VP, Business Development

About the role

Sana Biotechnology is growing, and we are hiring new team members who believe in the potential of engineered cells as medicines, who want to challenge the status quo, and who lead with the desire to work on novel ideas. As a Vice President of Business Development, Search and Evaluation, you will report to the Chief Financial Officer and lead critical activities to access external therapeutic programs and technologies, including the sourcing, evaluation and negotiation of in-licensing, collaboration, M&A, equity, and out-licensing deals.

What you'll do

• Lead the sourcing and negotiation of partnership(s) with pharmaceutical companies for development and commercialization of existing Sana program(s) or platforms
• Lead the proactive sourcing (including landscaping efforts for prioritized areas of interest), evaluation and negotiation of high-impact collaborations, licensing, equity, and acquisition opportunities
• Enable and lead robust decision-making through all stages of deals, including seeking approval for transactions from the Executive Team and Board of Directors
• Oversee negotiations strategies with prospective partners, including creating collaboration structures aligned with scientific and business needs and making deal recommendations to key executive team stakeholders
• Develop and oversee the execution of short- and long-range business development strategies aligned with the priorities and interests of Sana's corporate strategy
• Concurrently manage multiple projects of complex business opportunities. Requires prioritizing projects with key stakeholders and aligning with corporate goals
• Set, communicate, and drive implementation of the partnering strategy in collaboration with executive team stakeholders
• Oversee ongoing and active development of world-class business development capabilities, processes and practices
• Establish collaborative relationships with key internal functions (R&D, Tech Ops, Legal and Finance) to ensure strong relationships with and support for the BD transactions
• Be an ambassador for Sana at external meetings, conferences, and seminars to access new opportunities and develop external networks
• Ensure high-quality opportunity assessments and due diligence reviews.
• Accountable for the achievement of important goals that impact and contribute to the mission of Sana
• Demonstrate ability to engage and effectively influence team members across diverse teams while prioritizing multiple projects and meeting deadlines
• Drive curiosity, scientific rigor and excellent problem-solving skills across a fast-paced, performance-driven environment
• Natural ability to assess talent to help grow the organization and add to Sana's culture

What we're looking for:

• At least 9+ years of business development experience in the life sciences sector and 12+ years of experience in drug development are required
• Ambitious and driven professional that has a passion for achieving results
• Experience leading and negotiating complex transactions required (licensing experience required, acquisition experience preferred)
• Experience with drug development; familiarity within the field of cell and gene therapy is preferred
• Experience leading cross-functional business development diligence and deal teams, including in areas outside of technical expertise
• Expert executive communication skills; highly capable of articulating Sana's value proposition and partnering interests to varied audiences
• Strong influencing skills (e.g. up, down and across), preferably with experience navigating and influencing stakeholders with and without authority
• Strong decision-maker, able to appropriately articulate and balance tradeoffs in areas of high complexity
• Excellent analytical and strategic capabilities

What you should know

• The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $325,000 and $375,000 /year; however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience

How we work together for patients

• Lead from every seat – we seek to understand, act with honesty, and engage in the crucial conversations
• Thrive as a…