Director / Senior Director, Corporate Development & Strategy

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals is a leading global gastrointestinal (GI) healthcare company on a mission to advance the treatment of GI diseases and redefine the standard of care for GI patients. We are pioneers in the development of LINZESS® (linaclotide), the U.S. branded prescription market leader for adults with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation or chronic idiopathic constipation. Ironwood is also advancing apraglutide, a next-generation, long-acting synthetic GLP-2 analog being developed for rare gastrointestinal diseases, including short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure, as well as several earlier stage assets. Building upon our history of GI innovation, we keep patients at the heart of our R&D and commercialization efforts to reduce the burden of GI diseases and address significant unmet needs. 

Corporate Development & Strategy provides the opportunity to create significant value for Ironwood.  The team shapes Ironwood’s corporate and portfolio strategy and leads business development to strengthen our pipeline, with a focus on GI and rare diseases. To support the next phase of Ironwood’s growth and value creation, we are hiring a Director / Senior Director to drive work across the full scope of the function - from strategic planning, portfolio prioritization, and competitive intelligence to the evaluation and execution of external opportunities. The role is highly collaborative, partnering with teams across Ironwood to develop recommendations and build internal support. 

This role will report to the Chief Strategy Officer.  

Responsibilities: 

Corporate Strategy

• Lead and support Ironwood’s annual strategic planning process, including portfolio and external opportunity assessment and prioritization
• Develop strategic analyses and recommendations on key corporate questions (e.g., capital allocation, portfolio strategy, and long-range planning) for senior management and the Board of Directors
• Build and maintain competitive intelligence and market landscape assessments across GI and rare diseases to inform strategic and business development priorities
• Partner with Finance, R&D, Commercial, and Investor Relations to translate strategy into operating plans and external communications

Corporate Development

• Lead or support out-licensing and partnership efforts for select rights to Ironwood’s internal assets
• Identify potential product acquisition / in-licensing opportunities that meet Ironwood’s strategic objectives
• Develop key criteria for stage-gated evaluation of each potential opportunity in order to make go/no-go decisions with minimal internal and external investment
• Lead or support broad, cross-functional teams to analyze opportunities and make recommendations to Ironwood leadership
• Develop the business case for a given transaction integrating and summarizing scientific, clinical, financial, and market information
• Lead or support deal workstreams and support the negotiation and execution of transactions consistent with business cases and Ironwood’s strategic objectives
• Negotiate amendments to agreements with current Ironwood alliance partners as required to align with evolving business needs

Qualifications:

• BA/BS or equivalent required; MBA preferred
• 8+ years (Director) or 10+ years (Senior Director) of relevant business experience in the biotech and/or pharmaceutical industry, including experience in corporate development, corporate strategy, investment banking, and/or management consulting
• Demonstrated track record of success in negotiating and executing partnership / licensing / acquisition deals in pharma and/or biotech
• Demonstrated experience leading strategic analyses (e.g., market assessments, portfolio prioritization, long-range planning) and presenting recommendations to senior leadership
• Ability to identify and prioritize opportunities, evaluate risks, develop a business case and effectively frame decisions for the corporate development and strategy team as well as senior leadership
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport with therapeutic and functional area leaders and to effectively lead cross-functional teams
• Strong analytical skills, including financial modeling and valuation 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong relationship management skills 
• Desire to be part of a team and demonstrated success in a highly collaborative environment 
• Experience in GI and/or rare disease therapeutic areas desired
• Experience supporting Board materials, investor communications, or corporate strategic planning processes
• High degree of professionalism and confidentiality, with an ability to handle sensitive information responsibly
• Valid passport and ability to travel domestically and internationally 10-20%

Ironwood is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Ironwood currently anticipates that the initial base salary for this position could range from between $215,000- $330,000. The actual base salary will depend, in part, on the successful candidate’s qualifications for the role, including education and experience.  Ironwood offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits program to eligible employees, including Restricted Stock Unit awards; eligibility to participate in either a bonus or sales incentive program; company-sponsored 401(k) with matching contributions; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; wellness stipends; and a generous vacation/holiday schedule.