VP, In-Licensing Oncology
VP, In-Licensing Oncology
About us
Owkin is an AI biotechnology company that uses AI to find the right treatment for every patient. We combine the best of human and artificial intelligence to answer the research questions shared by biopharma and academic researchers. By closing the translational gap between complex biology and new treatments, we bring new diagnostics and drugs to patients sooner.
Owkin has raised over $300 million and became a unicorn through investments from leading biopharma companies (Sanofi and BMS) and venture funds (Fidelity, GV and BPI, among others).
Owkin is seeking the best and brightest to join our fast-growing and dynamic team.
About the role:
Owkin has an ambitious growth strategy focused around data access, diagnostics and biopharma. Corporate development is pivotal to ensure successful and scalable growth.
The VP, In-Licensing, has the opportunity to shape Owkin pipeline strategy and scale our partnering activities. By developing and nurturing a network of business partners in large pharma and biotech accounts, helping the business identify promising assets to in-license or co-develop, and actively contributing to launch clinical development operations at Owkin.
As a VP, In-Licensing, you will scout and due diligence assets in oncology and immunology at pre-clinical, ph1 and ph2 development stages. You will negotiate deal terms and financing structures to successfully build Owkin’s drug pipeline. You will be instrumental in leveraging Owkin’s value proposition in target discovery, biomarkers-driven development, and drug repurposing, creating awareness of Owkin’s unique machine learning capabilities to fundamentally transform bio/pharmaceutical R&D.
The VP, In-Licensing will report directly to the Chief Corporate Development Officer and be a part of Owkin’s business leadership team. The position will require intimate cross team collaboration with Medical, R&D, Legal, IP, Commercial and Finance teams.
In particular, you will:
- Contribute to formulating Owkin’s biopharma strategy to develop Owkin’s drug pipeline; provide insights to R&D and Medical on topics related to discovering novel targets, prioritizing new combination therapies, identifying new treatments, in-licensing existing molecules, setting up experimental facilities, etc…
- Execute Owkin drug discovery and partnering strategy, build a pipeline, set and meet in-licensing and co-development objectives
- Refine Owkin’s partnering decision matrix, asset valuation methodology, governance, and in-licensing workstreams, and materials
- Engage large pharma companies and biotechs to scout promising assets in oncology and immunology
- Select, review and prioritize these opportunities in collaboration with internal stakeholders and accordance with Owkin’s pipeline needs, market potential, and broader biopharma strategy
- Lead scientific evaluation and due diligence for selected assets at pre-clinical, phase 1, or phase 2 development stages
- Assess and coordinate external due diligence providers, across Target Product Profile, IP, Market Potential, Regulatory, CMC, etc…
- Lead due diligence work streams, define and track deal success metrics, prepare and present memos to Owkin C-level executives
- Draft, review and negotiate term sheets and contracts
- Engage with biotech investors, advisors and financial institutions to defining the preferred partnering model and funding structure
- Prepare project review presentations for C-level executives and board members,
- Discuss specific assets opportunities with Owkin C-level executive, investors and advisors
- Drive in-licensing opportunities (acting as a champion) successfully throughout the entire evaluation and negotiation, leading up to deal signature
- Support Owkin’s senior management in achieving their vision to transform biomedical research and help provide better drugs to patients faster
- Network with pharma and biotech companies, key opinion leaders, venture capital firms, financial institutions, and law firms
- Represent Owkin at scientific events and conferences to identify strategic partners and assets, monitor market trends and report internally
- Hire and manage corporate development associate(s) and junior strategy analyst(s)
Position is based in our Paris, London or Boston offices
About you
Required qualifications / experience:
We are looking for someone who has a fascination with innovative research and Artificial Intelligence, the future of clinical research, life sciences and medicine, and is passionate about tackling the most complex health challenges.
