Corporate Development Lead, Life Sciences
San Francisco, CA
Posted 9d ago
About the job
Anthropic is seeking an experienced Corporate Development leader to drive strategic transactions in life sciences and biotech. This role will focus on sourcing and executing acquisitions, investments, and strategic partnerships with AI-native life sciences companies. You will partner directly with Anthropic's leadership, research, and product teams to shape our strategy in the sector, grounded in Anthropic's strategic priorities. The ideal candidate will combine deep life sciences domain knowledge with technical fluency in AI and a proven track record of closing complex transactions, understanding R&D, clinical, and regulatory workflows, and assessing targets rigorously. You will join us in shaping how AI accelerates science and medicine while ensuring it remains safe and beneficial for humanity.
Responsibilities
- Define and execute Anthropic's corporate development strategy in life sciences, including acquihires, acquisitions, investments, and partnerships.
- Build and maintain a target pipeline of AI-native companies in drug discovery, clinical development, regulatory affairs, and healthcare data infrastructure.
- Lead end-to-end transaction processes from sourcing through diligence, negotiation, signing, and integration.
- Assess the technical, scientific, and commercial value of opportunities in partnership with research, product, and engineering teams.
- Conduct sector-specific diligence, including scientific and data validation, regulatory compliance (FDA, EMA, GxP, 21 CFR Part 11), data privacy (HIPAA, GDPR), quality systems, and IP.
- Evaluate build/partner/buy tradeoffs and competitive dynamics.
- Structure and negotiate complex deals, including earnouts and milestone-based consideration.
- Build financial models and valuation analyses for life sciences businesses.
- Drive post-transaction integration, focusing on talent retention and customer commitments.
- Build relationships with founders, VCs, corporate development teams, and academic institutions.
- Present strategic recommendations to executive leadership and the board.
- Support partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, CROs, and research organizations.
Requirements
- Led complex M&A, investment, or partnership transactions from sourcing through close.
- Understand the drug development lifecycle from discovery through commercialization.
- Possess strong technical fluency in AI and software.
- Demonstrate strong analytical and financial modeling skills.
- Engage credibly with scientists, engineers, executives, and regulators.
- Comfortable in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with competing priorities.
- Communicate clearly and influence at all levels.
- Deep interest in AI safety and Anthropic's mission.