Use Your Power for Purpose
This role provides leadership for business development-related evaluations, with a particular emphasis on those in research and early clinical development. The position is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and facilitating the securing of drug candidates, technologies, and collaborations that accelerate research and early clinical development in alignment with the strategies of the four therapeutic areas. It also partners with the Discovery Network to champion the evaluation of artificial intelligence, computational technologies, and discovery technologies to enhance the work of Preclinical & Translational Sciences (P&TS) across modalities.
What You Will Achieve
In this role, you will:
- Serve as a strategic advisor to P&TS and Business Development leadership, shaping the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of high-impact external innovation and partnering opportunities that strengthen the research and early clinical pipeline and advance long-term portfolio objectives.
- Lead cross-functional strategic assessments of molecule-based opportunities, partnering with P&TS leadership, diligence teams, and Business Development to evaluate scientific, technical, and portfolio fit. Influence investment and partnership decisions through clear articulation of the strategic value, competitive advantage, and potential patient impact of external opportunities.
- Provide enterprise-level leadership in the evaluation of emerging technology platforms and capabilities, collaborating with P&TS leaders, Discovery Network stakeholders, and Business Development to assess opportunities across modalities and ensure alignment with future scientific and business strategies.
- Influence portfolio strategy and resource allocation decisions by advising senior leaders on the prioritization of internal and external preclinical and early clinical investments, balancing scientific opportunity, organizational capabilities, and business objectives.
- Drive strategic alignment across P&TS, fostering connectivity among senior leaders, therapeutic area teams, and functional partners to anticipate emerging scientific trends, align priorities, and inform portfolio and innovation strategies.
- Direct competitive landscape and scientific intelligence efforts, synthesizing external insights, market dynamics, and emerging science into actionable recommendations that guide portfolio strategy, diligence activities, and research investment decisions.
- Champion transformative innovation across P&TS, partnering with Discovery Network and functional leaders to identify, evaluate, and advance disruptive experimental, digital, AI-enabled, and computational approaches that accelerate discovery and early clinical development across existing and emerging modalities.
- Shape organizational culture and operating excellence within P&TS, fostering a high-performing environment characterized by collaboration, transparency, strategic thinking, and accountability while promoting alignment around enterprise priorities and portfolio vision.
Requirements
- PhD, MD-PhD, or PharmD with 12+ years of industry experience in research within one or more of Oncology, Immunology, or Metabolic Disease.
- Experience (5+ years) leading pre-clinical research teams to deliver multiple drug candidates (either small or large molecules) through both candidate nomination and IND filing.
- Experience with identifying and evaluating drug candidates to support business development.
- Experience with multiple internal/external partnerships in a biopharmaceutical environment.
- Current knowledge of trends in both drug discovery and translational development. Strong familiarity with the applicability of computational technologies to modern drug research & development.
- A proactive and strategic thinker, with strong data-driven decision-making skills
- Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills
- Highly collaborative with outstanding relationship building skills with both internal company leadership and external development partners.
- Has a global perspective and mindset, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and geographies.
- Capacity to adapt to a fast-paced and changing environment.
- Demonstrates a passion for both science and its application to help patients.
Organizational Relationships:
- Key point of contact for BD, P&TS Scientific Affairs & Strategy Lead, and P&TS due diligence teams as it relates to both drug candidate-based in-licensing and related partnering activities.
- Key collaborator for the Discovery Network as it relates to identification and evaluation of innovative approaches in research & early clinical development, including both lab-based and computational technologies.
- Coordinates with Scientific Operations team and key partners across P&TS to drive a clear and consistent communication rhythm of the Pfizer research and early clinical portfolio across therapeutic areas.
- Aligns with group leads of P&TS leadership and their direct reports on identifying opportunities for where external innovation can contribute to the development of Pfizer’s research & early clinical portfolio, including for alternative modalities.
