Senior Director - Early Innovation Partnering

Full Time
Posted
2 years ago

J&J is searching for a talented individual to support endeavours in multiple areas of innovation including the oncology, immunology space, as well as take an active role in identifying innovation more broadly across the EMEA region.

Broad Function of Role

An externally-focused, highly entrepreneurial deal-making role aimed at identifying and on-boarding potentially transformational innovation into Johnson & Johnson. Even in the absence of direct reports, this role is primarily a leadership role, the successful candidate is expected to work with substantial internal and external experts to shape the direction of innovation and deal-making for their respective Johnson & Johnson businesses.

Early Innovation Partnering Senior Director

This role reports to the Vice President Early Innovation Partnering EMEA and is an integral part of the Early Innovation team in the London Innovation Center, serving the EMEA region. The team is responsible for the identification and evaluation of innovations of potentially high interest to J&J’s operating companies based on J&J’s defined strategies, in strategic adjacencies and in new areas.

For opportunities that continue to be of high interest after due diligence, the Early Innovation team is responsible for working with teammates in the scientific, finance, legal, venture capital group and JLABS team to identify the optimal partnership deal structure and then progress the deal through to deal closure. In most cases, the Early Innovation team stay connected and contribute to the optimization of partnerships that continue to be progressed externally after the deal closure.

Principal Responsibilities

  • Identifying highly innovative product/platform opportunities and then devising and proposing collaboration models, transaction structures and terms that are commercially and scientifically appropriate.
  • Building business cases that are rigorous and based on sound commercial, scientific, regulatory and clinical rationale, with key assumptions and risks clearly articulated. Leadership and management of cross-functional due diligence teams. #
  • Negotiation and closing of transactions.
  • Building close relationships with relevant J&J businesses. This is to both understand/contribute to strategy/requirements and to develop sufficient influence in order to champion new opportunities, including those that are potentially “off strategy” but where a compelling business case can be made.
  • Taking accountability for ensuring that opportunities progress through appropriate review processes, that key risks are identified, communicated appropriately and debated sufficiently, and mitigation strategies are accounted for in deal structures, development plans and cost projections.
  • Preparation of internal review and briefing documents including substantial quantitative and qualitative analysis of opportunities.
  • Developing deep understanding of innovation and scientific landscape in relevant therapeutic areas of interest and developing methods to systematically identify innovative opportunities and to maximise chances of serendipitous discovery of opportunities.
  • Building and maintaining close relationships with appropriate external sources of innovation including entrepreneurs, academics, key opinion leaders, biotech companies, venture capitalists, non profit organisations etc.
  • External presentation of J&J to prospective partners and regular attendance at industry events such as conferences, including engagement in industry thought leadership.
  • Contributing to environmental scanning and competitive intelligence activities and to maintenance of professional knowledge management/CRM practices and routine operational reporting.
  • Ensuring that all interactions and engagements are carried out with the highest ethical and professional standards and that all work is accomplished with quality and in accordance with J&J Credo.
  • Carry out other reasonable tasks as required.

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list and you may be required to undertake any other reasonable duties compatible with your experience and competencies.

Qualifications

  • Advanced life sciences PhD from world-leading institution or MDs with strong scientific and business mind-set and credentials is required
  • An extensive personal network (biotech’s, incubators, academia, pharmaceutical) including senior decision-makers and leaders in fields relevant to role is preferred.
  • At least 10 years of business development or start-up experience in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, or experience in an investment bank, life sciences venture capital or a top tier strategy management consultancy is required
  • The ability to demonstrate previous deal-sourcing and transaction success (deals sourced/identified that were subsequently successfully executed) including evidence of substantial involvement in driving/championing/leading the opportunity evaluation and negotiation through to a successful outcome in a cross-functional environment and the ability to help build understanding and consensus in support of a transaction at all levels in an organisation is required
  • Must be able to negotiate and close transactions
  • A high degree of dynamism, ambition and risk tolerance is required and the ability to demonstrate evidence of being a highly proactive self-starter, for example, through prior entrepreneurial business activities.
  • This role is located in the London Innovation Centre. Willingness and ability to travel frequently within EMEA. Some US travel will also be required.

Johnson & Johnson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Location
London