Senior Director, Head of Search & Evaluation

The Opportunity:

The Senior Director, Head of Search & Evaluation is a senior leader within the Business Development organization responsible for identifying, assessing, and advancing external innovation opportunities that support Revolution Medicines' portfolio strategy and long-term growth objectives.

Working in close partnership with leaders across Research, Development, Commercial, Corporate Strategy, Portfolio Management, and Executive Management, this individual will lead the company's search and evaluation activities across discovery and clinical-stage opportunities. The role is accountable for developing and maintaining a robust pipeline of external opportunities, driving rigorous opportunity assessments, and providing strategic recommendations that inform portfolio and partnering decisions.

The successful candidate will combine deep scientific and business acumen with strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills. This individual will serve as a key connector across the organization, ensuring that external innovation efforts are aligned with corporate strategy, therapeutic area priorities, and emerging opportunities in precision oncology and related fields.

Required Skills, Experience and Education: 

External Innovation Strategy and Opportunity Identification

• Lead the company's search and evaluation of external innovation in partnership with senior cross-functional stakeholders.

• Develop and execute search strategies that align with Revolution Medicines' research, development, and commercial priorities.

• Oversee all discovery- and clinical-stage search and evaluation activities, ensuring a robust pipeline of external opportunities aligned with portfolio priorities.

• Drive proactive opportunity sourcing through engagement with biotechnology companies, academic institutions, investors, entrepreneurs, and other innovation ecosystems.

• Partner with Portfolio Management, Disease Strategy, Research, and Development leaders to identify areas where external innovation can create strategic value and enhance portfolio competitiveness.

• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of relevant scientific, clinical, and competitive landscapes to identify emerging opportunities and trends.

Opportunity Assessment and Diligence Leadership

• Lead cross-functional diligence and opportunity assessments, integrating scientific, clinical, commercial, strategic, operational, and financial perspectives into executive recommendations.

• Establish clear evaluation frameworks and decision criteria that support consistent and rigorous assessment of external opportunities.

• Coordinate diligence activities across Research, Clinical Development, Regulatory, Commercial, Finance, Intellectual Property, Legal, and other functions.

• Ensure key risks, opportunities, and strategic considerations are thoroughly evaluated and clearly communicated to decision-makers.

• Develop balanced recommendations regarding prioritization, resource allocation, and partnership strategy.

Portfolio and Governance Leadership

• Establish and maintain scalable frameworks for opportunity evaluation, diligence governance, prioritization, and decision-making.

• Drive opportunities through evaluation and governance processes, ensuring efficient review, transparency, and organizational alignment.

• Prepare and present opportunity assessments, landscape analyses, strategic recommendations, and diligence findings to senior leadership and governance committees.

• Partner with Portfolio Management and Business Development leadership to align external innovation activities with evolving corporate priorities.

• Support portfolio planning efforts through identification and assessment of external opportunities that address strategic gaps or accelerate growth objectives.

Partnership with Transactions & Partnering

• Partner closely with the Head of Transactions & Partnering to advance prioritized opportunities through transaction execution and negotiation.

• Ensure key diligence findings, strategic considerations, and identified risks are effectively incorporated into transaction strategy and deal structuring.

• Support negotiation preparation and executive decision-making by providing scientific, clinical, commercial, and strategic context for opportunities under consideration.

• Facilitate seamless transition of opportunities from evaluation through transaction execution.

Organizational Leadership

• Build and lead a high-performing Search & Evaluation organization capable of supporting the company's evolving business development objectives.

• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain exceptional talent.

• Foster a culture of scientific rigor, strategic thinking, collaboration, and accountability.

• Develop processes, tools, and best practices that enhance organizational effectiveness and scalability.

External Relationship Management

• Build and maintain senior-level relationships across the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, academic, and investment communities to advance the company's partnering objectives and long-term growth strategy.

• Represent Revolution Medicines at scientific meetings, partnering conferences, investor events, and other external forums.

• Cultivate a broad network of external relationships that supports opportunity sourcing, intelligence gathering, and strategic collaboration.

Preferred Skills:

• Advanced scientific degree (PhD, MD, PharmD, or equivalent) in a relevant life sciences discipline strongly preferred; MBA or other business training is a plus.

• 12+ years of experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, business development, corporate strategy, research, venture investing, consulting, or related disciplines.

• Significant experience evaluating external innovation opportunities across discovery and clinical-stage development.

• Deep understanding of oncology drug development, precision medicine, translational science, and the biopharmaceutical development process.

• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional diligence efforts and developing recommendations for senior leadership.

• Strong strategic thinking and ability to connect scientific innovation with portfolio and business objectives.

• Experience leading highly matrixed teams and influencing stakeholders across multiple functions and organizational levels.

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and executive influencing skills.

• Proven ability to synthesize complex scientific, clinical, commercial, and financial information into actionable recommendations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in precision oncology, targeted therapeutics, or related therapeutic areas.

• Prior leadership experience within business development, search and evaluation, corporate strategy, portfolio strategy, or external innovation functions.

• Experience working in both large pharmaceutical and biotechnology environments.

• Established network across biotechnology, pharmaceutical, venture capital, and academic communities.

• Experience building or scaling search and evaluation capabilities within a growing organization.

• Demonstrated success influencing portfolio strategy and external innovation priorities.

Leadership Competencies

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Scientific and strategic leadership.

• Enterprise thinking and business acumen.

• Sound judgment and decision-making.

• Influence and collaboration across matrixed organizations.

• Talent development and organizational leadership.

• Intellectual curiosity and external orientation.

• Executive communication and presentation skills.

• Commitment to Revolution Medicines' mission and value.

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