Senior Director, Corporate Development
City Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing the next generation of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics to deliver meaningful and durable benefits for patients. Founded by pioneers in the RNAi field, City combines advanced RNAi trigger engineering with novel targeting technologies to expand the therapeutic potential of RNAi in and beyond the liver. Through its proprietary pipeline and strategic collaborations, City is working to bring innovative medicines to patients with significant unmet medical needs.
City Therapeutics is seeking a strategic and execution-oriented Senior Director of Corporate Development to help shape the company’s long-term growth strategy. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this individual will lead the identification, evaluation, and execution of strategic opportunities that strengthen City’s platform, advance its pipeline, and create sustainable value.
This role will work closely with executive leadership to translate corporate priorities into actionable initiatives, including strategic partnerships, licensing transactions, asset or technology acquisitions, and other growth opportunities. The individual will bring strong scientific and financial judgment, transaction experience, and the ability to build alignment across functions.
The ideal candidate combines strategic perspective with hands-on execution and is comfortable moving between market analysis, financial evaluation, external negotiations, and executive-level recommendations in a growing biotechnology company.
Key Responsibilities:
- Corporate Strategy and Growth Planning: Partner with the COO and executive leadership to develop and execute City’s corporate development strategy.
- Evaluate opportunities that complement City’s internal capabilities, expand its platform or pipeline, and support long-term corporate objectives.
- Contribute to strategic planning and portfolio discussions by assessing external opportunities alongside internal investment priorities.
- Monitor industry trends, competitive developments, and relevant transactions to identify opportunities and inform decision-making.
- Develop clear strategic recommendations supported by scientific, commercial, financial, and operational analysis.
- Opportunity Identification and Assessment
- Build and maintain relationships with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, investors, advisors, and other potential strategic partners.
- Identify and prioritize opportunities for licensing, collaborations, asset or technology acquisitions, and other strategic transactions.
- Assess opportunities for strategic fit, scientific differentiation, development potential, commercial value, and execution feasibility.
- Maintain a disciplined opportunity pipeline with clear evaluation criteria, milestones, and recommendations.
- Coordinate cross-functional diligence across Research, Clinical Development, Regulatory, Finance, Legal, Intellectual Property, and other relevant functions.
- Partner with Finance to develop valuations, financial models, scenario analyses, and assessments of transaction economics.
- Evaluate deal structures, investment requirements, risk allocation, and potential returns.
- Lead or support transactions from initial engagement through diligence, negotiation, definitive agreements, and closing.
- Collaborate with the COO, Legal, Finance, and other stakeholders to negotiate terms aligned with City’s strategic and financial objectives.
- Prepare decision materials and presentations for executive leadership and the Board of Directors, as appropriate.
- Manage transaction timelines, advisors, documentation, and internal communication to support efficient execution.
- Develop compelling materials that communicate City’s scientific differentiation and strategic value to prospective partners.
- Represent City in external discussions, partnering meetings, and industry forums.
- Establish implementation plans for completed transactions, including governance, ownership, milestones, and measures of success.
- Support integration planning for acquired assets, technologies, or capabilities, as applicable.
- Partner with internal leaders to monitor strategic and financial outcomes and identify opportunities to expand the value of existing relationships.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the COO and executive team on corporate development opportunities and strategic tradeoffs.
- Build alignment across functions and guide complex decisions with clear analysis and sound judgment.
- Establish scalable processes for opportunity assessment, diligence, transaction approval, and execution.
- Build and develop corporate development capabilities as the company grows.
- Maintain the highest standards of integrity, discretion, and professionalism in handling confidential information.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, finance, or a related discipline required; MBA, advanced scientific degree, or equivalent relevant experience preferred.
- 10 or more years of relevant experience in biotechnology or pharmaceuticals, with significant experience in corporate development, business development, strategic transactions, or related roles.
- Demonstrated track record of executing licensing agreements, strategic collaborations, acquisitions, or other transactions involving therapeutic assets or platform technologies.
- Strong understanding of drug discovery and development and the scientific, regulatory, intellectual property, and commercial factors that influence value.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate complex opportunities and translate scientific and financial information into actionable recommendations.
- Strong financial modeling, valuation, and deal-structuring skills.
- Experience leading cross-functional diligence and managing complex negotiations.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, including experience engaging executive leadership and senior external stakeholders.
- Established relationships within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.
- Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and drive execution in a fast-paced environment.
Preferred Experience
- Experience with RNAi, oligonucleotide therapeutics, or other innovative therapeutic platforms.
- Experience in an emerging biotechnology company with a hands-on operating environment.
- Background spanning corporate development and investment banking, consulting, investing, or corporate strategy.
- Experience evaluating both platform-level opportunities and individual therapeutic assets.
- Experience with transaction implementation, integration planning, or alliance governance.
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Compensation
- The base salary range provided reflects our current estimate of what we anticipate paying for this position. Your actual base salary will be based on several factors, including job-related skills, experience, internal equity, relevant education or training, and market dynamics. In addition, you will be eligible for an annual bonus, equity compensation, and a competitive benefits package. Pay range is $250,000 to $285,000.
Our Working Model: In Person, By Design
At City, we believe that science and culture thrive together, and that happens best in person. Our working model is clear: we work onsite at our Kendall Square offices five days per week. This choice reflects our belief that great science and cultures run on connection, fairness, and growth.
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- Connection: Face time matters. Building an enduring biotech company is about people, science, and strategy. Working side by side sharpens ideas, accelerates feedback, and fuels innovation for patients.
- Fairness: One model for all. Every voice counts, and fairness depends on shared experience. We hold ourselves to one standard across all levels and functions.
- Growth: Learning moves faster in person. Growth comes from conversation, observation, and mentorship. We believe in developing talent, and that happens best when we are together.
- We also know that life is not always predictable. When individual needs arise, we are flexible and supportive and work together to balance home life with life at City.
- We believe diverse teams drive better science. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences who share our mission to bring transformative RNAi medicines to patients.
City Therapeutics is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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