BristolMyers Squibb

Executive Director, Business Development

BristolMyers Squibb$239K — $289K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Advanced degree required: MBA, PharmD, MD, or PhD in a relevant scientific or business discipline.
  • 15+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical or bioscience industry.
  • At least 5 years in a commercial strategy, business development, or corporate strategy role.
  • Deep knowledge of the neuroscience therapeutic landscape.
  • Proven track record of influencing BD decisions at a large pharmaceutical or leading biotech.

Responsibilities

  • Define the Neuroscience BD commercial strategy and identify high-value target indications.
  • Develop the Neuroscience Opportunity Framework, mapping unmet needs to external opportunities.
  • Lead commercial due diligence for evaluated neuroscience assets.
  • Build and validate commercial cases for potential transactions.
  • Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with external partners.

Benefits

  • Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.
  • Wellbeing Support: BMS Well-Being Account and Employee Assistance Programs.
  • Financial Well-being: 401(k), life insurance, and legal support.
  • Work-life benefits: Unlimited paid time off with manager approval.
Full Job Description
Position Summary

The Executive Director, Business Development – Neuroscience GCS is a senior leadership role within the Neuroscience Global Commercial Strategy team, positioned at the intersection of commercial strategy and external innovation. Reporting directly to the VP, GCS Neuroscience, this role serves as the commercial BD lead for the neuroscience therapeutic area and owns the identification, evaluation, and strategic shaping of external partnership, licensing, and acquisition opportunities that advance BMS’s neuroscience ambition across Psychiatry, Neurodegeneration, and Specialty Neurology, including neuromuscular diseases such as MS.

This individual will be a trusted strategic partner to GCS Leadership, the NLT, TALT, S&E, and Corporate Business Development, ensuring that BD opportunities are rigorously assessed through a commercial lens and aligned with the TA’s “Where to Play / How to Win” strategy. The ED, BD will play a decisive role in building BMS’s future neuroscience portfolio by identifying the next generation of assets and partnerships that complement and extend the existing pipeline, positioning BMS to achieve its stated goal of leadership in brain health and the Neuroscience TALT’s strategic ambition.

Key Responsibilities
1. Commercial BD Strategy & Prioritization

  • Define and maintain the Neuroscience BD commercial strategy by identifying high-value target indications, mechanisms of action (MOAs), and asset profiles aligned with BMS’s three strategic imperatives in Psychiatry, Neurodegeneration, and Specialty Neurology.

  • Develop and continuously refine the Neuroscience Opportunity Framework, mapping unmet commercial needs across the TA to external landscape opportunities, including partnerships, licensing, acquisitions, and RDC collaborations.

  • Serve as the GCS commercial authority in BD processes, synthesizing market intelligence, competitive landscape data, and launch readiness insights to prioritize BD opportunities.

  • Champion BD as a key lever in delivering on the pipeline strategic imperative: “Drive innovation in development and commercialization across the Neuroscience portfolio through TALT partnership and BD opportunities.”

  • Champion novel approaches to advance our BD capabilities, leveraging a tech-forward approach (AI) to drive insight and efficiency.

2. Deal Assessment & Commercial Diligence

  • Lead commercial due diligence for neuroscience assets under evaluation, assessing epidemiology, market sizing, patient segmentation, competitive dynamics, market value drivers, pricing and reimbursement landscape, and peak sales forecasting in partnership with commercial and cross-functional development teams.

  • Build and validate commercial cases for potential transactions, including scenario-based forecasting models that reflect the risk-adjusted commercial opportunity.

  • Partner with Corporate BD, Finance, R&D, and Medical to deliver integrated asset valuations; ensure commercial inputs are accurately reflected in transaction models and decision frameworks.

  • Assess ex-U.S. business development opportunities on a case-by-case basis, providing the commercial rationale for geographic strategy expansion and prioritization.

3. Pipeline & Portfolio Commercial Shaping

Monitor the external neuroscience innovation landscape, identify disruptive trends across modalities—including small molecules, biologics, gene therapy, and RNA-based therapeutics—and translate these insights into actionable BD intelligence for GCS leadership.

4. External Partnership Development

  • Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with external partners, including biotech companies, academic institutions, and licensing organizations operating in the neuroscience space.

  • Represent BMS Neuroscience GCS at key industry conferences, such as BIO, to identify early-stage partnership opportunities and position BMS as a preferred commercial partner.

  • Collaborate cross-functionally with Corporate BD, Alliance Management, and Legal to support term sheets, deal structuring, and partnership governance for neuroscience transactions.

5. Competitive Intelligence & Market Landscape

  • Partner with CI teams to maintain a dynamic, insight-led view of the competitive neuroscience landscape, including competitor pipeline movements, M&A activity, and emerging scientific trends across Psychiatry, Neurodegeneration, and Specialty Neurology, including neuromuscular diseases such as MS.

  • Leverage AI-driven insights, predictive analytics, and Business Insights & Analytics (BI&A) partnerships to generate differentiated commercial intelligence supporting BD evaluations.

  • Synthesize intelligence into executive-ready communications for the VP GCS, SVP Neuroscience, TALT, and other senior BMS stakeholders.

6. Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

  • Operate as a fully integrated member of the Neuroscience GCS Leadership Team, actively contributing to the TA’s three strategic imperatives across Performance, Pipeline, and People.

