About This Role:The Executive Director, Immunology Early Development Strategy & External Innovation, is a senior scientific and development leader within the Immunology Development Unit, reporting directly to the Vice President, Head of Immunology Early Development Innovation and Strategy. The role serves as a close strategic partner and delegate to the Vice President, with accountability for a Immunology portfolio priorities spanning research-to-development transitions, early clinical development strategy, external innovation, and business development and venture investing assessments.
This leader will connect scientific insight, clinical development judgment, and enterprise strategy to help Biogen identify, shape, and advance differentiated opportunities for patients with immune-mediated diseases. The position is designed for an accomplished bridge builder who earns trust through expertise, judgment, clarity, and follow-through. Success will depend on the ability to align stakeholders, frame consequential choices, and enable cross-functional teams toward high-quality decisions and execution.
The role will work closely with Research, Biomarkers, Clinical Pharmacology, Regulatory, Biostatistics, Clinical Operations, Product Development & Commercialization, Global Commercial, Corporate Strategy, Business Development and External Innovation, and partner companies. Depending on portfolio needs, the Executive Director may lead selected programs or strategic initiatives from preclinical development through proof of biology or proof of concept and contribute to later-stage development planning.
What You'll Do:- Act as a senior advisor and delegate of the Head of Immunology Early Development Innovation and Strategy, helping shape and execute key portfolio, organizational, and external priorities in Immunology.
- Lead the strategy for critical research-to-development transitions, early development planning, and portfolio decisions across selected Immunology programs.
- Serve as the delegated clinical development leader for select programs and portfolio initiatives to accelerate value creation.
- Drive evaluation of external opportunities for the Immunology Development Unit, integrating scientific, clinical, strategic, and commercial perspectives into meaningful clinical development plans.
- Develop evidence-based recommendations for governance and investment decisions, helping senior leaders navigate uncertainty and complexity.
- Foster productive collaborations across Research, Development, Commercial, Corporate Strategy, Business Development, and external partners.
- Influence and align cross-functional stakeholders to translate strategy into decisive action and execution.
- Mentor colleagues and strengthen organizational capability through thought partnership, coaching, and leadership.
- Ensure all activities are conducted in accordance with applicable regulatory, quality, ethical, and compliance standards.
Who You Are:You are a highly credible scientific and drug development leader who can move comfortably between deep scientific discussions on targets and biology, to clinical strategy across indications to portfolio choices and decision-making. You listen carefully, synthesize complex information quickly, and bring structure to uncertain or contested situations. Colleagues seek your perspective because your recommendations are rigorous, balanced, pragmatic, and clear. You create momentum by building shared understanding and commitment across organizational boundaries, not by relying on positional authority.
Required Skills:- MD, MD/PhD, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent doctoral degree in a relevant biomedical discipline.
- At least 15 years in pharmaceutical or biotechnology drug development, with progressive leadership responsibilities in research, pharmacology, clinical development, portfolio strategy, or external innovation.
- 2-3 years of experience in pharma or biotech industry.
- Expertise in immunology and immune-mediated diseases, with experience spanning one or more areas such as rheumatology, dermatology, gastroenterology, allergy, inflammation, or related fields.
- Demonstrated experience with multiple therapeutic modalities and driving through key development milestones.
- Demonstrated success bridging discovery and translational science to clinical development, including leadership of research-to-development transitions and early development strategies through key value-inflection milestones.
- Experience evaluating external opportunities, including business development, licensing, partnerships, venture investments, or strategic collaborations.
- Strong understanding of the scientific, clinical, regulatory, and commercial factors that influence development and portfolio decisions.
- Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders up and down the organization and lead across a complex matrixed environment.
- Exceptional strategic thinking, judgment, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make high-quality recommendations and articulate trade-offs in the face of uncertainty.
- Excellent communication and executive presence, with the ability to distill complex issues into clear, decision-ready recommendations.
Preferred Skills:- Recognized scientific or development leadership demonstrated through publications, presentations, patents, advisory roles, or equivalent accomplishments.
- Experience leading teams through important regulatory milestones in early development (e.g., pre-IND or CTA meetings, clinical hold resolution)
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Job Level: Management
Additional InformationThe base compensation range for this role is: $274,000.00-$377,000.00
Base salary offered is determined through an analytical approach utilizing a combination of factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills & experience, job location, and internal equity.
Regular employees are eligible to receive both short term and long-term incentives, including cash bonus and equity incentive opportunities, designed to reward recent achievements and recognize your future potential based on individual, business unit and company performance.
In addition to compensation, Biogen offers a full and highly competitive range of benefits designed to support our employees' and their families physical, financial, emotional, and social well-being; including, but not limited to:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, & Life insurances
- Fitness & Wellness programs including a fitness reimbursement
- Short- and Long-Term Disability insurance
- A minimum of 15 days of paid vacation and an additional end-of-year shutdown time off (Dec 26-Dec 31)
- Up to 12 company paid holidays + 3 paid days off for Personal Significance
- 80 hours of sick time per calendar year
- Paid Maternity and Parental Leave benefit
- 401(k) program participation with company matched contributions
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per calendar year
- Employee Resource Groups participation
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Job Level: Management
