Head of Business Development

Job Description

Everyone at Kite is grounded by one common goal – curing cancer. Every single day, we seek to establish a direct line between that purpose and our day-to-day work. Would you like to join us in this mission?

We are seeking an experienced executive to join Kite as our Head of Business Development to lead all aspects of business development while contributing to the company’s overall business and corporate strategy. This opportunity reports to the Head of Corporate Development & Strategy and drives Kite’s short- and long-term growth strategy as a key member of the Corporate Development Leadership Team (CDLT).

Kite is looking for an empathetic leader with a demonstrated track record of building and developing high-performing teams, collaborating and influencing across matrixed organizations.  The ideal candidate will have significant experience working within the biotech / pharmaceutical industry, an exceptional ability to operate at the intersection of science and business, and drive value creation through external innovation.  The Incumbent have also direct access to the executive leadership team and requires a leader who combines executive presence, emotional intelligence and a strong work ethic to build best-in-class business development capability at Kite. Occasional travel will be necessary for the job.

To create a strong partnership with stakeholders and leaders, as well as to support future professional growth within our expanding organization, we would like this Director to be based in our state-of-the-art Santa Monica, CA global headquarters and will offer a comprehensive relocation package as needed.

Responsibilities of the Head of Business Development include:

• Partners with the Kite Leadership Team (KLT) and senior leaders on development and execution of a value creation business development strategy

• Provides strategic and operational leadership for Kite’s business development team and activities

• Chairs Triage Team and Transaction Review Committee meetings to ensure coordinated search, evaluation and approval of business development opportunities and transactions

• Builds, tracks, and maintains a strong business development funnel of opportunities

• Creates compelling strategic and commercial justifications of recommended deals including detailed financial models and competitive analyses

• Formulates and executes negotiations strategy, and with legal advisors, structure, and execute transactions

• Identifies, assesses, and executes complex, creative deals with a variety of potential partners across industry, research institutions, etc.

• Leads and develops a high-performing, innovative and collaborative business development team with an emphasis on talent growth, engagement and recognition

Basic Qualifications:

PhD and 14+ years of Business Development and/or Strategy and/or Operations and/or Commercialization and/or Project Management experience

OR

MS / MA Degree and 14+ years of Business Development and/or Strategy and/or Operations and/or Commercialization and/or Project Management experience

OR

BS / BA Degree and 16+ years of Business Development and/or Strategy and/or Operations and/or Commercialization and/or Project Management experience

OR

High School Degree and 20+ years of Business Development and/or Strategy and/or Operations and/or Commercialization and/or Project Management experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• An extensive and impressive deal sheet that demonstrates a track record of identifying, evaluating, structuring, negotiating, and executing deals with biotech and pharma companies

• An MBA with 15+ years of relevant industry experience in biotech/pharma preferably in a corporate strategy or business development role; a background in science is strongly preferred

• Aptitude to quickly understand new science and technology; knowledge and experience in oncology, immunology and/or cell therapy preferred

• Strong understanding of the drug development, approval, and commercialization process

• Demonstrated experience in identifying value creation opportunities and executing on a plan to ensure the value is capitalized on

• An outstanding strategist and thought partner to executive leadership team with demonstrated ability to translate strategy into action

• Direct people leadership experience with proven ability to lead, coach and grow a high performing team

• Effective leadership of self and others to achieve outcomes-driven goals with a sense of urgency

• Demonstrated ability to create and champion new ideas and influence senior management

• Excellent oral and written communication skills; expert at being able to deliver a complex message in a succinct and insightful manner, including executive presence and ability to interact with external parties

• Excitement about the vision and mission of Kite

Does this sound like you? If so, please apply today!