- You have a University Degree with strong scientific or finance background, preferably a Masters/PhD degree in Sciences, Technology (Molecular Biology, Epidemiology, HEOR, Genetics, Oncology, Statistics, AI, Machine Learning, Data Science, etc…) or Finance
- You have 10+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with 5+ years of experience in licensing or business development activities, and with 3+ years of experience in Research, or Development
- You have experience in Research, Development, and Partnering in oncology and immunology
- You are savvy in the fundamental scientific concepts in oncology and immunology
- You have significant experience in business development with a successful record of accomplishment of signed deals and a high level of professional credibility
- You have granular knowledge of asset valuation and due diligence and can plug in a network of advisors to support specific analysis
- You have strong knowledge of the pharmaceutical sector (biotechs, tech transfers, academia etc…)
- You have deep understanding of patents and legal concepts in contracting and their implications in the context of in-licensing or co-development deals
- You have extensive experience in leading due diligence, involving internal teams and external advisors / consultants
- You have strong skills in negotiating deal terms and successfully signing contracts
- You bring a strong book of relationships across R&D/ Drug Development industry in pharma and biotech, and across DD services provides, IP law firms, and financial institutions
- You are familiar with pharma business intelligence tools and analysis to assess market potential and asset valuation
- You are capable of processing large volumes of data and information to prioritize opportunities, evaluate assets, and make recommendations about investments in assets at pre-clinical, phase 1 and phase 2 development stages
- You have the capacity to both work independently and represent Owkin, while being a team player and collaborate with multiple teams across the organization
- You are hands-on, efficient, proactive articulate and possess integrity, professionalism and no work ego
- You have excellent communication, management and organizational skills: you have the ability to prepare technical and business reports and oral presentations
- You are a strong computer literate (Google suite, Slack, Salesforce, etc…)
- You are excited to work hard in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
This is an opportunity to join a fast-growing, well-funded company with real potential to make an impact on the lives of patients.
What we offer
- Competitive salary & excellent benefits package
- Flexible work organization and access to remote work
- Friendly and informal working environment
- Opportunity to work with an international team with high technical and scientific backgrounds
Recruitment Process & Security
- Please attach a CV.
- Owkin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status or on the basis of disability.
- Owkin is a great place to work. Unfortunately, being a coveted workplace means we are vulnerable to recruitment phishing scams. We urge all job seekers and candidates to be wary of potential scams. Most of these have individuals posing as representatives of prominent companies, including Owkin, with the aim of obtaining personal, sensitive, or financial information from applicants. These scams prey upon an individual’s desire to obtain a job and can sometimes “feel” like a genuine recruitment process. Some red flags are identified below. Should you encounter a recruitment process that claims to be for Owkin but is not consistent with the below, please do not provide any personal or financial information:
- Legitimate Owkin recruitment processes include communication with candidates through recognized professional networks, such as LinkedIn. However, further
- communication is always through an official Owkin email address (from the @owkin.com domain), over the phone or though Recruitment platforms (WelcomeKit, talent.io, hidden.market, Fifty Talent or Hiresweet);
- Legitimate Owkin recruiters will not solicit personal data from candidates during the application phase including, but not limited to, date of birth, social security numbers, or bank account information;
- Legitimate Owkin interviews may be conducted over the phone, in person, or via an approved enterprise videoconferencing service (such as Google Meets or Highfive). They will never occur via Signal, Telegram or Messenger
- Legitimate Owkin offers of employment are based on merit and only extended once a candidate has interviewed with members of the hiring team. Offers will be extended both verbally and in written format. Owkin may request some personal information to initiate the hiring process, but this will be through protected means.
- Please attach a CV.
- Owkin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status or on the basis of disability.
- Owkin is a great place to work. Unfortunately, being a coveted workplace means we are vulnerable to recruitment phishing scams. We urge all job seekers and candidates to be wary of potential scams. Most of these have individuals posing as representatives of prominent companies, including Owkin, with the aim of obtaining personal, sensitive, or financial information from applicants. These scams prey upon an individual’s desire to obtain a job and can sometimes “feel” like a genuine recruitment process. Some red flags are identified below. Should you encounter a recruitment process that claims to be for Owkin but is not consistent with the below, please do not provide any personal or financial information:
- Legitimate Owkin recruitment processes include communication with candidates through recognized professional networks, such as LinkedIn. However, further
- communication is always through an official Owkin email address (from the @owkin.com domain), over the phone or though Recruitment platforms (WelcomeKit, talent.io, hidden.market, Fifty Talent or Hiresweet);
- Legitimate Owkin recruiters will not solicit personal data from candidates during the application phase including, but not limited to, date of birth, social security numbers, or bank account information;
- Legitimate Owkin interviews may be conducted over the phone, in person, or via an approved enterprise videoconferencing service (such as Google Meets or Highfive). They will never occur via Signal, Telegram or Messenger
- Legitimate Owkin offers of employment are based on merit and only extended once a candidate has interviewed with members of the hiring team. Offers will be extended both verbally and in written format. Owkin may request some personal information to initiate the hiring process, but this will be through protected means.
If you think that you have been a victim of fraud,
- Check the identity of recruiters on LinkedIn and the website https://owkin.com/team/
- Check the existence of the position on our website https://owkin.welcomekit.co/
- Notify Owkin's recruitment unit at this address hiring@owkin.com
- contact the following authorities:
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