Director, Strategic Planning & Portfolio

The Director, Strategic Planning & Portfolio plays a pivotal role in shaping and driving CNX Therapeutics’ long-term growth strategy. This role combines strategic planning, portfolio management, and transaction support across M&A and business development activities. The successful candidate will act as a strategic partner to the Chief Corporate Development Officer and senior leadership team, ensuring that corporate priorities are translated into actionable plans, investment decisions are rigorously evaluated, and the company’s portfolio is actively managed to maximize value and deliver on CNX’s Value Creation Plan ("VCP").

Core Tasks & Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning
  • Lead the development and refinement of CNX Therapeutics’ corporate development strategy, including long-range planning and annual strategic cycles.
  • Translate VCP strategic priorities into clear initiatives, milestones, and KPIs across the organisation.
  • Develop and maintain market maps, competitive landscapes, and white space analyses across relevant therapeutic areas and geographies.
  • Produce board strategy materials, periodic sponsor reviews - clear, IC-ready outputs with minimal direction.
  • Track external signals - M&A activity, regulatory shifts, pricing and reimbursement changes, genericization trends and surface implications proactively.
  • Partner with cross-functional leaders to ensure alignment between corporate strategy and operational execution.
• Portfolio Management
  • Oversee the evaluation and prioritisation of the company’s product and pipeline portfolio.
  • Develop and maintain portfolio frameworks, including investment cases, risk assessments, and value optimisation strategies.
  • Monitor portfolio performance and recommend reallocation of resources where necessary.
  • Support lifecycle management decisions, including expansion, divestment, or discontinuation.
• M&A and Business Development Support
  • Provide strategic input into M&A and business development opportunities, including target identification and prioritisation.
  • Support commercial and strategic due diligence efforts.
  • Develop business cases, valuation inputs, and strategic rationale for transactions.
  • Assist in integration planning and post-deal performance tracking.
• Executive Support & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Prepare high-quality materials for executive leadership, board meetings, and key stakeholders.
  • Act as a thought partner to the Chief Corporate Development Officer on high-impact strategic topics.
  • Facilitate strategic discussions and decision-making forums across senior leadership.

What Success Looks Like

• Sponsor-aligned multi-year strategic plan in place and aligned; updated annually with minimal rework.
• Portfolio prioritisation framework adopted across leadership, driving cleaner capital allocation decisions.
• Increased strategic rigour in M&A and BD screening - fewer off-mandate opportunities progressed.

Required Skills & Experience

• Significant experience in strategic planning, corporate development, consulting, or investment banking, preferably within the pharmaceutical or life sciences sector.
• Proven track record in portfolio management and/or M&A transactions.
• Experience working with senior executives and contributing to strategic decision-making.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear insights.
• Advanced financial and analytical capabilities, including valuation and business case development.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.