Early Brand Transition Head, Oncology

The Position

Shape the transition from promising oncology science to a future global brand.

As Early Brand Transition Head, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Boehringer Ingelheim’s oncology portfolio by building a strong bridge between the Innovation Unit and the Human Pharma Business Unit. Working with innovative oncology assets before and through Proof of Concept, you will establish the strategic, clinical, commercial, access, and value foundations required to prepare the path toward Release of Full Development and a successful transition into Early Brand leadership.

This is a unique opportunity to influence critical asset and portfolio decisions at a formative stage, connect breakthrough science with patient and market needs, and contribute to our purpose of bringing unprecedented impact to people facing cancer, now and for generations to come.

Tasks & responsibilities

• In this role, you will serve as the primary Business Unit partner to the Innovation Unit for selected early oncology assets, creating a strong connection between scientific innovation, clinical development, and future commercialization.
• You will lead the development of an integrated early asset strategy that articulates the future opportunity, target patient populations, potential positioning, strategic differentiation, and critical value drivers before and through Proof of Concept.
• Working across Research, Medicine, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Market Access, Commercial, and regional and country organizations, you will align relevant stakeholders around a shared asset ambition and a coherent roadmap toward Release of Full Development.
• You will initiate and guide the development of the early Target Product Profile, value proposition, evidence-generation priorities, market access considerations, and future commercialization hypotheses, ensuring that these are informed by evolving science, clinical evidence, unmet patient needs, and the external oncology landscape.
• You will identify the strategic questions, evidence gaps, opportunities, and risks that must be addressed to strengthen the asset’s value proposition and support informed portfolio and investment decisions.
• You will provide a strong Business Unit perspective within relevant asset and governance discussions, translating complex scientific and clinical information into actionable strategic choices while maintaining scientific independence, integrity, and compliance.
• You will engage with external experts, investigators, healthcare professionals, patient organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to deepen understanding of the evolving treatment landscape and inform the asset’s future development and value strategy.
• You will prepare and enable a seamless transition from the early asset phase into Early Brand leadership, ensuring continuity of strategic intent, critical knowledge, stakeholder relationships, and organizational readiness on the path toward Release of Full Development.
• Depending on portfolio priorities, you may support more than one early oncology asset or contribute to cross-asset and franchise-level strategic questions, helping identify synergies and opportunities across the broader Oncology portfolio.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in Medicine, Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Business Administration, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Proven and substantial experience in Oncology is required, together with a strong understanding of oncology drug development, treatment landscapes, patient segmentation, evidence generation, and the factors that shape future clinical and commercial value.
• Strong experience in Immuno-Oncology is highly preferred, including familiarity with innovative mechanisms of action, biomarker strategies, combination approaches, and evolving treatment paradigms.
• Broad industry experience across one or more relevant areas such as clinical development, medical affairs, commercial strategy, market access, portfolio strategy, or early asset development, combined with the ability to integrate perspectives across these disciplines.
• Proven experience leading complex, global, cross-functional initiatives and influencing senior stakeholders without relying on formal authority.
• Demonstrated ability to translate emerging scientific and clinical evidence into a differentiated development, value, and future commercialization strategy.
• Experience supporting early oncology assets through critical development, portfolio, or investment decisions, ideally including Proof of Concept and preparation for Release of Full Development.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen, with the ability to identify the critical questions that will determine an asset’s future potential and to turn ambiguity into a focused course of action.
• Entrepreneurial and collaborative leadership style, with the ability to build new ways of working, connect diverse perspectives, challenge constructively, and create alignment in an evolving environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the confidence to engage scientific experts, development leaders, senior executives, regional and country organizations, and external stakeholders.
• Global mindset and experience working effectively across functions, cultures, regions, and major pharmaceutical markets.
• Commitment to scientific integrity, patient centricity, ethical decision-making, and compliant

As part of our commitment to transparency and fairness, salary information will be shared during the recruitment process. We also offer a comprehensive benefits and wellbeing package.

Applications from persons with severe disabilities are warmly welcomed. In cases of equal qualifications, such applicants will be given preferential consideration in the selection process. 

Ready to contact us?

If you have any questions about the job posting or process - please contact our HR Direct Team, Tel: +49 (0) 6132 77-3330 or via mail: hr.de@boehringer-ingelheim.com

Recruitment process:
Step 1: Online application - The job posting is online until October 15th, 2026.
Step 2: Virtual meeting in the period from mid October till mid of November
Step 3: On-site interviews beginning mid of November