Jobs and Careers
MS

Associate Director, Business Development Discovery Transactions

MSD
West Point, United StatesRemotefull_timeVerifiedPosted 6 Jan 2026
💰 $242,200/yr($153,800/yr$242,200/yr)

About the role

Job Description

The Associate Director/ Director, Business Development & Licensing (BD&L) Discovery Transactions will be part of a seasoned team of transaction leads located in Rahway, NJ, West Point, PA, Cambridge, MA, and South San Francisco, CA. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing and negotiating a broad spectrum of transactions supporting our company's Research Laboratories in the discovery and preclinical stage across in support of therapeutic and functional areas with external academic, government, and industry partners worldwide. This position will be based in our offices in Rahway, NJ or West Point, PA.  This position will report to a Director in the BD&L Discovery Transactions group.

Primary responsibilities:

  • Collaborating closely with our company's research scientists, management, legal and external partners to negotiate material transfers, licenses, evaluations, consortia, research collaborations and other agreements to establish external scientific partnerships

  • Negotiating with external counterparts to execute appropriate agreements in a timely manner in support of our Research Division objectives and compliance policies

  • Educating and influencing our Research Division scientists and management in the executional and relational aspects of external partnering 

  • Participation and networking at industry-academia professional events to establish our Research Division as a partner of choice

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline required; an advanced degree in business, law or science is a plus

  • A minimum of 5 years work experience in one or more pharmaceutical or biotech companies

  • Experience in transactions with academic institutions, biotech, and/or pharma; contract drafting and negotiation experience desired

  • Demonstrated leadership, judgment, and creativity in applying analytical frameworks and solutions to business- and discovery-stage scientific issues

  • Demonstrated ability to partner with client groups

  • Understanding of scientific principles and the drug-development process

  • Candidate must demonstrate superb interpersonal skills and the ability to influence without authority

  • Exceptional written, verbal, and organizational skills are essential

  • Some travel (<10%) will be required

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts  

#EligibleforERP

Required Skills:

Business Development, Compliance Policies, Contract Negotiations, Contracts, Contractual Drafting, Drafting Agreements, Due Diligence, Pharmaceutical Industry, Scientific Research, Transaction Management

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply

Company

MSD

View company profile →