Search and Evaluation Strategy Lead

About the role

As a senior leader in business development Search & Evaluation at Roche, you identify, evaluate and advance external innovation in Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases. You work across discovery research, clinical development, commercial and business development to find and assess therapeutic opportunities that could improve patient outcomes. The role is based in Basel.

Key responsibilities

• Drive external scouting strategies to source therapeutic assets, platform technologies and capabilities aligned with scientific priorities.
• Build and sustain relationships with biotechnology companies, academic institutions, venture investors and life-science hubs to capture opportunities early.
• Lead translational assessments of external innovations, covering differentiation, mechanism of action, data quality and strategic fit.
• Synthesize input from cross-functional scientific and commercial teams into clear, actionable progression recommendations.
• Partner with Business Development colleagues to guide high-priority opportunities through diligence and strategic deal workflows.
• Represent the organization at global scientific, partnering and medical conferences.
• Maintain opportunity documentation, landscape intelligence and decision records, and help evolve AI-enabled approaches to search, monitoring and evaluation.

Required profile

• Advanced degree (PhD, MD, PharmD or equivalent) in Life Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy or a closely related discipline.
• Proven scientific or clinical expertise in Neuroscience, Ophthalmology, Rare Diseases or adjacent areas, with the agility to master emerging fields.
• Substantial professional experience (typically 10+ years) in pharmaceutical/biotech R&D, clinical development, Search & Evaluation, licensing or venture investment.
• Ability to evaluate early-to-clinical stage data, identify key risks and frame recommendations under ambiguity.
• Track record of building relationships across external life-science ecosystems and leading cross-functional teams in a global matrix setting.
• Professional-level English, able to explain complex scientific assessments to technical and executive audiences.