Preferred Requirements
- Experience working in a global or multinational organization biopharma
- Deep knowledge of therapeutic areas relevant to Pfizer's portfolio
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills
- High level of emotional intelligence and adaptability
- Strong leadership and team management capabilities
- Experience using common AI tools, including generative technologies such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, to support problem solving and enhance productivity. Demonstrated curiosity for exploring how these tools can improve outcomes and understanding of responsible AI practices, including risk management and ethical use
Candidate demonstrates a breadth of diverse leadership experiences and capabilities including: the ability to influence and collaborate with peers, develop and coach others, oversee and guide the work of other colleagues to achieve meaningful outcomes and create business impact.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
Travel up to 20%
Relocation support available
Work Location Assignment: This is a hybrid role requiring you to live within commuting distance and work on-site an average of 2.5 days per week or more as needed.
#LI-PFE
The annual base salary for this position ranges from $214,900.00 to $358,100.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 22.5% of the base salary and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life’s moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site – U.S. Benefits | (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States. This role is posted in multiple locations. If you are applying for the role in an secondary job posting location where pay transparency regulations apply, your Talent Advisor will share the local pay information with you during the first interview.Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.
Candidates must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. by any employer.
U.S. work visa sponsorship (such as TN, O-1, H-1B, etc.) is not available for this role now or in the future.
Sunshine Act
Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.
EEO & Employment Eligibility
Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer. This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.
Pfizer endeavors to make www.pfizer.com/careers accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process and/or interviewing, please email [email protected]. This is to be used solely for accommodation requests with respect to the accessibility of our website, online application process and/or interviewing. Requests for any other reason will not be returned.
To learn more about acceptable and prohibited uses of AI during the recruitment process, please review our candidate AI-use guidelines available on Pfizer Careers.
Bus Dev & Strategic PlanningSkills Required
- PhD, MD-PhD, or PharmD with 12+ years of industry research experience in Oncology, Immunology, or Metabolic Disease
- 5+ years leading preclinical research teams delivering multiple drug candidates through candidate nomination and IND filing
- Experience identifying and evaluating drug candidates to support business development
- Experience managing multiple internal/external partnerships in a biopharmaceutical environment
- Current knowledge of trends in drug discovery and translational development
- Strong familiarity with applicability of computational technologies and AI to drug R&D
- Proactive strategic thinker with strong data-driven decision-making skills
- Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills
- Highly collaborative with outstanding relationship building skills internally and with external partners
- Global perspective and ability to work effectively across diverse cultures and geographies
- Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and changing environment
- Demonstrated passion for science and its application to help patients
- Experience working in a global or multinational biopharma organization
- Deep knowledge of therapeutic areas relevant to Pfizer's portfolio
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously
- High emotional intelligence, adaptability, and strong leadership/team management capabilities
- Experience using common AI tools, including generative technologies such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, and understanding of responsible AI practices
What the Team is Saying
Pfizer Compensation & Benefits Highlights
-
Healthcare Strength — Multiple U.S. medical plan options include telehealth, comprehensive mental‑health support, fertility/family‑building benefits, transgender‑inclusive coverage, and certain Pfizer medications at no cost. A Wellbeing Wallet and wellness resources broaden the health and wellbeing offering.
-
Retirement Support — A 401(k) with company matching is paired with an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, alongside company‑paid life and disability insurance. One‑on‑one financial planning support is provided through Fidelity.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off spans vacation, holidays, and personal days, with additional caregiver and medical leave. U.S. parental leave commonly includes 12 weeks paid with options for additional unpaid bonding time and a return‑to‑work transition.
Pfizer Insights
What We Do
Our purpose ensures that patients remain at the center of all we do. We live our purpose by sourcing the best science in the world; partnering with others in the healthcare system to improve access to our medicines; using digital technologies to enhance our drug discovery and development, as well as patient outcomes; and leading the conversation to advocate for pro-innovation/pro-patient policies.
Why Work With Us
We are the inventors, the problem solvers, the big thinkers — those who surmount any hurdle to deliver breakthrough medicines to the people who are counting on them the most.
Gallery
Pfizer Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
