Senior Director, Business Development

COMPANY

Sana Biotechnology, Inc. is a new company focused on creating and delivering engineered cell and gene therapies as medicine for patients. Recent scientific advances make it possible to reprogram cells in the body or replace damaged cells and tissues, creating a new class of medicines to treat a broad array of diseases. Sana is a team of scientists, clinicians and biotechnology veterans focused on creating an enduring company that makes meaningful medicines and will change how we approach treating disease.

JOB DESCRIPTION

This position will report directly to the Chief Business Officer. The Business Development Senior/Executive Director will lead critical activities to access external therapeutic programs and technologies, including the sourcing, evaluation and negotiation of in-licensing, collaboration, M&A, equity, and out-licensing deals. The business development Senior/Executive Director will set, communicate, and drive the implementation of the partnering strategy in collaboration with executive team stakeholders.

Primary Responsibilities Include

• Lead sourcing (including landscaping efforts for prioritized areas of interest), evaluation and negotiation of high impact collaborations, licensing, equity, and acquisition opportunities
• Enable and drive robust and timely decision-making through all stages of deals
• Oversee negotiation strategies with prospective partners, including creating collaboration structures that align with scientific and business needs and making deal recommendations to key executive team stakeholders
• Develop and oversee the execution of short- and long-range business development strategies that are aligned with the priorities and interests of Sana's corporate strategy
• Concurrently manage multiple projects (5+) of complex business opportunities. Requires consistent prioritization of project key stakeholders and alignment with corporate objectives
• Oversee ongoing and active development of world-class business development capabilities, processes and practices.
• Serve as a key member of the business development steering committee
• Establish highly effective and collaborative relationships with key internal functions (R&D, Tech Ops, Legal and Finance) to ensure strong relationships and support for the BD transactions
• Serve as an ambassador for Sana at external meetings, conferences, and seminars to access new opportunities and develop external networks
• Ensure high-quality opportunity assessments and due diligence reviews
• Accountable for the achievement of critical goals that impact and contribute to the mission of Sana

Requirements For This Role

• MBA, Ph.D., and/or MD required, multiple such advanced degrees preferred
• At least 5+ years of business development experience and at least 10 years of drug development experience are required
• Significant track record of leading and negotiating transactions required (licensing experience required, acquisition experience preferred)
• Strong understanding of drug development required; familiarity within the field of cell and gene therapy preferred
• Experience leading cross-functional business development diligence and deal teams, including in areas outside of technical expertise
• Expert executive communication skills; highly capable of articulating Sana's value proposition and partnering interests to varied audiences
• Strong influencing skills (e.g. up, down and across), preferably with experience navigating and influencing stakeholders with and without authority
• Strong decision-maker, able to appropriately articulate and balance tradeoffs, including in areas of high complexity
• Excellent analytical and strategic capabilities
• A mentor and leader: all team members deserve an engaged, thoughtful culture and people leader
• An inclusive individual who thrives in a team-oriented environment