At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting business development transactions in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Company: Join a leading pharmaceutical company with a focus on innovation and collaboration.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with significant responsibility and career advancement potential.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in human health by driving strategic partnerships.
- Qualifications: Experience in pharmaceutical business development and strong negotiation skills required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Director Business Development Transactions Early & Late Stage to be based in Moorgate, London. This role is hybrid and requires presence onsite 2 days a week.
The Transactions group within the Business Development & Licensing organisation in London is responsible for Early Stage (pre-Proof of Concept in humans) licensing opportunities and Late Stage (late Phase III through marketed) commercial partnerships that advance our company’s Human Health portfolio. The team evaluates, structures, and executes collaborations that drive sustainable growth, including commercial collaborations (e.g. co-promotion, co-marketing, distribution/supply localisation) and in-licensing/out-licensing deals.
As the Director, Business Development Transactions you will lead the evaluation, structuring, negotiation, and execution of both Early and Late Stage for transactions in the pharmaceutical arena for the European hub. You will drive cross-functional diligence for commercial deals, develop clear commercial value propositions, and deal economics, and lead internal governance through to signature and launch.
Success requires strong commercial judgment and financial rigor - ability to assess deal financials and value drivers - paired with sufficient scientific and clinical fluency to engage credibly with internal experts and external partners.
What you will do:
- Lead commercial Business Development opportunities from evaluation through execution.
- Drive cross-functional diligence and business case development, synthesizing commercial (market, access, competitive landscape), medical/scientific, regulatory and manufacturing/supply chain inputs into a clear value proposition and go/no-go recommendations.
- Lead internal deal governance and stakeholder alignment (e.g., decision memos, approvals, trade-off framing), bringing teams together to solve complex problems and enable timely signature and launch readiness.
- Own the end-to-end transaction process and project management cadence (workplans, timelines, risks/issues), partnering closely with Legal, Finance and Alliance Management to ensure clear decision-making and effective handover to execution teams.
- Develop and challenge deal financials, including revenue/cost assumptions, scenarios/sensitivity analyses, and valuation outputs to support negotiation strategy.
- This role may also support Phase II/III deal evaluations as part of ongoing professional development.
You will interface with leaders and teams across Search & Evaluation Team, Research & Development, Commercial, Marketing, Market Access, Finance, Medical, Regulatory, Manufacturing/Supply Chain, Legal and Patents, and Alliance Management. The role requires strong influencing skills with external counterparties and the ability to lead internal deal teams through ambiguity to timely, high-quality decisions.
You will operate on a small but high intensity team with significant responsibility for helping our company achieve its ambitious Business Development & Licensing goals.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA) preferred.
Required experience:
Substantial experience in pharmaceutical commercial business development and/or partnering, with demonstrated ownership of deal workstreams and experience executing commercial collaborations and/or in-licensing/out-licensing of Late Stage assets. Hands-on experience with Early Stage licensing and commercial collaboration deal structures and terms, and familiarity with relevant market benchmarks. Demonstrated leadership and structured problem-solving skills, including the ability to frame complex issues, develop options and drive alignment across diverse stakeholders.
Skills/Competencies:
- Excellent deal execution skills, including ability to develop negotiation strategy, manage contracting/legal processes, and partner effectively with internal stakeholders and external partners.
- Proven ability to communicate clearly with executive leadership and to influence decisions through concise synthesis of science, strategy, risk and financial trade-offs.
- Excellent judgment in structuring and negotiating agreements, escalating issues appropriately, and balancing risk, scientific uncertainty and strategic value.
- Balanced of scientific, commercial and deal financial acumen (e.g., scenario analysis, profit-share economics, valuation) and sufficient scientific and clinical fluency to pressure-test assumptions and align stakeholders on key value drivers and risks.
- Self-motivated, attention to detail, and proven ability to work well on teams.
Our ability to excel depends on the integrity, knowledge, imagination, and skill of our team, with an inclusive culture of respect, encouragement, and teamwork. Members of our global team have the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues, while developing their own careers.
Closing date for applications: 17th July 2026
Required Skills: Business Administration, Developing Proposals, Executive Presence, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Licensing, Strategic Planning
Preferred Skills: Current Employees apply HERE Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status: Regular
Relocation: VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements: Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid
Shift: Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date: 07/18/2026
A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
Director Business Development Transactions Early & Late Stage, Moorgate, London employer: MSD
At our Moorgate, London location, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that encourages collaboration and innovation. As a Director in Business Development Transactions, you will not only lead impactful projects but also benefit from extensive professional growth opportunities within a supportive environment that values integrity and teamwork. Our hybrid work model allows for flexibility while ensuring you remain connected with a talented team dedicated to advancing human health.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director Business Development Transactions Early & Late Stage, Moorgate, London
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We think you need these skills to ace Director Business Development Transactions Early & Late Stage, Moorgate, London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:When applying for a role in the pharmaceutical industry, it's crucial to highlight any relevant experience you have. Whether that's internships, lab work, or even related coursework, make sure to weave this into your CV and cover letter. We want to see how your background aligns with the role you're applying for at MSD!
Emphasise Your Understanding of Regulations:The pharmaceutical industry is heavily regulated, so it's important to indicate your familiarity with industry standards and regulations. In your cover letter, mention any training or certifications you've received that are relevant, or discuss projects where you’ve navigated compliance. This will show MSD that you're not just a fit for the job but also a safety-conscious candidate!
Tailor Your CV to Be Result-Driven:Craft your CV to highlight quantifiable achievements, especially if you have previous roles in pharmaceuticals or related fields. Use metrics to demonstrate your impact, such as improved processing times or successful project completions while working on trials. This analytical approach will resonate well with hiring managers at MSD!
Convey Your Passion for the Industry:In your cover letter, express why you are passionate about working in the pharmaceutical sector. Whether it’s your desire to contribute to groundbreaking drug research or improve patient outcomes, let it shine through! At MSD, we value candidates who are truly enthusiastic about their work—you might just stand out from the crowd.
How to prepare for a job interview at MSD
✨Understand the Science
Make sure you brush up on key pharmaceutical concepts and recent developments in the industry. You might get asked some technical questions during the interview at MSD that show your grasp of drug development processes or regulatory requirements, so be ready to discuss them clearly.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
If you have any hands-on experience or internships in a laboratory setting, be sure to highlight these in your responses. Think about the projects you worked on, the methodologies you used, and the impact you made. It's all about telling a story that connects your background to the role you're applying for.
✨Know Their Products
Take some time to familiarise yourself with MSD’s product range and recent breakthroughs. Understanding their portfolio not only shows your enthusiasm for the role but also allows you to ask insightful questions that demonstrate your interest in actively contributing to their projects.
✨Be Ready for Regulatory Scenarios
In a full-time pharmaceutical role, understanding the regulatory landscape is crucial. Prepare for situational questions that may test your problem-solving skills concerning compliance and safety standards. You could be asked how you'd handle a hypothetical issue regarding a drug’s market release, so think through your approach.
