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Senior Vice President, Sell Side Business Development

Boston, MA

About Formation Bio

Formation Bio is a tech and AI driven pharma company differentiated by radically more efficient drug development. 

Advancements in AI and drug discovery are creating more candidate drugs than the industry can progress because of the high cost and time of clinical trials. Recognizing that this development bottleneck may ultimately limit the number of new medicines that can reach patients, Formation Bio, founded in 2016 as TrialSpark Inc., has built technology platforms, processes, and capabilities to accelerate all aspects of drug development and clinical trials. Formation Bio partners, acquires, or in-licenses drugs from pharma companies, research organizations, and biotechs to develop programs past clinical proof of concept and beyond, ultimately helping to bring new medicines to patients. The company is backed by investors across pharma and tech, including a16z, Sequoia, Sanofi, Thrive Capital, Sam Altman, John Doerr, Spark Capital, SV Angel Growth, and others. 

You can read more at the following links:

At Formation Bio, our values are the driving force behind our mission to revolutionize the pharma industry. Every team and individual at the company shares these same values, and every team and individual plays a key part in our mission to bring new treatments to patients faster and more efficiently.

About the Position 

This is a sell-side, outbound deal originator role for a biotech platform that acquires, builds, and monetizes assets through Phase 2 and beyond.

The role drives monetization outcomes for Formation’s portfolio assets — not capital raising for Formation itself, not inbound BD, and not execution-only deal work. This person creates demand, opens doors, shapes narratives, and drives transactions forward from white space to signed deals.

They are senior, externally credible, and deeply networked — someone who has led multiple sell-side licensing, M&A, or structured asset transactions, and is ready for a future CBO role.

Responsibilities

Lead Sell-Side / Outbound BD for Portfolio Assets

    • Work closely with Formation Bio’s leadership team to  lead sell-side asset monetization strategy across Formation’s asset-centric portfolio companies.
    • Proactively originate outbound deal discussions with pharma, biotech, and strategic investors.
    • Drive licensing, M&A, and structured asset transactions Serve as the primary external face to acquirers and partners during asset monetization discussions.

Deal Origination & Relationship Development

    • Be consistently “out in the market” — cultivating and maintaining senior-level relationships across:
      • Pharma and biotech BD leadership
      • Scientific and therapeutic area leadership
      • Healthcare investors (VC, crossover, public equity)
      • Banking and advisory community
    • Build and sustain long-running, high-trust dialogues that translate into concrete deal interest.
    • Generate inbound interest through outbound relationship development.

Transaction Strategy & Structuring

    • Shape overall deal strategy and positioning for each asset:
      • Target partner universe
      • Transaction type and timing
      • Competitive tension strategy
    • Collaborate closely with internal leadership on asset narratives and value inflection points.
    • Partner with the transactions team  to move from strategy to signed transactions.

Internal Leadership & Collaboration

    • Operate initially as a high-impact individual contributor, with access to:
      • BD analytics
      • BDLs
      • Scientific and operational teams
    • Be personally involved (“in the bushes”) in early deal shaping and relationship development.
    • Over time, help define whether and how a broader outbound BD function is built.

About You

Deal Experience

    • Demonstrated sell-side deal sheet where the candidate was a key driver and leader, not a passenger.
    • Meaningful experience leading:
      • M&A
      • Asset out-licensing
      • Company financings (secondary importance)
    • Proven ability to originate deals — not just execute them.

Market Credibility & Network

    • Deep, authentic network across:
      • Pharma BD and therapeutic leadership
      • Senior biotech executives
      • Healthcare investors and bankers
    • Known as someone who can create momentum and demand around assets.

Seniority & Trajectory

    • Very senior profile, but not yet a career CBO.
    • Someone who could credibly become a CBO in their next role.
    • Typical profiles may include:
      • Senior biotech BD leaders below the C-suite
      • Former or current bankers only if they clearly drove outcomes and relationships themselves
    • This is a narrow-band talent pool by design.

Key Attributes

    • Highly outbound, relationship-driven, and self-directed.
    • Obsessed with origination more than execution.
    • Strategic thinker who understands how assets are positioned, perceived, and sold.
    • Comfortable operating independently with minimal structure.
    • Energized by ambiguity and white space.

Formation Bio is prioritizing hiring in the Boston metro area. This position follows a hybrid work model with 1–3 days per week in office. Applicants must reside in or be willing to relocate to the approved hiring location for this role.

Compensation for this position will be determined based on a number of factors, including geographic location, experience, qualifications, and business needs. In addition to base salary, we offer equity, comprehensive benefits, generous perks, and hybrid flexibility.

You will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

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