Portfolio Strategy Senior Analyst

Position Title: Portfolio Strategy Senior Analyst

Department: Portfolio Strategy

Reports To: Director, Portfolio Strategy

Location: Evanston, IL – On-site 4 days per week (Mon to Thurs)

Job Overview

The Portfolio Strategy Senior Analyst will support both Kardigan’s portfolio strategy and business development activities, contributing to the evaluation, prioritization, and optimization of internal R&D investments as well as the evaluation of external opportunities. This role will contribute to strategic decision-making through financial and deal modeling, portfolio analytics, and cross-functional business insights that inform investment decisions and enterprise priorities.

The Senior Analyst will work closely with leaders across Portfolio Strategy, Finance, R&D, Corporate Strategy, and Business Development to assess portfolio opportunities, model scenarios, and develop data-driven recommendations. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical and financial capabilities with intellectual curiosity and a passion for learning in a fast-paced biotechnology environment.

This role requires attention to detail and the ability to communicate complex analyses clearly to stakeholders and senior leadership. Demonstrated curiosity about agentic AI tools (e.g., Claude) and emerging AI-enabled approaches to portfolio analytics and decision-making, along with comfort operating in a fast-changing, AI-driven culture, is highly valued.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Support enterprise portfolio strategy and prioritization efforts across discovery, clinical-stage, and lifecycle programs
• Build and maintain financial and deal models to evaluate portfolio investments and external opportunities, including risk-adjusted NPV analyses, deal valuation, and scenario modeling
• Support business development evaluations, including deal modeling, valuation of external opportunities (in-licensing, partnerships, M&A), and due diligence support
• Contribute to corporate strategy and long-range planning initiatives as needed
• Develop portfolio analytics, dashboards, and presentations to support executive decision-making and governance discussions
• Partner cross-functionally with Finance, R&D, Clinical, Commercial, and Corporate Strategy teams to evaluate trade-offs, risks, and resource allocation decisions
• Conduct market, competitive, and landscape assessments to support strategic recommendations
• Prepare high-quality PowerPoint presentations and materials for leadership reviews, portfolio committees, and strategic planning discussions
• Analyze complex data sets and synthesize findings into clear, actionable insights for senior stakeholders
• Identify opportunities to improve analytical workflows, reporting, and decision-support capabilities by leveraging agentic AI tools (e.g., Claude) and emerging AI-enabled portfolio management capabilities as the team’s tools evolve
• Contribute to special strategic projects and cross-functional initiatives as needed in a dynamic, high-growth environment

Qualifications and Preferred Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, life sciences, biotechnology, or related field
• 3-5 years of experience in portfolio strategy, corporate strategy, investment banking, corporate finance, consulting, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or related analytical roles
• Experience with financial and deal modeling, including NPV, deal valuation, and scenario-based analyses required
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving capabilities with high attention to detail
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint required
• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear strategic insights and executive-level communications
• Experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, or life sciences strongly preferred
• Hands-on experience or demonstrated curiosity about agentic AI tools (e.g., Claude) and AI-enabled analytical workflows; comfort operating in a fast-changing, AI-driven culture
• Strong interpersonal and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• High degree of intellectual curiosity, ownership, and professional maturity