Senior Director - Open Innovation Lead

Use Your Power for Purpose

This role provides leadership for business development-related evaluations, with a particular emphasis on those in research and early clinical development. The position is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and facilitating the securing of drug candidates, technologies, and collaborations that accelerate research and early clinical development in alignment with the strategies of the four therapeutic areas. It also partners with the Discovery Network to champion the evaluation of artificial intelligence, computational technologies, and discovery technologies to enhance the work of Preclinical & Translational Sciences (P&TS) across modalities.

What You Will Achieve

In this role, you will:

• Serve as a strategic advisor to P&TS and Business Development leadership, shaping the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of high-impact external innovation and partnering opportunities that strengthen the research and early clinical pipeline and advance long-term portfolio objectives.

• Lead cross-functional strategic assessments of molecule-based opportunities, partnering with P&TS leadership, diligence teams, and Business Development to evaluate scientific, technical, and portfolio fit. Influence investment and partnership decisions through clear articulation of the strategic value, competitive advantage, and potential patient impact of external opportunities.

• Provide enterprise-level leadership in the evaluation of emerging technology platforms and capabilities, collaborating with P&TS leaders, Discovery Network stakeholders, and Business Development to assess opportunities across modalities and ensure alignment with future scientific and business strategies.

• Influence portfolio strategy and resource allocation decisions by advising senior leaders on the prioritization of internal and external preclinical and early clinical investments, balancing scientific opportunity, organizational capabilities, and business objectives.

• Drive strategic alignment across P&TS, fostering connectivity among senior leaders, therapeutic area teams, and functional partners to anticipate emerging scientific trends, align priorities, and inform portfolio and innovation strategies.

• Direct competitive landscape and scientific intelligence efforts, synthesizing external insights, market dynamics, and emerging science into actionable recommendations that guide portfolio strategy, diligence activities, and research investment decisions.

• Champion transformative innovation across P&TS, partnering with Discovery Network and functional leaders to identify, evaluate, and advance disruptive experimental, digital, AI-enabled, and computational approaches that accelerate discovery and early clinical development across existing and emerging modalities.

• Shape organizational culture and operating excellence within P&TS, fostering a high-performing environment characterized by collaboration, transparency, strategic thinking, and accountability while promoting alignment around enterprise priorities and portfolio vision.

Requirements

• PhD, MD-PhD, or PharmD with 12+ years of industry experience in research within one or more of Oncology, Immunology, or Metabolic Disease. 

• Experience (5+ years) leading pre-clinical research teams to deliver multiple drug candidates (either small or large molecules) through both candidate nomination and IND filing.  

• Experience with identifying and evaluating drug candidates to support business development.

• Experience with multiple internal/external partnerships in a biopharmaceutical environment. 

• Current knowledge of trends in both drug discovery and translational development.  Strong familiarity with the applicability of computational technologies to modern drug research & development.

• A proactive and strategic thinker, with strong data-driven decision-making skills

• Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills

• Highly collaborative with outstanding relationship building skills with both internal company leadership and external development partners.

• Has a global perspective and mindset, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and geographies.

• Capacity to adapt to a fast-paced and changing environment.

• Demonstrates a passion for both science and its application to help patients.

Organizational Relationships:

• Key point of contact for BD, P&TS Scientific Affairs & Strategy Lead, and P&TS due diligence teams as it relates to both drug candidate-based in-licensing and related partnering activities.

• Key collaborator for the Discovery Network as it relates to identification and evaluation of innovative approaches in research & early clinical development, including both lab-based and computational technologies.

• Coordinates with Scientific Operations team and key partners across P&TS to drive a clear and consistent communication rhythm of the Pfizer research and early clinical portfolio across therapeutic areas.
• Aligns with group leads of P&TS leadership and their direct reports on identifying opportunities for where external innovation can contribute to the development of Pfizer’s research & early clinical portfolio, including for alternative modalities.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience working in a global or multinational organization biopharma
• Deep knowledge of therapeutic areas relevant to Pfizer's portfolio
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• High level of emotional intelligence and adaptability
• Strong leadership and team management capabilities
• Experience using common AI tools, including generative technologies such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, to support problem solving and enhance productivity. Demonstrated curiosity for exploring how these tools can improve outcomes and understanding of responsible AI practices, including risk management and ethical use

 
Candidate demonstrates a breadth of diverse leadership experiences and capabilities including: the ability to influence and collaborate with peers, develop and coach others, oversee and guide the work of other colleagues to achieve meaningful outcomes and create business impact.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Travel up to 20%

Relocation support available
Work Location Assignment:  This is a hybrid role requiring you to live within commuting distance and work on-site an average of 2.5 days per week or more as needed.

#LI-PFE

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $214,900.00 to $358,100.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 22.5% of the base salary and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life’s moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site – U.S. Benefits | (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States. This role is posted in multiple locations. If you are applying for the role in an secondary job posting location where pay transparency regulations apply, your Talent Advisor will share the local pay information with you during the first interview.

Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.

Candidates must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. by any employer.

U.S. work visa sponsorship (such as TN, O-1, H-1B, etc.) is not available for this role now or in the future.

To learn more about acceptable and prohibited uses of AI during the recruitment process, please review our candidate AI-use guidelines available on Pfizer Careers.

Bus Dev & Strategic Planning