VP & Head of Oncology External Innovation at Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

Title:

Company:

Job Description:

The position will play a leadership role in IPSEN’s External Innovation group, spearheading efforts to develop a vision for IPSEN external innovation Oncology and to identify, evaluate, and secure Oncology external opportunities (preclinical through marketed therapeutic assets).

It will be expected that these efforts will provide direct and visible benefit to IPSEN’s pipeline both the near-, mid, and long-term. The candidate is responsible for leading a team to develop and manage a pipeline of Oncology external innovation opportunities that serve to ensure an available pool of assets across all developmental stages within IPSEN’s areas of interest for business development (BD) and M&A transactions. The successful candidate will have a critical role in ensuring that IPSEN is considered a partner of choice for external innovation. The candidate will also lead External Innovation relationships with VCs/banks as a source of deal flow and drive delivery of existing external partnerships through e.g. JSC membership. The candidate will also collaborate with Ipsen leadership to shape the Global Oncology strategy and drive the development of Ipsen Oncology and overall external innovation strategy.

The candidate will be required to master multiple areas of responsibility with flexibility to changes in the business environment while assisting staff and customers with issues and challenges impeding their desired successful outcome.

Main responsibilities / job expectations

Primary responsibilities:

• Lead team with remit to identify, prioritize, and lead scientific assessment of Oncology external opportunities (preclinical to marketed).

• Champion attractive opportunities to senior management and work cross-functionally with senior stakeholders to optimize deal flow process and position IPSEN as partner of choice.

• Ensure team delivers high quality due diligences with overall accountability for preclinical assets and technical diligence for clinical opportunities.

• Cultivate and expand existing global networks - biotech, pharma, venture, research institutes and academic communities.

• Lead representative of IPSEN to biotech, venture, and academic communities.

• Drive awareness of IPSEN and demonstrate superior scientific credibility and influencing skills to position IPSEN as partner of choice in a highly competitive landscape.

• Drive interactions with IPSEN innovation network (VCs, etc.) to enhance high quality deal flow for IPSEN.

• Continue to drive delivery of existing external relationships through e.g. JSC membership.

• Collaborate with IPSEN leadership to refine / refresh therapy area strategy and drive development of external innovation strategy, including late stage.

• Share best practices with other members of the IPSEN External Innovation community and build a solid partnership with them and the rest of IPSEN.

• Achieve all the above activities within the framework of the Group Values, Mission and Goals and in compliance with policies, procedures and documentation in force within IPSEN Group.

Leadership / Management

• The candidate is an effective team leader. Responsible for the talent development, provides line management and supervision of team members in his/her group. The individual is responsible for building capabilities and technical skills within his/her group to ensure effective high-quality delivery.

• The candidate supports and influences the direction of the REED group. The individual collaborates with team members to drive strategic team decision-making and deliver on commitments to the organization and to patients.

Knowledge, abilities & experience

Education / Certifications:

Minimum requirements/Education (minimum/desirable):

• M.D., Ph.D., or M.D., Ph.D. in life science

• Exceptional scientific credentials and external profile – evidenced by: publications, patents, delivery of project milestones, other scientific accomplishments (biotech or pharma portfolio accomplishments). Examples delivered through external collaborations and deals will be highly valued.

• Minimum 15 years’ experience in biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry, ideally with international experience. Proven senior R&D leadership track record from industry.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Pharmaceutical Discovery, Development and Intellectual Property Processes.

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to communicate complex information and analyses to a variety of scientific and non-scientific audiences.

• Interpersonal & leadership skills and ability to represent IPSEN in a highly professional manner.

• Ability to cultivate and develop long term productive relationships with potential external partners.

• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to multitask efficiently and prioritize quickly, particularly in running a portfolio of projects.

• Experience working in a matrix environment as well as leading and leveraging the matrix.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as in highly integrated cross functional teams.

Experience:

• Deep knowledge of R&D, drug development and External Innovation.

• Confidence and scientific credibility to lead interactions with senior leaders of biotech companies, VCs, leading academic research centers and other external parties.

• Proven ability to lead technical due diligence efforts / teams.

• Maintain and expand the candidate’s network of biopharma leaders, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, academic scientists.

• Proven strategic thinking related to external innovation, product development and pipelines.

• Ability to anticipate the evolution of the marketplace and the competition to maintain advantage as it pertains to business model creation, innovation acquisition and collaborations.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent scientific written, interpersonal communication and networking skills with the ability to build cross functional bridges.

• Significant (5+ years) line management experience.

• Experience in leading global and/or remote based teams.

• Proficient at creating and communicating a clear vision among team members effectively aligning resources and activities to achieve functional area and/or organizational goals.

• Skilled at negotiating with business partners or management and influencing senior level leaders regarding matters of significance to the organization.

• The ability to work with attention to detail in a time sensitive environment.

• Operational project management experience including excellent planning, prioritization, problem solving and organizational skills. Used to managing multiple priorities.

Languages:

• English: Business level, oral and written.

IPSEN is an equal opportunity employer that strictly prohibits unlawful discrimination. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to an individual’s race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, mental/physical disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.