Executive Director, Business Development

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical•Somerville, MA

19h•$1 - $2•Hybrid

About The Position

At Ultragenyx, we fundamentally believe that taking real impactful action to care for the needs of patients and our people is always the right thing to do. To achieve this goal, our vision is to lead the future of rare disease medicine. For us, this means going where other biopharma companies won’t go – challenging the status quo and creating a new model that advances our field so more patients and caregivers can benefit from life-changing treatments. We do this by following the science, applying a novel rapid development approach, making innovative medicines at fair and reasonable prices, and creating a collaborative ecosystem to reach patients in ways that are most meaningful for them. Our commitment and care for patients extends to our people, so culture is an essential cornerstone for Ultragenyx. We remain continuously focused on creating a supportive and inclusive environment of profound learning and growth – so employees can thrive in all areas of their lives, in and outside of work. Ultimately, we want to be an organization where we would be proud for our family, friends and children to work. If you want to have a meaningful impact, do the best work of your career, and grow a lot, both professionally and personally, come join our team. Position Summary: ultrafocused – Work together to fearlessly uncover new possibilities Ultragenyx is seeking a highly motivated individual, reporting directly to the Chief Business Officer, for the role of Executive Director, Business Development. This individual will be responsible for the identification, evaluation, and diligence process for corporate and business development opportunities, as well as leading business development transactions on behalf of the company. This individual will work closely with key stakeholders in Translational Research, Clinical Development, Commercial, Legal, Finance, and Alliance Management to help identify and evaluate external programs, assets, and companies for potential partnership, licensing and/or acquisition by Ultragenyx. This role will have high visibility across the organization, have direct influence over the execution of our corporate strategy, and may lead/support other strategic partnering initiatives (e.g. NewCo spinouts), and will have substantial interactions with the Ultragenyx Executive Leadership Team (XLT) and Board of Directors.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will have a strong scientific or medical background (MS, PhD, or MD preferred), an MBA or related advanced degree, and proven corporate and business development experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. The candidate will have a demonstrated track record in leading strategic transactions including negotiating complex agreements, driving business decisions, and helping to build and manage effective multi-disciplinary teams.
15+ years in business development roles in biopharma
Strong understanding of the drug development process, life-cycle management, and commercialization of therapeutics (rare disease preferred)
Leadership and management skills - the ability to partner with Translational Research, Clinical Development and Commercial teams to define and execute strategies for acquiring/licensing external assets
Excellent presentation and communication skills – the ability to influence and work successfully with varied audiences (colleagues, scientific and technical leaders, financial institutions, lawyers, pharmaceutical and business partners, collaborators, and senior executives); the successful candidate will be comfortable conversing with XLT and Board members
Excellent analytical skills - the ability to perform and review standard business and financial analyses
Energetic self-starter with strong executive presence, detail and results orientation and ability to work effectively in a driven environment
A resourceful, strategic and analytical thinker and creative problem solver who can help shape both individual deals and the future strategy of the business
A team player who proactively communicates and collaborates with Ultragenyx partners and stakeholders to drive results
Uncompromising integrity
Travel up to 20%

Nice To Haves

Knowledge or direct experience in rare disease deal-making is a plus
Current and active observer of the industry; transactions being completed and new trends in deals

Responsibilities

Lead/support the overall product evaluation process, including clinical/scientific assessments, evaluation of the commercial opportunity, analysis of the competitive landscape, and financial modeling
Work closely with Corporate Strategy to develop analyses and proposals and present to the executive team (XLT) to reach agreement on terms and strategy for specific BD opportunities
Collaborate with key internal groups in the following areas:
Assessment support of new BD opportunities (e.g. competitive analysis, development plan, commercial forecast, NPV analyses)
Develop and execute a search strategy to identify and prioritize assets that provide a strong fit with therapeutic area search criteria
Develop deal concepts and negotiate term sheets and definitive agreements
Drive the deal process from deal concept to execution of agreements
Work closely with Ultragenyx’s Legal group and outside counsel to structure and execute transactions
Network and develop scientific and business relationships with prospective partners, academic institutions, and licensors while evaluating opportunities at medical, scientific, and corporate conferences
Represent the group and the company to both internal and external groups