Assistant Vice President, Early BioPharma. BD, Venture Fund

Brief Job Description 
The AVP, Early Biopharma BD and Venture Fund provides senior, end-to-end leadership across external innovation and investing. The role proactively sources and evaluates assets aligned to AstraZeneca’s therapeutic priorities, drives joint assessments with global Search & Evaluation, and partners with China/International NPP to craft investment-grade business cases. It leads cross-functional deal execution—mobilizing Medical, Marketing, Finance, Legal, and Market  Access—to negotiate and close high-quality partnerships. It also builds a differentiated venture pipeline, conducts rigorous diligence, structures recommendations, and actively manages the portfolio post-close, while collaborating with Fund Operations on capital formation and exits. 

Typical Accountabilities 
Early R&D BD Operating System and Performance Ownership (across Early BioPharma. Oncology and Rare Disease) 
• Process Standardization and Governance: Establish and continuously refine a unified Early R&D BD operating system—covering partnership evaluation SOPs, due diligence templates, negotiation compliance red lines, and 
stage-gate decision points—and drive consistent adoption across the three BD pillars. 
• Methodology and Capability Building: Build the common Early-stage BD capability framework, standardizing valuation models and risk assessment methodologies; lead cross-pillar case reviews, technical training, and knowledge capture to institutionalize learnings. 
• Strategic Alignment and Business Performance: Set annual objectives and mid-to-long-term plans for Early R&D BD in alignment with AZ’s R&D strategy; run regular operating reviews across the three pillars, synthesize issues, 
drive corrective actions, and hold joint accountability for overall performance delivery. 
• Data-Driven Management and Insights: Design end-to-end lifecycle metrics (progress, conversion, risk) for Early BD projects; implement dashboards and promote data interoperability across pillars to enable transparent performance tracking and decision support. 
Early Biopharma Business Development 
• Strategic BD Leadership: Provide senior leadership across external innovation, leveraging deep understanding of AstraZeneca’s portfolio and therapeutic priorities to proactively identify and shape high-value partnership opportunities. 
• Targeted Search & Evaluation: Source local innovative assets aligned to AZ therapeutic area strategies, conduct preliminary scientific diligence, and drive joint assessments with the global Search & Evaluation team. 
• Business Case Development: Partner with China/International NPP to craft investment-grade business cases that secure internal endorsement and achieve external alignment with potential partners. 
• Cross-Functional Deal Delivery: Lead end-to-end transaction execution—
mobilizing Medical, Marketing, Finance, Legal, and Market Access—to negotiate and contract with rigor, ensure objective alignment, maintain transparent stakeholder communication, and deliver timely, high-quality deals. 
Venture Fund  
• Venture Sourcing: Build and maintain a differentiated pipeline through proactive market mapping, ecosystem engagement, and relationships with founders, VCs, and incubators. 
• Venture Evaluation: Lead scientific, clinical, regulatory, and commercial diligence; structure investment recommendations with clear theses, risk/return profiles, and value-creation plans. 
Individual Job Description 
• Portfolio Management: Actively manage investments post-close—board/observer participation, milestone tracking, strategic guidance, and syndicate coordination—to drive value creation and strategic optionality for AZ. 
• Interface with Fund Operations: Collaborate with the Fund Operations team on capital formation and exit processes, while owning sourcing, evaluation, and portfolio management responsibilities. 
People Leadership 
• Team Development: Recruit, develop, and retain Early BioPharma. BD and Venture Fund Team.; Nurture and cultivate global-ready talent, 
• Community Leadership: Provide matrix leadership and coaching to the broader China/International BD and Venture Fund; ensure timely, high-caliber appointments and succession planning. 
Typical People Management Responsibility (direct/indirect reports) 
• Approximate number of people managed in total (all levels): ~2-3 
Global remit
• Operates in International Region. 
Education, Qualifications, Skills, and Experience 
Qualifications and Experience 
• Education: Advanced degree in life sciences, business, or related field; MBA or equivalent preferred. 
• Experience: 10–15+ years in biopharma/commercial partnering with proven delivery of China and/or International BD deals; hands-on leadership of complex deals; exposure to pricing/access, regulatory, and supply in China/International markets. 
• Skills: Opportunity sourcing and scientific triage; business case/NPP development; deal structuring and negotiation; integration program management; senior stakeholder management; conflict resolution; data informed decision making. 
• Leadership: Inclusive, matrix-savvy leader with credibility among senior external partners; decisive, clear communicator; comfortable operating across global–regional–local interfaces. 

Date Posted

30-Jan-2026

Closing Date

22-Feb-2026

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.