Business Development Search & Evaluation Director

Summary

The role of Exelixis’ Business Development Search & Evaluation (BD S&E) team is to establish and manage a highly productive, agile global business opportunity identification network. Key objectives include building broad awareness of Exelixis’ partnering goals, building a first‑to‑call reputation, and procuring access to novel, high‑quality asset and technology partnering or acquisition opportunities for the company. BD S&E will leverage existing relationships and establish new networks with the biopharma industry, investment communities and key medical research academics and innovators so that Exelixis is globally recognized as a preferred research, development and commercialization partner. As part of the Exelixis Business Development team, the BD S&E Director will be the first to review and qualify an opportunity, and to frame an initial business case that ensures scientific, clinical, commercial and corporate strategic fit, with particular focus on opportunities where Exelixis can substantially expand and maximize future value based on its R&D and commercial capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Proactively and enthusiastically lead the process to generate, interpret, communicate and integrate opportunity flow into the EXEL partnering process. Through an expanded global network, find or “groom” new asset opportunities; identify where the top promising opportunities exist or where they may emerge shortly, find compelling, asymmetrically valued assets at any stage anywhere within the defined territory; ensure that EXEL has access to opportunities under the radar or with value unappreciated by traditional partners.
• Manage and lead all aspects of opportunity search – fully leverage internal and external CI resources, cover key partnering and scientific conferences, frequently visit potential business partners, and lead partnering meetings throughout the year to identify opportunities.
• Build a vision and preliminary business cases around new assets, aligning initial EXEL and partner needs and strategic objectives; persuade partners who may be “on the fence”; lead early partner negotiations.
• Socialize and align preliminary business case for assets or technologies with internal stakeholders, facilitate evaluation and initial diligence with subject matter experts, and ensure adequate interpretation of affirming and disconfirming information that may impact a decision to advance business discussions.
• Ensure smooth transition of opportunity to BD Transaction team for the next stage of deal evaluation, final business case development and deal closure.
• Maintain highest level of awareness of the current issues affecting therapy areas of interest (current focus is oncology), drug mechanistic target areas, evolving target company or asset value, and private and public market conditions.
• Build partner‑of‑choice reputation in the territory and enhance visibility of Exelixis at BD‑related meetings (panels, company presentations, etc.).
• Maintain a constructive attitude and foster a highly positive, productive, teamwork‑focused environment internally and with external network contacts.
• Create a learning environment that is open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement.
• Actively foster regular communication with peers in BD S&E, BD Transactions and Scientific and Corporate Strategy teams, establishing credibility, trust and respect.
• Allow for a flexible work schedule outside of standard business hours due to time‑zone differences affecting internal and external colleagues’ schedules.
• Travel at least 50% of the time (territory based).

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None, but experience working in matrix environments is key to success in the role.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor of Science with ten years of related experience; or,
• Doctorate of Pharmacy with six years of related experience; or,
• Business degree augmented with significant drug product development or commercial experience, or venture/private equity investment search and evaluation experience.
• MBA or PhD with a drug discovery & development and/or commercial product management focus is a plus.

Experience / Ideal Candidate

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
• Experience in small or large molecule drug discovery, clinical development or commercial roles is necessary. Oncology experience and a significant existing network of business and scientific contacts in this field is essential.
• Experience in search and evaluation, oncology competitive/corporate intelligence function, business development with emphasis on S&E, medical affairs or medical sales liaison experience.
• Experience interacting with the investment community (VCs, investment banks), VC portfolio company board members and executives in technology areas of interest.

Knowledge & Skills

• Established contact network with search and evaluation, development and/or business development colleagues focused in oncology research, therapeutic development and/or commercialization.
• Executive communication skills, both oral and written; ability to translate complex scientific information for a variety of audiences.
• Listening and emotional intelligence, building and maintaining long‑term trusted relationships internally and externally; embrace the ideas of others, nurture innovation and manage to reality.
• Strong project management and organization.
• Learning agility; ability to quickly grasp new concepts and processes.
• Self‑motivated, requires minimal supervision.
• Negotiation and influence skills.

Working Conditions

• Works on problems of diverse scope where analysis of data requires evaluation of identifiable factors.
• Works on complex issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in‑depth evaluation of variable factors.
• Exercises judgment in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results.
• Networks with key contacts outside own area of expertise.

Benefits & Compensation

Base pay range: $221,000 – $314,000 annually, depending on geographic region, job‑related knowledge, skills, experience and internal equity. In addition to base salary, the Total Rewards program includes a 401(k) plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a discretionary annual bonus program (and, for field sales staff, a sales‑based incentive plan). Employees also receive the opportunity to purchase company stock, long‑term incentives, 15 accrued vacation days in the first year, 17 paid holidays (including a company‑wide winter shutdown in December), and up to 10 sick days per year.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

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