ remains competitive and is positioned as the partner of choice.
• Coordinate due diligence with Senior Due Diligence Directors to focus on key risks.
• Construct and negotiate optimal deal structures with internal and external stakeholders; collaborate with Evaluation Director/Team.
• Prepare and present deal propositions to governance bodies, including the Board of Directors; lead deal negotiation and closure; oversee post-closure activities.
• Develop and maintain stakeholder relationships and a high-quality stakeholder management strategy involving CEO, SET, Governance groups, Science Committee, and AZ PLC Board of Directors.
• Provide stakeholder updates and ensure records and decision support documentation are maintained; handover to Alliance-Integration Manager as required.
• Conduct thorough deal learning reviews and share learnings across the BD & deal-making community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in business, legal, finance, or life sciences.
• Proven track record in Business Development (>7 years), leading negotiation and execution of significant late-stage and on-market transactions.
• Experience leading multiple, large, international, multi-functional project teams of senior professionals.
• Broad knowledge of pharmaceutical business, processes, and activities.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and leadership skills; ability to present business cases to senior management.
• Knowledge of alternative deal structures and applicable legal principles; strong negotiation skills in a high-pressure environment.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• Second degree (MBA, PhD) preferred.
• Knowledge of disease areas, drug development activities, and commercial processes.