Senior Director, Transactions - Oncology R&D

Do you want to be at the cutting-edge of innovation that will lead to a cure for cancer? At AstraZeneca, our team is working to make this a reality by bringing together our world-leading oncology pipeline with emerging innovations and technologies.

We are seeking a scientifically minded leader who is passionate about innovation in Oncology to join AstraZeneca's Oncology R&D Business Development Transactions team. AstraZeneca has grown to be a leader in Oncology through bold decisions in both our internal pipeline as well as business development. We aim to expand our leadership by leveraging external innovation and building strong scientific networks.

The Senior Director, Transactions, sits within the Oncology R&D Strategy organization, supporting global business development and transactions activities with a direct impact on the success of the Oncology R&D strategy and portfolio. The Transactions team is responsible for all aspects of transaction execution, including deal structure, term sheets, deal execution and communication. By effectively structuring, presenting and implementing deals, this person will enable enterprise level investment in growth and innovation to ensure that Oncology R&D science, capabilities and project portfolio are fit for future challenges and opportunities.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead, coordinate and implement transactional activities, including in licensing, out licensing, acquisition or divestment of assets, clinical collaborations, discovery collaborations, partnerships and alliances

• Build and maintain strong external networks with biotechnology companies, academic institutions, venture capital firms, and other key stakeholders in the oncology ecosystem

• Manage deal negotiation and closure

• Collaborate with the Oncology Search & Evaluation lead in preparing and communicating the transactional aspects of deals to senior governance bodies

• Partner with Oncology Search & Evaluation teams, deal finance, legal, commercial teams and other partners to align collaboration, licensing, partnership and divestiture activities with Oncology's disease and science area strategies

• Ensure effective transition to alliance management of post-deal matters

• Prepare activity and achievement reports for senior management

• Continuously seek opportunities to improve ways of working through emerging technologies, including AI and automation tools, and serve as a role model for professional excellence both within AstraZeneca and in external forums

• Meaningfully contribute to BD team mission for AZ to be regarded as partner of choice

Required Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Experience:

• 5+ years in life sciences industry

• Experience and background working in a business development, licensing or commercial business role in the biopharma or pharmaceutical industry

• Strong oncology deal sheet including transaction leadership experience across various technology areas, with successful closure of multiple significant license or collaboration transactions as transaction lead

Skills and Capabilities:

• Broad knowledge of oncology disease areas, drug development activities and commercial processes within the pharmaceutical industry

• Excellent ability to establish and act on priorities

• Excellent negotiation skills

• Ability to contribute to and fully understand the complex architecture of contracts, scientific and financial evaluations

• Strong communicator with ability to work collaboratively across matrixed organizations, effectively communicate to and influence leaders through data-driven storytelling, and interact effectively across multiple disciplines internally

• Extensive experience interacting effectively with third parties including senior representatives of peer companies, banks, venture capital firms, and other external partners

• Capable of representing AZ at external partnering events and industry forums

• Capable of making effective decisions, acting courageously and communicating with conviction and inspiration at all levels

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in relevant field

Office Working Requirements 

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That’s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that d