Director – Business Development and Alliance Management

Director – Business Development & Alliance Management – China – Shanghai – Remote

Location: China – Shanghai preferred; other major Chinese biopharmaceutical hubs considered for exceptional candidates

Geographic Scope: China, with periodic international travel including to Pharmanovia’s UK headquarters

About the Company

Pharmanovia is a dynamic, fast-growing international speciality pharmaceutical company with a portfolio of over 20 brands across more than 160 markets. Our mission is to improve patient health globally by revitalising niche, tried-and-trusted medicines. Since our inception in 2013, we have grown consistently, focusing on delivering high-quality branded prescription medicines to patients, prescribers and healthcare providers around the world. Our people are at the heart of our business, with more than 300 employees representing 29 nationalities across our international offices. We are an agile, committed and innovative global speciality pharma business and a preferred partner for innovator pharma companies looking to bring speciality medicines to patients. Our therapeutic areas include Oncology, Neurology, Endocrinology and Cardiovascular.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Director – Business Development & Alliance Management to join our Corporate Development team and play a highly visible role in expanding Pharmanovia’s presence and partnerships across China. Reporting to the Chief Corporate Development Officer, you will be Pharmanovia’s senior representative on the ground in China, combining two critical responsibilities: originating new business development opportunities and ensuring the success of our existing strategic alliances. You will build a strong network across China’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem, identify innovative and late-stage assets aligned with Pharmanovia’s strategy, and originate and support new licensing and strategic partnership opportunities. Oncology will be a particular area of focus. At the same time, you will act as a senior local partner to our existing Chinese alliances, helping ensure that agreements translate into successful, sustainable partnerships. You will work across Pharmanovia and partner organisations to resolve issues, maintain alignment, deliver contractual commitments and identify opportunities to expand successful relationships. This is a highly autonomous role requiring strong commercial judgement, relationship-building capability, diplomacy, and the confidence to represent Pharmanovia to senior executives, founders, investors, advisors, and other external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Originate new business development opportunities across China, building Pharmanovia’s profile as a trusted international partner within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem.
• Develop and maintain a high-quality network across the Chinese pharma and biotech sectors, including pharmaceutical companies, emerging innovators, investors, advisors, and other relevant industry stakeholders.
• Build a particularly strong network across China’s oncology ecosystem, identifying leading companies, emerging innovators and relevant late-stage opportunities.
• Identify, assess, and prioritise innovative, late-stage pharmaceutical assets aligned with Pharmanovia’s strategic priorities and suitable for European and international commercialisation.
• Originate proprietary licensing and strategic partnership opportunities, developing relationships with potential partners well ahead of formal transaction processes.
• Lead initial opportunity assessment and triage, working with the global Corporate Development team to evaluate strategic fit, actionability and investment potential.
• Support licensing and partnership transactions throughout the deal lifecycle, including sourcing, evaluation, due diligence, structuring, negotiation, execution and implementation.
• Provide China market intelligence and strategic insight, including information on companies, assets, competitive processes, clinical developments, regulatory developments and partnering activity.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the Chinese oncology pipeline and competitive landscape, identifying emerging opportunities and relevant market developments.
• Represent Pharmanovia at industry meetings, conferences and partnering events across China and the wider region, supporting the company’s profile and business development objectives.
• Act as a senior local point of contact for existing Chinese strategic partners, building trusted, long-term relationships with partner management teams.
• Support the transition of newly signed transactions from deal execution through onboarding and into long-term alliance management, ensuring a smooth handover and clear accountability.
• Ensure contractual commitments, governance requirements, information flows and key milestones are understood and delivered across Pharmanovia and partner organisations.
• Coordinate cross-functionally with Regulatory, Medical, Commercial, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal and other teams to support effective partnership execution.
• Act as the bridge between Pharmanovia and its partners, understanding different priorities and translating them into practical solutions and mutually understood actions.
• Proactively identify and resolve partnership risks and issues, using sound judgement and diplomacy to address challenges before they become significant business problems.
• Manage complex or sensitive partner discussions, protecting Pharmanovia’s commercial interests while maintaining strong, constructive, long-term relationships.
• Support Joint Steering Committees and formal partnership governance by tracking contractual obligations, milestones, deliverables, and escalation points.
• Identify opportunities to expand successful partnerships, including additional products, territories and alternative forms of collaboration.
• Provide senior management with clear local intelligence and recommendations to support informed decisions on opportunities, partnerships, negotiations, and China strategy.

Qualifications

• 8+ years’ experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology Business Development, licensing, Alliance Management or a closely related role.
• Strong experience working within the Chinese pharmaceutical and biotechnology ecosystem, with a well-established industry network.
• Demonstrable track record of business development and deal origination, including identifying opportunities and developing relationships with potential partners.
• Proven licensing transaction experience, with an understanding of the complete transaction lifecycle, from sourcing and due diligence through negotiation, execution, and implementation.
• Fluent in Mandarin and English, both written and spoken, with the ability to communicate effectively across Chinese and international organisations.
• Established senior-level relationships across the Chinese pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, including companies, innovators, investors, advisors or other relevant stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical development, licensing and partnering, including relevant regulatory, commercial, intellectual property and financial considerations.
• Strong commercial instincts and strategic judgement, with the ability to identify attractive assets and distinguish high-potential partnering opportunities.
• Experience with innovative and speciality pharmaceutical products, ideally within areas relevant to Pharmanovia’s portfolio.
• Strong oncology experience and understanding of oncology drug development, including relevant clinical and commercial considerations.
• Proven ability to build and manage senior external relationships, including relationships with founders, CEOs, senior executives and advisors.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills

Pay range and compensation package

We offer a competitive salary plus a bonus and rewards package, including holidays, employee recognition awards, social events, and hybrid working.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Pharmanovia is an equal-opportunity employer. Pharmanovia does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants for employment based on an individual’s race, colour, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, marital status or any other status protected by applicable law. This policy applies to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, compensation, promotion, discipline, and termination. Pharmanovia will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.