Executive Director, Research – Integrative Sciences — Hematology-Oncology
Bristol Myers Squibb
Summary
The Executive Director is a senior leader within Integrative Sciences focused on hematology-oncology external innovation, and serves as a key interface across Global Research, Early Development, Business Development, Alliance Management, and external collaboration partners. The role is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and advancing high-value external scientific opportunities, collaborations, and assets in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Where appropriate the Executive Director will participate in Site Leadership teams. Where appropriate, the Executive Director may serve as a Board Observer, or in other relevant governance roles, for external hematology-oncology companies on behalf of BMS. This position sits within the BMS Research organization and reports to the U.S. Head of Integrative Sciences. Travel is approximately 30%, domestic and international. The preferred location is Cambridge, MA (CMX); remote arrangements will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Job description
Position Summary
The Executive Director is a senior leader within Integrative Sciences focused on hematology-oncology external innovation, and serves as a key interface across Global Research, Early Development, Business Development, Alliance Management, and external collaboration partners. The role is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and advancing high-value external scientific opportunities, collaborations, and assets in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Where appropriate the Executive Director will participate in Site Leadership teams. Where appropriate, the Executive Director may serve as a Board Observer, or in other relevant governance roles, for external hematology-oncology companies on behalf of BMS. This position sits within the BMS Research organization and reports to the U.S. Head of Integrative Sciences. Travel is approximately 30%, domestic and international. The preferred location is Cambridge, MA (CMX); remote arrangements will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy and Opportunity Triage
- Communicate internal Hematology-Oncology Research pipeline priorities to the Integrative Sciences group, and align external search, evaluation, and triage activities with BMS Research principles and the Enterprise Hematology-Oncology Therapeutic Area strategy.
- Lead the Hematology-Oncology triage process within Integrative Sciences, ensuring disciplined, criteria-driven evaluation of external opportunities.
- Identify, evaluate, and bring forward hematology-oncology opportunities — academic collaborations, biotech partnerships, platform technologies, and pre-IND or IND-stage assets — that add to or complement the internal pipeline.
- Form and lead cross-functional diligence teams for the evaluation of Integrative Sciences collaboration opportunities, and provide expert scientific opinion during Business Development reviews and due diligence.
- Partner with Search & Evaluation and Business Development transaction leads to advance prioritized opportunities on disciplined, accelerated timelines.
- Work with Research Finance to ensure activities are aligned, captured, and approved within Research budgets.
Collaboration Design and Execution
- Contribute to the design and execution of a blended external innovation strategy spanning corporate and academic collaborations.
- Shape opportunities into practical collaboration plans with clear scientific objectives, work plans, milestones, governance structures, decision points, and success measures.
- Advise on collaboration structures and contract development as the scientific lead, working closely with Business Development, transaction leads, Legal, and IP.
Governance, Representation, and Communication
- Serve on joint governance committees and oversight bodies established to coordinate agreed research plans with academic and industry partners, ensuring collaborations remain scientifically focused and operationally accountable.
- Represent Integrative Sciences, as appropriate, to other BMS organizations, regulatory agencies, investors, partners, and the broader scientific community.
- Communicate regularly to internal client and partner groups — and their leadership — on external research activities and progress.
- Compose progress reports and decision documentation for senior management, and deliver presentations and briefings on the scientific and organizational activities within the area of responsibility.
Leadership
Model scientific leadership, collaborative behavior, and an enterprise mindset across Research and Integrative Sciences, consistent with BMS values.
Qualifications
Required
- PhD or equivalent advanced scientific training in cancer biology, hematology, immuno-oncology, or a related discipline relevant to malignant diseases.
- 10+ years of drug discovery and/or early development experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, with deep, hands-on expertise in oncology and/or hematology.
- Strong understanding of hematologic malignancy and solid tumor biology, with the ability to assess external opportunities against BMS Research priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate external scientific opportunities, including academic collaborations, biotech partnerships, platform technologies, and pre-IND or IND-stage assets.
- Experience shaping external collaboration plans — scientific objectives, work plans, milestones, governance structures, decision points, and success measures — and negotiating them with external partners.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to represent Hematology-Oncology external innovation and the broader Integrative Sciences mission to internal and external stakeholders.
Preferred
- Track record of advancing therapeutic programs toward IND stage or beyond, with knowledge of the scientific, translational, and operational requirements for decision-ready programs.
- Experience working across Research, Early Development, Business Development, Alliance Management, Legal, IP, Finance, Thematic Research Centers, and Therapeutic Area leadership — or equivalent cross-functional structures — to support disciplined opportunity triage and execution.
- Strong capability in building productive relationships, setting clear expectations, and keeping collaboration structures scientifically focused and operationally accountable.
- Understanding of the financial, legal, contractual, and geographic considerations that affect external research collaborations, including non-U.S. partnerships.
Requirements
- PhD or equivalent advanced scientific training in cancer biology, hematology, immuno-oncology, or a related discipline relevant to malignant diseases.
- 10+ years of drug discovery and/or early development experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, with deep, hands-on expertise in oncology and/or hematology.
- Strong understanding of hematologic malignancy and solid tumor biology, with the ability to assess external opportunities against BMS Research priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate external scientific opportunities, including academic collaborations, biotech partnerships, platform technologies, and pre-IND or IND-stage assets.
- Experience shaping external collaboration plans — scientific objectives, work plans, milestones, governance structures, decision points, and success measures — and negotiating them with external partners.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to represent Hematology-Oncology external innovation and the broader Integrative Sciences mission to internal and external stakeholders.
Benefits
- Wellbeing Support
- Retirement Benefits
- Financial Protection Benefits
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Life & Disability Insurance
- Flexible Time Off
- 11 Paid Company Holidays
- Paid Sick Leave
- Volunteer Days
- Summer Hours Flexibility
- Leaves of Absence
- Global Shutdown
Company overview
Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. Founded in 1887 and headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, the company operates with a unique BioPharma strategy that combines the reach and resources of a major pharmaceutical company with the entrepreneurial spirit and agility of a biotech firm. BMS focuses on transformative therapies in key therapeutic areas including oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular disease, and fibrosis. The company has built a sustainable pipeline of potential therapies and leverages translational medicine and data analytics to deliver the right medicine to the right patient at the right time. With over 10,000 employees worldwide, Bristol Myers Squibb maintains a strong commitment to scientific excellence, patient-centric innovation, and global health equity through its foundation. The company's portfolio includes groundbreaking treatments such as Opdivo (nivolumab) for cancer, Eliquis (apixaban) for cardiovascular conditions, and Orencia (abatacept) for autoimmune diseases, among others.