Senior Director, Business Development

JOB PURPOSE

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.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• 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

QUALIFICATIONS


Basic Qualifications

• 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