licensing scouting associate director

POSITION SUMMARY / MISSION

We are seeking a strategic, scientifically driven, and business-savvy Associate Director, Licensing Scouting within Business Development & Licensing (BD&L). This role is critical in identifying and assessing external innovation opportunities that align with Almirall's global R&D and commercial objectives. The ideal candidate combines deep scientific understanding with business judgment and exceptional interpersonal skills to lead and influence cross-functional teams and build trusted relationships with external partners, driving strategic decisions that shape Almirall's future pipeline. The position reports directly to the Senior Director Licensing.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Scouting

• Lead systematic screening and scouting of biotech and pharma companies globally (excluding China) to identify actionable pre-clinical and clinical-stage opportunities

• Define and implement scouting strategy to ensure a proper and constant flow of opportunities.

• Maintain an up-to-date view of the pre-clinical & clinical landscape of external opportunities through frequent and systematic screenings in the areas of interest and proactively reach out to those targeted companies.

• Translate scientific insights into actionable opportunities and communicate strategic rationale to the other functions involved in project triage and maintain a portfolio of prioritized pre-clinical and clinical assets.

• Establish during initial interaction with external companies a potential path forward for collaboration by elaborating initial framing of the contemplated transaction and ensuring a high degree of actionability.

• Establish and maintain regular contacts and networking with external companies, BD professionals, VCs, academic centers/ innovation hubs and experts in the dermatology field.

• Represent Almirall in conventions and other industry gatherings, partnering meetings as well as in roadshows with a defined strategy to maximize identification and progression of opportunities.

Due Diligence and further

• Lead and coordinate the evaluation of identified assets through multidisciplinary teams and Due Diligence processes. Act as the primary driver of cross-functional alignment, ensuring scientific and commercial perspectives are integrated into decision-making (R&D, clinical, regulatory, IP, commercial, finance, etc.).

• Present and defend external opportunities for consideration and internal approvals. Prepare and present opportunity summaries and recommendation memos for internal governance committees

• Responsible for large numbers of complex decisions embedded in the collaborations, team alignment challenges and for escalating issues for discussion/decisions within the leadership team.

• As leader of Due Diligence, you will also be involved in transaction negotiation in collaboration with legal, finance, and senior BD leadership, to ensure key Due Diligence items are considered and covered in the contractual negotiation.

• Ensure seamless handoff and integration of licensed assets with internal project teams' post-deal.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced degree in life sciences (PhD, PharmD or MD). An MBA or equivalent business training is a plus.

• Significant experience in roles focused on investment, partnering or licensing is essential (ie. platform technology, research collaborations, early stage or late clinical stage assets).

• At least 10 years relevant pharma experience in connection with R&D, ideally in dermatology or immunology.

• Including at least 5 years of prior experience in scouting role (pharma, biotech or VC) and managing successfully large cross-functional due Diligence teams.

• VC or consulting background also considered a plus.

• Track record of successful experience in identifying projects and moving forward through Due Diligence.

• Demonstrated track record in evaluating and/or closing deals, collaborations, or strategic partnerships.

SKILLS & COMPETENCES

• Strategic mindset with the ability to connect scientific data with commercial implications and understand how the scientific hypothesis formulated by the companies can translate into competitive advantages in the future market environment.

• Strong knowledge in immune inflammation or autoimmune diseases, ideally in dermatology.

• Clear understanding of drug mechanisms of action and the scientific rationale around the targets.

• Exceptional ability to build trust and credibility with external partners and internal teams.

• Skilled at navigating ambiguity and driving clarity in complex, high-stakes evaluations.

• Ability to articulate scientific and business rationale clearly to diverse audiences, including executive committees. Understanding of the pharma market, commercial principles, and medical unmet needs. Recent experience in Dermatology is a strong plus, but not essential.

• Extensive network in the pharmaceutical, biotech, VC, scientific and academic community.

• Proficient level of English is a must; additional European languages are a plus.

• Comfortable working in a cross-cultural, global team environment.

• Willingness and ability to travel internationally.

Success in this role means:

• You consistently identify high-potential assets that align with Almirall's strategy.

• You lead due Diligence processes that result in well-documented, well-informed, high-quality investment decisions.

• You build strong relationships internally and externally, becoming a trusted advisor in BD&L.
  
   

Why work with Almirall?

We are a people-centric company where employees are at their best, patients and customer are at the heart of every decision, and our focus and agility allow us to deliver greater impact for all.

Additionally, for the 17th year in a row, we have been certified as Top Employer Spain, and also Top Employer Germany for the first time.

This strengthens our commitment to create a unique work environment that helps our employees to develop their skills to fullest and grow both professionally and as individuals.

We are delighted to have a great team that is proactive, innovative, and eager to transform the world of people with skin conditions.

We are proud of each one of our employees, their development, and growth: they are the success of the company.

Our purpose

"Transform the patients' world by helping them realize their hopes & dreams for a healthy life".

Our values

• Care: we listen & empathize, we value diverse perspectives & backgrounds and we help each other succeed.

• Courage: we challenge the status quo, we take full ownership and we learn from our success & failures.

• Innovation: we put the patient and customer at the center, we create novel solutions and we empower entrepreneurial mindsets.

• Simplicity: we act decisively and avoid over-analysis, we understand why before we act and we are agile & keep things simple.

At Almirall, it's all about people

#wearealmirall