  • Partner across the matrix, including Corporate BD, S&E, Global Commercial, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Discovery, and Finance, to ensure BD evaluations reflect the full enterprise perspective.

  • Represent the commercial BD function in governance forums as required, including Asset Teams, Portfolio Review Committees, and GCS planning cycles.

  • Contribute to a resilient, high-performing GCS team culture rooted in accountability, inclusion, and bold action-taking, consistent with the GCS People imperative.

Qualifications

Education
  • Advanced degree required: MBA, PharmD, MD, or PhD in a relevant scientific or business discipline.

  • Dual degree, such as PhD/MBA or MD/MBA, strongly preferred.

Experience

  • 15+ years of progressive experience in the pharmaceutical or bioscience industry, with at least five years in a commercial strategy, business development, or corporate strategy role.

  • Demonstrated experience in commercial due diligence and asset valuation in a BD context, including peak sales forecasting, market sizing, and competitive landscape analysis.

  • Deep knowledge of the neuroscience therapeutic landscape, including psychiatry, neurodegenerative diseases, and/or neuromuscular diseases.

  • Proven track record of influencing BD decisions and translating commercial insights into tangible deal outcomes at a large pharmaceutical company or leading biotech.

  • Experience working in a global, matrixed organization, with demonstrated ability to lead without direct authority and drive cross-functional alignment.

  • Prior experience supporting or leading licensing negotiations, term sheet development, or partnership structuring is highly valued.

Skills & Competencies

  • Strategic vision: Ability to articulate a clear, evidence-based commercial BD thesis and translate it into actionable priorities.

  • Analytical rigor: Expert-level financial and market modeling skills, with the ability to present scenarios to senior leadership under uncertainty.

  • Executive presence: Exceptional communication and storytelling ability; able to distill complex commercial analyses into compelling executive narratives.

  • Collaborative leadership: Skilled at building trust and influence across scientific, commercial, and financial functions in a matrixed environment.

  • External orientation: Proactive in building and maintaining relationships with the external innovation ecosystem; well-networked in neuroscience biotech and academic circles.

  • Entrepreneurial mindset: Comfortable operating in ambiguity, with a bias for bold action and creative problem-solving aligned with BMS’s pipeline imperative.

  • Digital fluency: Familiarity with AI-driven analytics, competitive intelligence platforms, and digital engagement tools as competitive differentiators.

#LI-Hybrid

If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn’t perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career.

Compensation Overview:

$239,080 - $289,708

The starting compensation range(s) for this role are listed above for a full-time employee (FTE) basis. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills, where the job is performed, the employee’s work schedule, job-related knowledge, and experience. Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience.

Eligibility for specific benefits listed on our careers site may vary based on the job and location. For more on benefits, please visit

Benefit offerings are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans in effect at the time and may require enrollment. Our benefits include:

  • Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.

  • Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).

  • Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.

0Work-life benefits include:

Paid Time Off

  • US Exempt Employees: flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees)

  • Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays

Based on eligibility*, additional time off for employees may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and m

About BristolMyers Squibb

BristolMyers Squibb Careers

Join the vibrant team at BristolMyers Squibb, a leader in global biopharmaceutical innovation, where your career growth is as important as the life-changing solutions we develop. At BristolMyers Squibb, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace that encourages professional growth and development. Work You’ll Do Embark on a career with BristolMyers Squibb and be part of a company that’s dedicated to discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. With us, you’ll contribute to a culture that embraces scientific innovation, responsible leadership, and community outreach. Explore job opportunities in various fields from research to marketing, and join a team that values leadership and diversity. Our commitment to career growth means we support your journey with extensive training programs, leadership development opportunities, and a global, diverse network of professionals. Innovative Work At BristolMyers Squibb, innovation is at the core of everything we do. From pioneering research in oncology to breakthroughs in immunology, our professionals have the opportunity to make significant contributions to the field and impact lives globally. Our collaborative environment encourages team members to challenge the status quo and bring forward ideas that pave the way for groundbreaking solutions. Be Part of a Great Team Working at BristolMyers Squibb means being part of a team that supports your aspirations and shares your values. Our culture thrives on teamwork, respect, and diversity, creating a workplace where everyone can achieve their potential. Enjoy the benefits of being part of a company that values work-life balance, provides competitive benefits, and fosters an environment where skills and leadership are developed through hands-on experience and comprehensive mentorship programs. Future-Proof Your Career With a multitude of job opportunities ranging from internships to full-time positions, BristolMyers Squibb is not just hiring; we’re building futures. We equip our employees with the tools needed for success, including advanced training in diverse skill sets, leadership programs, and opportunities for professional networking and growth. Stay Connected Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We are looking for passionate, curious, and innovative team players who are ready to make a difference. Explore our career portal for all current job listings and be sure to submit your resume. Keep Up to Date Stay informed with the latest company news, career tips, and industry insights from BristolMyers Squibb. Our careers blog is a resource for potential and current employees looking to maximize their career potential. Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts and insider information tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await at BristolMyers Squibb. At BristolMyers Squibb, your career is just the beginning – it’s a pathway to personal and professional fulfillment. Join us and make a global impact.
Learn more about BristolMyers Squibb
Size
32,200 employees
Market Cap
$156.3 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$9 billion
Founded
1887
5 Year Trend
+19%
Revenue
$42.5 billion
NASDAQ

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