Senior Search & Evaluation Director

COMPANY:

At BioCryst, we share a deep commitment to improving the lives of people living with hereditary angioedema (HAE) and other rare diseases. We leverage our expertise in structure-guided drug design to develop first-in-class or best-in-class oral small-molecule and injectable protein therapeutics. Our global headquarters is in Durham, North Carolina, we have a regional office in Boston, Massachusetts, and our employees span the globe across sites in multiple countries. We are proud of our culture of engagement and accountability that rewards people for innovative thinking and achievement of key objectives. For more information, please visit our website at www.biocryst.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Senior Search and Evaluation Director is a critical role responsible for developing BioCryst’s External Innovation strategy and execution to build the pipeline. In partnership with BD and SDIO, the incumbent will lead the sourcing and assessment of innovative assets and approaches to support BioCryst’s ambitions in rare disease from initial evaluation through contracting. The incumbent will work closely with additional line functions in R&D, commercial, legal and finance to drive assets through the dealmaking process. The scope of activities spans all types of assets within strategy and all stages of development. The successful candidate will have a strong scientific background, business and strategic acumen and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

•       Work cross-functionally to search for, identify, and evaluate potential partnering opportunities from biopharma companies, academic institutions, other non-profit research institutes, and life science venture capital investors globally.

•       Lead the scientific/technical assessment of partnering opportunities, in close dialogue with the BD colleagues, as well as subject matter experts from R&D and other functional areas. This includes (1) managing interactions with external parties, (2) project management in the context of the assessment and deal process, (3) overseeing and actively contributing to the scientific/technical as well as overall evaluation process, (4) developing recommendations and proposals for senior management and governance committees.

•       Coordinate or contribute to the conduct and completion of all scientific/technical due diligence activities, including the preparation and presentation of due diligence reports and senior management presentations.

•       Track and communicate the status of active assessments and deal flow including providing information to key internal stakeholders in a timely manner and ensuring timely recording of opportunities. Including inbounds, in internal databases.

•       Building BioCryst’s profile as a compelling partner by networking with existing and potential future partners from the innovation ecosystem globally, ensuring awareness of BioCryst’s partnering priorities and key capabilities.

•       Contribute towards the negotiation of non-binding term sheets and definitive agreements, including coordination and integration of all scientific/technical inputs (e.g., R&D work plans, Clinical Development Plans, technical success criteria), and with BD the development of appropriate deal structures, risk mitigation and negotiating strategies as warranted.

•       Ensure all activities comply with legal, regulatory, and internal governance standards.

•       Manage confidentiality and risk throughout the deal process.

•       All other duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:

•       Bachelor’s degree in business, life sciences, or related field required.  

•       Minimum 10 years’ experience within the Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, industry with an outstanding track record of accomplishment or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

•       Proven experience with search and evaluation and external innovation, including sourcing, opportunity assessment and knowledge of transaction structures.

•       Experience in scientific due diligence and rare diseases highly desired.

•       Excellent communication and analytical skills with proven ability to work collaboratively across functions. Ability to work with individuals at different levels and manage through influence.

•       Ability to develop, leverage and maintain internal and external networks as well as to keep up to date with rare disease innovation.

The statements in this position description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. The manager may assign additional responsibilities and assignments from time to time.

BioCryst is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, Veterans status, disability and/or other protected class characteristics. Additionally, BioCryst is committed to achieving its business objectives in compliance with all federal, state and local law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.