Director, External Innovation & Asset Evaluation

The Director, External Innovation & Asset Evaluation owns the end-to-end external opportunity funnel at strategic level, translating portfolio and disease-area priorities into focused external search strategies and leading decision-ready asset evaluations. The role provides senior scientific and strategic leadership, integrates cross-functional inputs across scientific, clinical, commercial and access dimensions, and represents the function in governance forums to support high-quality portfolio decisions.

Responsibilities

Set and own the external search strategy by translating portfolio, disease-area and corporate priorities into focused search criteria, including mechanism of action, modality, development stage and geography; Ensure alignment between external innovation activities and portfolio strategy, shaping priority search areas, investment focus and portfolio recommendations to support long-term business objectives; Define the opportunity funnel priorities and ensure strong coverage of strategic priorities, with clear trade-offs, escalation points and decision criteria; Lead early asset evaluations for priority opportunities, integrating scientific, clinical, commercial, market access and strategic inputs into a consolidated evaluation view; Coordinate due diligence efforts up to NBTS and support the Corporate Development Strategy team during NBO stage, ensuring that workstreams are aligned, risks are surfaced and recommendations are decision ready; Develop asset-level hypotheses and preliminary investment narratives in collaboration with functions and other senior stakeholders; Assess strategic fit of opportunities versus portfolio ambition, including disease fit, mechanism of action, sequencing synergies and potential contribution to long-term value creation; Lead preparation and senior alignment of decision-ready materials for governance forums, including key assumptions, risks, mitigations and recommended next steps; Build and maintain senior external networks with biotech and pharma companies, academia and other relevant ecosystem actors to anticipate emerging opportunities and shape strategic optionality; Provide direction and coaching to scouting and evaluation contributors, ensuring consistency of methodology, quality of analysis and alignment with corporate objectives

Requirements

Advanced degree (PhD, MD, PharmD or equivalent) in a relevant scientific discipline; 10–12+ years of experience in pharma/biotech, with increasing leadership responsibility and exposure to external innovation, licensing, diligence or asset evaluation; Proven track record of strategic leadership, cross-functional program delivery and senior stakeholder influence; Strong understanding of R&D strategy, global regulatory environments, scientific standards and portfolio decision-making processes; Excellent communication, executive-level storytelling, stakeholder management and decision-making skills; fluency in English; Experience in early-stage company, platform or asset assessments; Network with VCs, incubators, academic tech transfer offices, biotech companies or relevant scientific communities; Familiarity with IP landscapes, freedom-to-operate concepts and due diligence documentation; Ability to operate with autonomy while escalating strategic trade-offs and material risks appropriately