Description

The VP, Business Development (BD) & Alliance Management (AM) will play a critical role in designing, negotiating, and executing Business Development deals (Research & Development as well as Commercial) and managing established alliances across all therapeutic areas. All BD and AM efforts will drive towards Ascendis’ vision, and will uphold our values of patients, science, and passion.

He/she will be responsible for Ascendis Pharma’s BD and AM team. This VP will also frequently engage with the CEO, CFO, CLO, broader leadership team and other key stakeholders across Ascendis. This person will report into the SVP, Strategy & Program Management.

Key Responsibilities:

Negotiate and execute BD deals for Endocrinology Rare Disease, Oncology, and Ophthalmology (and other disease areas/TAs under consideration) to achieve Ascendis’ strategy and global reach

Lead BD efforts for collaborations, licensing deals, and strategic alliances including:

  • Support scientific evaluation of potential opportunities
  • Coordinate cross-functional and cross-site due diligence efforts
  • Engage with internal and external stakeholders
  • Analyze opportunities and forecasts
  • Develop deal structures and models
  • Execute negotiations and contract development (collaborating with all relevant parties across Ascendis sites and relevant functional areas)

Refine overall BD & AM strategy for R&D stage opportunities, covering:

  • Existing relationships
  • All relevant therapeutic areas
  • Existing and new technology platforms

Communicate progress, open questions, and decisions to all relevant stakeholders

  • Prepare materials for internal updates (e.g., Board of Directors meetings)
  • Contribute to external communications, as needed

Lead BD & AM team

Oversee alliance management efforts to develop and maintain strong external relationships with potential and existing partners

Stay current on relevant scientific publications, biopharma deals, and deal making trends and share findings with key stakeholders

Requirements

15+ years of biotech/pharma BD transaction experience

Track record of success with 10+ biotech/pharma deals, including late-stage, transformative deals; variety of experience across collaborations, in-licensing, out-licensing, acquisitions, and other strategic alliances

Differentiated ability to navigate stakeholder interactions and finalize deals; exceptional negotiation skills

Competence in working with Legal and other stakeholders to draft and negotiate term sheets and contracts

Demonstrated creativity and analytical approach in designing deal; forte in thinking “out of the box” with regards to the “deal-making playbook”

Exceptional analytical skills, as demonstrated through:

  • Strategic framing and quantification of opportunities and tradeoffs
  • Robust quantitative analysis of valuation of an asset/opportunity
  • Financial and deal model development

Ability to integrate science and biotech industry dynamics into strategy, analyses, negotiations, and contracts

Unbridled curiosity

Master’s degree or PhD in Life Sciences, and/or MBA or JD, or equivalent degree

Ability to travel (domestic and international) up to 25% of the time

New hires based in the US will be required to demonstrate that they have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or qualify for a medical or religious exemption or accommodation to this vaccination requirement, subject to applicable law

Benefits

  • Medical insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • 401(k)
  • Paid maternity leave
  • Paid paternity leave
  • Commuter benefits
  • Disability insurance