Director/Sr. Director, Business Development & Corporate Strategy

Overview

Who We Are: 

At Dendreon, we’re transforming the battle against cancer with personalized immunotherapy. Our flagship product, PROVENGE® (sipuleucel-T), was the first FDA-approved immunotherapy for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer, utilizing a patient’s own immune cells to fight the disease. 

If you’re driven by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on cancer patients' lives, we invite you to join our team. With Immunotherapy Manufacturing Facilities in Seal Beach, CA, and Union City, GA, a strong Research & Development group in Seattle, WA, and a highly skilled Commercial team across the nation, Dendreon is at the forefront of cancer treatment innovation. 

Core Values: 

• Put Patients First: Every day is an opportunity to improve the lives of those living with cancer. 

• Act with Integrity: We commit to transparency, honesty, and always doing what’s right. 

• Build Trust: Trust is earned through candid, open communication and a collaborative approach. 

• Raise the Bar: We embrace continuous improvement and innovation, always striving to elevate our people. 

• Drive Results: We are accountable to each other and deliver success together. 

Job Summary: 

The Director/Senior Director of Business Development & Corporate Strategy will drive Dendreon’s growth through strategic partnerships, licensing, and corporate development initiatives. This role requires an experienced biotech or pharmaceutical business development leader with a track record of advancing innovative, late-stage (Phase II/III), first-in-class assets. The Director/Senior Director will lead global opportunity sourcing, diligence, and deal execution, while partnering cross-functionally to evaluate international assets and collaborations, support CDMO business development, and engage with financial investment partners. 

Responsibilities

• Strategic Partnerships & Investment-Driven Growth
• •  Serve as a key corporate strategist identifying high-impact opportunities for external innovation and investment.  
  • Identify, evaluate, and lead strategic transactions and investments aligned with Dendreon’s business strategy, including first-in-class and differentiated therapeutic modalities (e.g., ADCs or other complex platforms). 
• Biotech Business Development & Asset Acquisition
  • Lead the search, evaluation, and acquisition of innovative clinical- to commercial-stage therapeutic assets, with emphasis on late-stage (Phase II/III), first-in-class programs aligned with Dendreon’s core therapeutic areas, including immunotherapy, urology, and oncology. 
  • Evaluate complex therapeutic modalities, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) or similarly advanced platforms, assessing scientific differentiation, clinical risk, and commercial potential. 
  • Conduct robust diligence with cross-functional support from Clinical, Regulatory, CMC, IP, Commercial, and Finance to drive informed decisions and maximize asset value. 
  • Develop detailed market assessments, forecasts, valuation models, and scenario analyses for internal and external opportunities. 
  • Partner closely with internal teams (R&D, Clinical, Regulatory, Commercial, Finance, Legal/IP) to perform scientific and commercial diligence, valuation modeling, and competitive landscape analyses. 
• CDMO Strategy & Business Development 
  • Build and execute a business development plan to position Dendreon’s manufacturing capabilities as a CDMO partner for emerging and established biotech clients. 
  • Identify and engage prospective CDMO partners, from early-stage startups to mid-size biotechs, structuring proposals and partnerships that leverage Dendreon’s technical and operational strengths. 
  • Collaborate with Technical Operations, Quality, and Regulatory to ensure operational readiness and partner alignment on timelines and technical feasibility. 
  • Represent Dendreon at relevant CDMO and manufacturing conferences and in client-facing discussions. 
• Deal Structuring, Negotiation & Execution 
  • Lead the structuring, negotiation, and execution of term sheets and definitive agreements for BD and CDMO transactions. 
  • Manage internal due diligence processes, coordinate with legal on contract development, and align stakeholders on deal terms and governance. 
• Executive Strategy & Portfolio Planning 
  • Partner with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team to refine corporate strategy and long-range planning. 
  • Prepare and present executive summaries, board materials, and strategic recommendations based on external opportunity assessments. 

Qualifications

Job Requirements: 

• Required Experience & Skills: 
  • 7-10+ years of progressive experience in business development in the biotech or pharmaceutical industry. 
  • Demonstrated ability to lead BD, M&A, licensing, or investment transactions from sourcing through execution. 
  • Advanced degree required: MBA, PhD, MD, or equivalent scientific or financial training. 
  • Strong understanding of complex therapeutic modalities, such as ADCs, biologics, cell therapies, or other advanced platforms. 
  • Deep financial acumen including valuation modeling, risk/return analysis, and deal structuring. 
  • Executive presence and excellent communication skills with ability to build trust internally and externally. 
  • Strong cross-functional leadership with proven ability to influence stakeholders across Clinical, Technical Ops, Regulatory, and Legal. 
  • Deal Sheet Required. 
  • Willingness to travel up to 50%+, including international travel.  

• Preferred Experience:
  • Board-level exposure or experience presenting to board/investment committees.
  • Direct experience supporting or leading CDMO strategy or partnerships.
  • Strong network within the VC/PE community focused on early- to mid-stage biotech.
  • Familiarity with oncology, immunotherapy, urology, or cellular immunotherapies. Prior operating experience within a biotech or biopharma company.
  • Consulting or operating experience in high-growth biotech or commercial-stage biopharma environments.
  • Global experience with international partnerships, particularly the biotech or pharmaceutical environments in China.
  • Experience in venture capital, private equity, or investment banking within the life sciences industry.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements: 

• On-site in Seal Beach, CA. This position is NOT remote. 
• This position operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. 
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.