Associate Director

Job Description

Our company has a rapidly growing interdisciplinary team of scientists in London and exciting plans to expand our London presence, initially at The Francis Crick Institute as part of our ‘Skylab’ expansion, and from 2027 in our new state-of-the-art London Discovery Research Centre and UK Headquarters at the hub of London’s Knowledge Quarter. This will be home to approximately 180 scientists alongside other colleagues in clinical, regulatory and business roles, including marketing, finance and administration.

We have a new role for an Associate Director, Business Development & Licensing (BD&L) Discovery Transactions will be part of a team of transaction leads located in London, Moorgate.

The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing and negotiating a broad spectrum of transactions supporting our company's Research Laboratories in the discovery and preclinical stage across in support of therapeutic and functional areas with external academic, government, and industry partners worldwide. This position will report to a Director in the BD&L Discovery Transactions group.

What you will do:

• Collaborate closely with our company's research scientists, management, legal and external partners to negotiate material transfers, licenses, evaluations, consortia, research collaborations and other agreements to establish external scientific partnerships.
• Negotiate with external counterparts to execute appropriate agreements in a timely manner in support of our Research Division objectives and compliance policies.
• Educate and influence our Research Division scientists and management in the executional and relational aspects of external partnering.
• Participate and network at industry-academia professional events to esstablish our Research Division as a partner of choice.

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What you will need to be successful in this role:

Required Education/ Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline; an advanced degree in business, law or science is a plus.
• A minimum of 5 years work experience in one or more pharmaceutical or biotech companies.
• Experience in transactions with academic institutions; contract drafting and negotiation experience desired.
• Understanding of scientific principles and the drug-development process.
• Candidate must demonstrate superb interpersonal skills and the ability to influence without authority.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and organizational skills are essential.

Skills/Competencies:

• Demonstrated leadership, judgment, and creativity in applying analytical frameworks and solutions to business- and discovery-stage scientific issues.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and partner with client groups.

• Ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Good organisational and time management skills.

Your role at our company is integral to helping the world meet new breakthroughs that affect generations to come, and we’re counting on your skills and inventiveness to help make meaningful contributions to global medical advancement. At our company, we’re inventing for life. 

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively for the common good. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. 

Closing date for applications: 22nd April 2025

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

n/a

Job Posting End Date:

04/23/2025

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.