Search and Evaluation Sr. Director, Respiratory & Immunology (R&I), Business Development and Licensing, Biopharmaceuticals R&D

Do you have a scientific or clinical background combined with an entrepreneurial attitude and business know-how? Would you like to apply your expertise in a company where we are following the science and turn ideas into life changing medicines? Then you might be the one we are looking for!

We are now recruiting a Search and Evaluation Sr. Director to join the Search and Evaluation Department within Business Development and Licensing, Biopharmaceutical R & D with focus on R&I at AstraZeneca in Cambridge, UK.

The Search and Evaluation Sr. Director, Respiratory & Immunology, in  Business Development and Licensing is a key role in Biopharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, where the role holder supports global Business Development initiatives and has a direct impact on the scientific strategy and portfolio. The Search and Evaluation (S&E) group is responsible for driving search efforts of external innovation throughout the Biopharma R&D R&I community and conducting technical due diligence activities that ensure an in-depth understanding of investment opportunities and provide effective decision-making tools for the organization.  The role holder will have a major impact on strategic development of Biopharmaceuticals R&D, R&I, ensuring that the portfolio is delivered and that the science, capabilities and portfolio are fit for future challenges and opportunities.

The successful candidate has a strong R&D scientific and / or clinical background, business and strategic acumen and excellent communication skills. In addition, an ability to engage and collaborate across boundaries with an entrepreneurial attitude and delivery focus.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• You will be responsible for identifying  and evaluating  external in-licensing opportunities from academia, biotech’s and peer-pharma including early research projects, new modality platforms, early and late clinical stage candidates and Life Cycle Management (LCM) opportunities
• Responsible for representing the Business Development strategy at partnering meetings to identify and prioritize external assets and opportunities related to R&I.
• Responsible for integrating input from various functional areas across the organization to create high quality, clear and concise confidential evaluation reports of external assets and will provide recommendations to Head of S&E.
• Responsible for identifying and evaluation of key strategic collaborations and technical platform capabilities that can enhance the scientific credibility and portfolio of Biopharmaceuticals R&D R&I.
• Works constructively with key collaborators and cross-functional teams including commercial to ensure effective communication, efficient decision-making, to support completion of transactions with BD teams in a timely manner
• Track breakthrough innovation, ongoing clinical trials  and market trends of existing external R&I opportunities using competitive intelligence tools to identify opportunities, threats and risks in a timely manner.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: 

• MD or PhD in a relevant field

Requirements and Qualifications:

• Strong scientific reputation in drug discovery and clinical development and substantial relevant experience at a leadership level.
• Basic understanding of deal making and ability to interact and communicate effectively
• A strong understanding of clinical development experience in R&I, demonstrating cultural sensitivity and awareness.
• Extensive experience in pharmaceutical R&D, demonstrating international experience in multiple cultures and R&D environments.
• Ability to navigate and be successful in a fast-paced, highly-matrixed work environment