Director, Business Development

Ceva Animal Health is a global leader in animal health, dedicated to researching, developing, producing, and supplying innovative health solutions for farm animals (poultry, pigs, ruminants), companion animals (dogs and cats), and wildlife. Our “Together, Beyond Animal Health” vision emphasizes the interconnected health and wellbeing of people, animals, and our planet, with a strong commitment to a "One Health" approach. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion, and are committed to employing people with disabilities, providing reasonable accommodations throughout the interview process.

About the role

The Director of Business Development drives the disciplined execution of Ceva’s North American external growth and external innovation deals from qualification through close. This role owns opportunities at the middle of the pipeline—converting strategic intent into signed, value-creating agreements—and leads complex, multi-stakeholder transactions including in-licensing, partnerships, distribution arrangements, and acquisitions. Reporting to the Strategic Alliances VP, the Director serves as the connective tissue between early-stage opportunity identification and operational integration, ensuring deals are structured, negotiated, contracted, and transitioned with rigor and speed.

Responsibilities

• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to source and assess potential opportunities, supporting critical or major projects as needed.
• Own opportunities from mid-funnel through signature, advancing diligence, structuring terms, driving negotiations, and securing internal approvals to close deals on target timelines.
• Manage a portfolio of active opportunities, removing bottlenecks and maintaining momentum to prevent stalls.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (Finance, Legal, Regulatory, R&D, Marketing, Supply Chain) to align stakeholders and resolve competing priorities.
• Partner with Finance to build and validate deal models, valuation assumptions, and business cases; structure terms with Legal to protect Ceva’s interests.
• Lead or co-lead commercial and contractual negotiations with partners, balancing speed and deal certainty with long-term value protection.
• Prepare and present opportunity reviews, deal recommendations, and approval materials to North American and Global leadership, including investment committee submissions.
• Ensure a clean handoff of closed deals to commercial, operational, R&D, and integration teams with clear documentation of terms and commitments.
• Maintain awareness of the competitive, regulatory, and partnering landscape to inform deal strategy and sourcing.
• Provide accurate, timely visibility into deal status, risks, and probability to leadership.

Core Competencies

• Shape solutions out of complexity
• Client focus
• Collaborate with empathy
• Engage and develop
• Drive ambition and accountability
• Influence others

Technical Competencies

• Deal structuring, valuation, and financial modeling (DCF, NPV, scenario analysis)
• Contract and commercial negotiation
• Due diligence management across functions
• Knowledge of animal health, pharmaceutical, or life sciences markets and partnering dynamics
• Understanding of regulatory, IP, and supply considerations relevant to product and portfolio transactions
• Project and stakeholder management across complex, time-sensitive workstreams
• Executive-level communication and presentation

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, life sciences, finance, or a related field required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in business development, corporate development, transactions, strategic marketing, or commercial roles, with a demonstrated record of closing deals.
• Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional transactions from diligence through close.
• Animal health, pharmaceutical, biotech, or related industry experience strongly preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to talk and hear.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing and handling.
• Ability to sit for extended periods, stand, and walk to different areas of the site.
• Close vision required for monitor use.

Working Conditions

• Standard office environment.
• Hybrid work arrangements may apply consistent with Ceva policy.

Travel Requirements

Overnight travel required, including some international; approximately 30–40% to support partner meetings, diligence, and negotiations.