External Innovation & In-Licensing Manager

External Innovation & In-licensing Manager, AMEA

Location: China

Coverage: AMEA — Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa

The Opportunity:

In a dynamic consumer healthcare landscape across AMEA — Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa — shaped by evolving consumer needs, regulatory complexity, scientific innovation and changing market dynamics, we are strengthening our regional external innovation and in-licensing capabilities. Based in Shanghai, China, this role will help identify and develop relevant partnership opportunities that support Opella’s growth priorities, brand innovations, and access to differentiated self-care solutions across AMEA markets.

As Opella continues to build and expand its self-care portfolio across AMEA, this role will support the identification, assessment, and execution of external partnership opportunities, including in-licensing and broader BD&L transactions, distribution  agreements, R&D collaborations, co-development partnerships, technology access, and other strategic partnership models across OTCs, medical device, and differentiated, scalable scientific and technology platforms—including innovative product formats, delivery systems, packaging solutions, clinically validated breakthrough ingredients, and digital or technology-enabled solutions.

You will work closely with AMEA regional, and global stakeholders to scout, screen, and advance external opportunities that address portfolio gaps and support brand growth across AMEA markets and brands. The role includes market and partner intelligence gathering, opportunity assessment, coordination of cross-functional due diligence, supporting on business case development and recommendations, deal structuring and negotiation. You will contribute to building a strong regional EI pipeline while ensuring alignment with Opella strategy, compliance expectations, and business priorities.

Your Impact & Responsibilities:

• Support the development and execution of AMEA business development pipelines aligned with Opella’s brand priorities, portfolio strategy, and market needs across Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa.
• Identify AMEA portfolio gaps, consumer needs, and market opportunities to inform sourcing priorities and partnership strategies.
• Scout and assess external business development opportunities, including OTC products, medical devices, and differentiated, scalable scientific and technology platforms such as innovative product formats, delivery systems, packaging solutions, clinically validated breakthrough ingredients, and digital or technology-enabled solutions, as well as local and cross-border partnership models.
• Build and maintain a qualified pipeline of External Innovation & BD opportunities across AMEA and help prioritize opportunities based on strategic fit, feasibility, value potential, and execution readiness.
• Conduct partner, competitor, technology, regulatory, and market intelligence to support opportunity screening and recommendation development.
• Partner with China and other AMEA commercial, medical, regulatory, legal, finance, supply, external manufacturing, R&D, and global teams to evaluate and advance opportunities through the internal decision-making process.
• Support in the development of project business cases, opportunity summaries, financial inputs, and recommendation materials to enable management review and investment decisions.
• Coordinate cross-functional due diligence workstreams and consolidate scientific, regulatory, commercial, operational, financial, legal, and compliance inputs.
• Lead deal structuring, valuation, term sheet preparation, negotiation preparation, and agreement execution in collaboration with legal, finance, and business stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain productive external relationships with potential partners, innovators, licensors, service providers, and ecosystem stakeholders across relevant AMEA markets.

Your Qualifications:

• 5+ years of business development, licensing, or related experience in consumer healthcare, OTC, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, or adjacent healthcare sectors, with a proven track record of successful product launches in the AMEA market
• Scientific, pharmaceutical, medical, or related educational background preferred; MBA or equivalent business training is a plus.
• Hands-on experience in China and other Asia-Pacific healthcare or consumer health markets, including Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea, Australia, India, and/or other relevant regional markets.
• Highly collaborative and adaptable, with the ability to influencing, stakeholder management, and project coordination skills in a cross-functional matrix environment.
• Hands-on experience supporting licensing, distribution, R&D collaborations, co-development, product acquisition, technology access, or other strategic partnership projects.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, assess, and progress external opportunities from initial screening through internal recommendation, project execution, incl. term sheet, contract negotiations and signing.
• Ability to translate brand, consumer, and market insights into practical BD opportunities and clear business recommendations.
• Good understanding of consumer healthcare including OTC and medical device market dynamics and regulatory considerations in China and key AMEA markets.
• Basic understanding of intellectual property, legal, compliance, confidentiality, and contracting principles relevant to BD projects.
• Experience preparing business cases, market assessments, financial inputs, valuation scenarios, and management presentation materials.
• Established network within China and/or AMEA healthcare and consumer health ecosystems, including pharma/OTC companies, licensing partners, R&D/IP organizations, startups and scale-ups, academia, healthcare VCs, technology players, and strategic service providers.
• Commercially minded, curious, structured, and proactive, with sound judgment and the ability to work independently under guidance.
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills; fluent in written and spoken Mandarin and English.