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Executive Director, Business Development

Somerville, MA
Why Join Us?
 
Be a hero for our rare disease patients
 
At Ultragenyx, we fundamentally believe that taking real impactful action to care for the needs of patients and our people is always the right thing to do. To achieve this goal, our vision is to lead the future of rare disease medicine. For us, this means going where other biopharma companies won’t go – challenging the status quo and creating a new model that advances our field so more patients and caregivers can benefit from life-changing treatments. We do this by following the science, applying a novel rapid development approach, making innovative medicines at fair and reasonable prices, and creating a collaborative ecosystem to reach patients in ways that are most meaningful for them. 
 
Our commitment and care for patients extends to our people, so culture is an essential cornerstone for Ultragenyx. We remain continuously focused on creating a supportive and inclusive environment of profound learning and growth – so employees can thrive in all areas of their lives, in and outside of work. Ultimately, we want to be an organization where we would be proud for our family, friends and children to work.
 
If you want to have a meaningful impact, do the best work of your career, and grow a lot, both professionally and personally, come join our team.

Position Summary:

ultrafocused – Work together to fearlessly uncover new possibilities

Ultragenyx is seeking a highly motivated individual, reporting directly to the Chief Business Officer, for the role of Executive Director, Business Development.  This individual will be responsible for the identification, evaluation, and diligence process for corporate and business development opportunities, as well as leading business development transactions on behalf of the company.  This individual will work closely with key stakeholders in Translational Research, Clinical Development, Commercial, Legal, Finance, and Alliance Management to help identify and evaluate external programs, assets, and companies for potential partnership, licensing and/or acquisition by Ultragenyx.  This role will have high visibility across the organization, have direct influence over the execution of our corporate strategy, and may lead/support other strategic partnering initiatives (e.g. NewCo spinouts), and will have substantial interactions with the Ultragenyx Executive Leadership Team (XLT) and Board of Directors. 

Work Model: 

Flex: This role will typically require onsite work 2-3 days each week, or more depending on business needs. In many locations, the business will set certain days each week that Flex employees are required to be onsite.

Responsibilities:

  • Lead/support the overall product evaluation process, including clinical/scientific assessments, evaluation of the commercial opportunity, analysis of the competitive landscape, and financial modeling 
  • Work closely with Corporate Strategy to develop analyses and proposals and present to the executive team (XLT) to reach agreement on terms and strategy for specific BD opportunities 
  • Collaborate with key internal groups in the following areas: 
    • Assessment support of new BD opportunities (e.g. competitive analysis, development plan, commercial forecast, NPV analyses) 
    • Develop and execute a search strategy to identify and prioritize assets that provide a strong fit with therapeutic area search criteria 
  • Develop deal concepts and negotiate term sheets and definitive agreements 
  • Drive the deal process from deal concept to execution of agreements 
  • Work closely with Ultragenyx’s Legal group and outside counsel to structure and execute transactions 
  • Network and develop scientific and business relationships with prospective partners, academic institutions, and licensors while evaluating opportunities at medical, scientific, and corporate conferences 
  • Represent the group and the company to both internal and external groups  

Requirements:

The ideal candidate will have a strong scientific or medical background (MS, PhD, or MD preferred), an MBA or related advanced degree, and proven corporate and business development experience in the biopharmaceutical industry.  The candidate will have a demonstrated track record in leading strategic transactions including negotiating complex agreements, driving business decisions, and helping to build and manage effective multi-disciplinary teams.   

  • 15+ years in business development roles in biopharma  
  • Knowledge or direct experience in rare disease deal-making is a plus 
  • Current and active observer of the industry; transactions being completed and new trends in deals 
  • Strong understanding of the drug development process, life-cycle management, and commercialization of therapeutics (rare disease preferred) 
  • Leadership and management skills - the ability to partner with Translational Research, Clinical Development and Commercial teams to define and execute strategies for acquiring/licensing external assets 
  • Excellent presentation and communication skills – the ability to influence and work successfully with varied audiences (colleagues, scientific and technical leaders, financial institutions, lawyers, pharmaceutical and business partners, collaborators, and senior executives); the successful candidate will be comfortable conversing with XLT and Board members 
  • Excellent analytical skills - the ability to perform and review standard business and financial analyses 
  • Energetic self-starter with strong executive presence, detail and results orientation and ability to work effectively in a driven environment 
  • A resourceful, strategic and analytical thinker and creative problem solver who can help shape both individual deals and the future strategy of the business 
  • A team player who proactively communicates and collaborates with Ultragenyx partners and stakeholders to drive results 
  • Uncompromising integrity 
  • Travel up to 20% 

#LI-CS1 #LI-Hybrid

The typical annual salary range for this full-time position is listed below. This range reflects the characteristics of the job, such as required skills and qualifications and is based on the office location noted in this job posting. The range may also be adjusted based on applicant's geographic location.


This position is eligible for annual bonus and equity incentives. Actual individual pay is determined by demonstrated experience and internal equity alignment.

Pay Range

$1 - $2 USD

 
Full Time employees across the globe enjoy a range of benefits, including, but not limited to:
 
·         Generous vacation time and public holidays observed by the company
·         Volunteer days
·         Long term incentive and Employee stock purchase plans or equivalent offerings
·         Employee wellbeing benefits
·         Fitness reimbursement
·         Tuition sponsoring
·         Professional development plans
 
* Benefits vary by region and country

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, disability, marital and veteran status, and any other status or classification protected by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. Reasonable accommodation will be provided for all protected statuses or classifications protected by applicable law, including individuals with disabilities, disabled veterans, for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, and based on sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants can request an accommodation prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, you may contact Talent Acquisition by emailing us at talentacquisition@ultragenyx.com.

See our Privacy Policy.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Note to External Recruiters: All candidate activity and open positions are managed strictly through our Human Resources Department. Our Human Resources Department kindly requests that recruiters not contact employees/hiring managers directly in an attempt to solicit business and present candidates. Please note that failure to comply with this request will be a factor in determining a professional relationship with our organization. Submission of unsolicited resumes prior to an agreement set in place between the Human Resources Department and the recruiting agency will not create any implied obligation.  Inquiries on developing a recruiting relationship with us, may be directed to: talentacquisition@ultragenyx.com.

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We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace environment that keeps our teams inspired, empowered, and free to share new ideas—and to better finding solutions that advance the treatment of those living with rare diseases.  We invite you to voluntarily provide demographic information in a confidential survey at the end of this application to assist us in complying with legal requirements and managing our organization. Providing this information is completely optional and it will not be accessible or used by those involved in your hiring or decision-making process. Your response – or decision not to respond, has no impact on your opportunity for employment. Responses to the voluntary self-identification requests will be confidential and securely maintained and only reported in the aggregate in support of the efforts outlined above.

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