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Director/Sr. Director, Business Development & Corporate Strategy

Dendreon

Seal Beach, CA

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JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Alliance/Partner Management, Analysis Skills, Antibodies, Biology, Biotech and Pharmaceutical, Business Administration, Business Development, Business Plan, Business Strategy, Cancer, Cell Biology, Clinical Practices/Protocols, Clinical Support, Communication Skills, Competitive Analysis/Strategy, Conferences, Consulting, Continuous Improvement, Corporate Planning, Cross-Functional, Customer Relations, Disease, Drug Development, Due Diligence, FDA (Food and Drug Administration), Finance, Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, Forecasting, IP (Internet Protocol), Intellectual Property (IP), Investment Services, Investment Strategy, Leadership, Legal, Legal Support Skills, Licensing, Manufacturing, Market Analysis, Mergers and Acquisitions, Negotiation Skills, Oncology, Physical Demands, Prostate Cancer, Regulations, Research & Development (R&D), Risk, Risk Analysis, Sales Prospecting, Search Ranking, Startup, Strategic Planning, Team Player, Technical Operations, Urology, Venture Capital, Willing to Travel
LOCATION
Seal Beach, CA
POSTED
4 days ago
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.

About the Company

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Dendreon