Senior Director, Immunology Early Development Strategy & Innovation

About This Role

The Senior Director, Immunology Early Development Strategy & External Innovation, is a senior scientific and development leader within the Immunology Development Unit, reporting directly to the Vice President, Head of Immunology Early Development Innovation and Strategy. The role serves as a close strategic partner and delegate to the Vice President, with accountability for a Immunology portfolio priorities spanning research-to-development transitions, early clinical development strategy, external innovation, and business development and venture investing assessments.

This leader will connect scientific insight, clinical development judgment, and enterprise strategy to help Biogen identify, shape, and advance differentiated opportunities for patients with immune-mediated diseases. The position is designed for an accomplished bridge builder who earns trust through expertise, judgment, clarity, and follow-through. Success will depend on the ability to align stakeholders, frame consequential choices, and enable cross-functional teams toward high-quality decisions and execution.

The role will work closely with Research, Biomarkers, Clinical Pharmacology, Regulatory, Biostatistics, Clinical Operations, Product Development & Commercialization, Global Commercial, Corporate Strategy, Business Development and External Innovation, and partner companies. Depending on portfolio needs, the Executive Director may lead selected programs or strategic initiatives from preclinical development through proof of biology or proof of concept and contribute to later-stage development planning.

Act as a senior advisor and delegate of the Head of Immunology Early Development Innovation and Strategy, helping shape and execute key portfolio, organizational, and external priorities in Immunology. Lead the strategy for critical research-to-development transitions, early development planning, and portfolio decisions across selected Immunology programs. Serve as the delegated clinical development leader for select programs and portfolio initiatives to accelerate value creation.

Drive evaluation of external opportunities for the Immunology Development Unit, integrating scientific, clinical, strategic, and commercial perspectives into meaningful clinical development plans. Develop evidence-based recommendations for governance and investment decisions, helping senior leaders navigate uncertainty and complexity. Foster productive collaborations across Research, Development, Commercial, Corporate Strategy, Business Development, and external partners. Influence and align cross-functional stakeholders to translate strategy into decisive action and execution.

Mentor colleagues and strengthen organizational capability through thought partnership, coaching, and leadership. Ensure all activities are conducted in accordance with applicable regulatory, quality, ethical, and compliance standards.

You are a highly credible scientific and drug development leader who can move comfortably between deep scientific discussions on targets and biology, to clinical strategy across indications to portfolio choices and decision-making. You listen carefully, synthesize complex information quickly, and bring structure to uncertain or contested situations. Colleagues seek your perspective because your recommendations are rigorous, balanced, pragmatic, and clear. You create momentum by building shared understanding and commitment across organizational boundaries, not by relying on positional authority.

• MD, MD/PhD, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent doctoral degree in a relevant biomedical discipline.
• At least 15 years in pharmaceutical or biotechnology drug development, with progressive leadership responsibilities in research, pharmacology, clinical development, portfolio strategy, or external innovation.
• Expertise in immunology and immune-mediated diseases, with experience spanning one or more areas such as rheumatology, dermatology, gastroenterology, allergy, inflammation, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience with multiple therapeutic modalities and driving through key development milestones.
• Demonstrated success bridging discovery and translational science to clinical development, including leadership of research-to-development transitions and early development strategies through key value-inflection milestones.
• Experience evaluating external opportunities, including business development, licensing, partnerships, venture…