Director, Business Development

Overview

About Summit Summit Therapeutics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical oncology company with a mission focused on improving quality of life, increasing potential duration of life, and resolving serious unmet medical needs. Summit believes in building a team of world class professionals who are passionate about this mission, and it is our people who drive it to reality. Summit’s core values include integrity, passion for excellence, purposeful urgency, collaboration, and our commitment to people. Our employees are the heart and soul of our culture, invaluable in shaping our journey toward excellence.

Summit’s team is inspired to touch and help change lives through Summit’s clinical studies in oncology. Summit has multiple global Phase 3 clinical studies, including:

Role And Responsibilities

The Director, Business Development plays a critical role in advancing the company’s external innovation strategy by identifying, evaluating, and supporting the execution of strategic partnerships or licensing opportunities. This leader works closely with the Department Head and cross-functional teams to drive company growth through external collaborations, including joint clinical trials. The ideal candidate brings strong scientific and business acumen, transaction and alliance experience, R&D operational capabilities, and the ability to navigate complex strategic landscapes with speed, rigor, and creativity. This is a hands-on, end-to-end experience role, where you’ll engage in strategy, searching and securing opportunities from a business development perspective, as well as operationalizing and contributing to the department’s maintenance of strategic alliances.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with R&D, Clinical, Commercial, Market Planning, Legal, and Finance teams to assess strategic fit, risks, and integration requirements for potential deals.
• Strategy & Scenario Planning: Maintain a deep understanding of the oncology competitive landscape, emerging modalities, and deal trends to inform BD strategy and prioritization. Partner with internal experts and strategy team members to shape future scenarios and action plans.
• Opportunity Identification & Assessment: Evaluate external assets, platforms, and technologies aligned with the company’s oncology strategy and pipeline priorities. Ability to triangulate and prioritize opportunities.
• Transaction Support & Execution: Support or lead deal processes including diligence, external communication with potential collaborators, coordinating contracting and related requirements, and preparation of executive materials.
• Alliance & Relationship Management: Contribute to collaboration alliance activities or clinical trial project oversight with a partner, governance and performance tracking of key alliances, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and operational milestones.
• Executive Communication: Prepare high-impact presentations and recommendations for the Department Head or executive leadership, translating complex data into actionable insights and plans. Ability to serve on joint committees and/or facilitate alliance working groups.
• Innovation Mindset & Strategic Agility: Bring a proactive, solutions-oriented approach to identifying whitespace opportunities and shaping external growth initiatives.
• All other duties as assigned.

Experience, Education, and Specialized Knowledge and Skills

• Bachelors degree required; Advanced degree preferred (MBA, Masters, etc.). Dual scientific and business background is a strong plus.
• Minimum of 8+ years of experience in biopharma, with consulting or pharma investment focusing on business development, strategy, and alliances.
• Prior oncology drug experience in late-stage development and/or commercial stage required; strong understanding of oncology drug development, scientific platforms, and global commercial dynamics.
• Experience supporting or leading pharma or biotech drug development licensing, M&A, or strategic partnership processes required.
• Understanding or experience in collaboration kick-offs, joint clinical trial or project management to ensure successful contract implementation and relationship management.
• Proficient user of MS Office suite (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Project); experience using electronic document management systems and presentation-building for leaders/teams.
• Experience with technology tools (e.g., Smartsheets, MS Project) in planning, maintenance, and communication of information is highly desirable.
• Excellent public speaking, meeting facilitation and email communication skills.
• Ability to excel in a fast-paced, demanding, and diverse environment with global virtual meetings outside standard business hours.
• Ability to travel to key congresses, collaboration meetings, or business meetings, including semi-frequent travel to Summit hub offices.
• Role is primarily office-based.

Compensation and Employment Details

This is the pay for this position

Pay Transparency
$200,000 - $230,000 USD

Actual compensation packages are based on several factors unique to each candidate, including skill set, depth of experience, certifications, and work location. This may differ in other locations due to differences in the cost of labor. The total compensation package may include bonus, stock, benefits, and/or other variable compensation.

Summit does not accept referrals from employment businesses and/or employment agencies for vacancies on this site. All employment businesses/agencies are required to contact Summit’s Talent Acquisition team at to obtain prior written authorization before referring any candidates to Summit.

Summit Therapeutics Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

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