Director - Business Development

Pioneer a new future to meet global healthcare challenges
At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life changing medicines and strive to continuously meet the unmet needs of patients worldwide. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality.
Pharmaceutical Technology and Development (PT&D) is the organization that turns brilliant science into actual medicines that help millions of people. We work across the entire value chain, designing and delivering active ingredients, formulations and devices for new medicines and providing expert technical support to all AstraZeneca’s commercial drug substances and products to ensure we successfully supply medicines to patients.
Innovation Strategies & External Liaison (IS&EL) sits within PT&D, and we believe innovation is the key to long term sustainability of PT&D ’s value contribution to AstraZeneca and patients. IS&EL is expanding its focus towards digital innovations by designing projects that together form a basis for a digital twin across PT&D and Operations, and we aim to connect with other areas in the business well. This is an opportunity to take part in shaping the future by developing excellence in internal and external collaboration.
We have a great opportunity for a Director, Business Development.
The role holder will be part of teams driving the evaluation of IS&EL’s broad innovation pipeline and new science and technology opportunities and will be accountable for managing the design, set-up of agreement and maintenance of all contracts with external partners related to science and innovation activities such as academic institutions, external technology providers and vendors providing support to prototyping and feasibility studies alongside all business development activities and engagements both internal and external.
What you’ll do
You will provide business development support in the development of IS&EL business cases for the progression of innovation projects through the IS&EL pipeline from ideation to implementation including but not limited to relationship and stakeholder management, identification and scouting of external opportunities and new strategic engagements with key potential and current partners.
The role requires developing a transparent and efficient contract pipeline; from initial request and project scoping through legal negotiation (IP, confidentiality, warranties, indemnities, liability etc.) to post-signature management and ongoing obligations and deliverables.
You will scope, negotiate and draft legal agreements and bespoke contracts with external partners such as academic institutions, external technology providers and vendors providing support to prototyping and feasibility studies; as well as any other innovation-driven activities in PT&D.
You will provide professional legal services and advice for contract negotiation and risk management considerations and obligations, where appropriate, liaise with Legal and Patent experts. Leading technical and financial scope related negotiations with external partners in collaboration with other expertise, understanding and managing the business opportunities arising from co-development together with external providers of digital twin-type software, including the training of digital twins by AstraZeneca data.
Other responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Acting as first point of contact for the escalation of any issues at suppliers/partners and drive business improvement by collecting and providing feedback on supplier and our own performance
Establishing productive connections with other functions within AZ (e.g., Legal, Procurement, Sourcing function within R&D).
Ensuring consistency of working practices and risk taking through networking with other colleagues active in the externalisation area.
Providing advice and support as necessary regarding externalisation activities to other functions within PT&D
Contributing to the establishment of an industry leading global model for active technology hunting and evaluation of opportunities coming out from universities, start-ups and other commercial actors
Acting as ambassador for creativity and innovation and facilitate wider understanding how PT&D can influence patient value.
Ensuring that all work is performed in accordance with appropriate Safety, Health & Environment, Quality and Compliance standards.

Essential Requirements
A solid scientific background in the pharmaceutical industry such as a BSc/MSc qualification in one of the main scientific areas is an advantage.
Proven and extensive experience of externalisation/commercialisation of technologies including set up of spin-out companies, licensing and exploitations strategies.
Proven and solid experience in the drafting and negotiation of a wide variety of legal agreements with particular focus on externalisation, innovation and commercialisation.
A track record of delivery of complex projects particularly in the externalisation area (ideally experience of working across a number of pharmaceutical fields and involvement in business development and externalisation activities).
Demonstrate ability to liaise effectively internally and externally and to influence across several functional areas.
Strong strategic and entrepreneurial thinking.

Desirable Requirements
Excellent team working and networking skills.
Strong analytical and objective thinking skills.
Ability to think beyond boundaries of own job and company, challenges status quo and seeks opportunities for business improvement.
Capable of making effective decisions, acts courageously and communicates with conviction and inspiration at all levels. Demands excellence (sets high bar) and delivers.
Demonstrate a high degree of personal credibility

Why AstraZeneca
At AstraZeneca, we 're dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.