Principal - Novartis Venture Fund

Job Description Summary

Location:

Cambridge, USA

Relocation Support:
This role is based in Cambridge, USA. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.

At Novartis Venture Fund (NVF), we invest in bold ideas that have the potential to transform the future of medicine. The Principal, Novartis Venture Fund will report to a Managing Director and is a key team member whose primary initial role will be to collaborate with, and support senior members of the NVF team.

NVF is focused on investing in biotherapeutics. Its primary mandate is to optimize financial returns and has done so historically by focusing on innovative companies seeking to develop products that may be paradigm changing in areas of high‑unmet need.

The Principal will be expected to operate successfully in a start‑up environment. The position will frequently interact with our external stakeholders in industry and venture capital, as well as internal colleague stakeholders in the Novartis Group. The position will be based in Cambridge and will require some travel.

• Assist NVF Managing Directors and other colleagues in all stages of scientific and business due diligence including specific scientific due diligence, investment specific diligence, market analysis and financial modelling, and conducting primary and secondary research.
• Assist in all stages of due diligence in partnership with the NVF team.
• Review and evaluate new business plans, scientific publications and data derived by potential portfolio companies.
• Source new investment opportunities through analysis of scientific and market opportunities and identify appropriate targets, attend industry events (such as conferences), and contact and build relationships with key academics, executives, entrepreneurs, and other investors.
• Key role in deal and pipeline management including deal review and tracking, deal meetings, etc.
• Prepare and maintain internal documentation on potential investments/portfolio companies, including investment memos and financial analyses.
• Create presentations and build financial models to support new and ongoing investments.
• Be actively involved in portfolio management and fund strategy.
• Support existing portfolio company investments by coordinating interactions with the NVF fund and other parts of Novartis AG (Development and   in particular) from time to time.
• Support senior NVF leadership and mentor junior team members.
• Perform other tasks as necessary to support the team.

• Ph.D. in Natural Sciences or M.D.
• 5+ years of experience in biotech investing and related experience.
• Strong scientific background, excellent understanding of the life science market and the pharma world as well as medical needs and emerging science and technology trends.
• Familiar with scientific due diligence processes.
• Familiar with and exposure to biotech company board meetings, management and governance.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective in an international high-performance environment.
• Ability to prioritize, coordinate and manage several projects simultaneously.
• Proactive, hands‑on and entrepreneurial individual with a great passion for research, analysis and investments.
• Strong strategic orientation with good analytical and conceptual ability and a tendency to think beyond one's own area of expertise.
• Fluent in English (oral and written).

• Experience serving as a board observer or working closely with biotechnology company boards.
• Established network within the biotechnology, venture capital, and life sciences innovation ecosystem.

Salary Range: $ – $ USD per year.

US‑based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package and a generous time‑off package, including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e‑mail to us.reasonab or call +1(877)395‑2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Please include the job requisition number in your message.

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.