Director, Corporate Development (San Diego/Hybrid)

Company: Illumina
Company: Illumina
Location: US - California - San Diego
Commitment: Full time
Posted on: 2026-04-22 05:10
What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity?At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients.Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.Job DescriptionPosition Title: Director, Corporate DevelopmentLocation: Hybrid Reports To: Senior Vice President of Corporate Development & Strategic Planning (eventually to Vice President, M&A)Position SummaryThis role serves as a strategic leader, leading high‑impact M&A, partnership, and investment initiatives across the deal lifecycle. The Director is accountable for translating enterprise priorities into actionable external opportunity agendas, shaping investment strategy through rigorous analysis, and delivering executive‑level recommendations that inform capital allocation and long‑term growth.The individual brings a combination of deep scientific and technical insight and strategic investment rigor to independently assess complex external opportunities, develop and defend investment theses, and integrate scientific, commercial, financial, and operational perspectives into clear recommendations. The role involves navigating complex, cross‑functional dynamics to align stakeholders, resolve competing priorities, and advance high‑stakes transaction decisions.The Director leads cross‑functional deal teams, facilitates governance and decision forums, and ensures disciplined execution from sourcing and thesis development through diligence, negotiation support, integration planning, and value capture tracking. Success requires influence without authority, strong judgment, and the ability to reconcile competing stakeholder priorities to drive outcomes on initiatives with significant enterprise impact.Essential Duties and Responsibilities:Lead and coordinate cross-functional workstreams across corporate development and M&A transactions, with accountability for scope, prioritization, and delivery from assessment through diligence and integration planningDevelop, own, and defend investment theses that integrate scientific, clinical, commercial, and financial insights, translating complex analyses into clear recommendations for senior leadership decision-makingLead comprehensive due diligence efforts across scientific, market, and commercial dimensions, ensuring key risks, opportunities, and assumptions are identified, validated, and appropriately factored into investment judgementsPartner closely with R&D and cross-functional stakeholders to assess scientific differentiation, technical feasibility, and development risk, and incorporate these perspectives into transaction evaluationsLead the development of executive-level materials, including investment memos and recommendation decks, synthesizing cross-functional inputs to support governance forums and key investment decisionsPartner with senior leadership on transaction structuring, negotiation, and execution, providing strategic, analytical, and risk-based input to advance transactions through key decision pointsLead integration planning and value creation strategy aligned to deal rationale, including defining key value drivers, identifying execution risks, and partnering with functional leaders through early implementationDevelop and manage the pipeline of potential targets, aligning external activity with enterprise priorities and active portfolio considerationsPartner with Finance to assess valuation approaches, return profiles, and key financial assumptions, ensuring alignment between investment theses and expected financial outcomesSupport post-deal performance tracking against investment theses, identifying variances, surfacing insights, and informing learning for future investment decisionsDrive alignment and execution across a global, highly matrixed organization by facilitating trade-offs, resolving misalignment, and influencing outcomesKey Competencies:Demonstrated leadership in corporate development and transaction execution, including leading key components of M&A and business development activities with structured rigorStrong investment judgment and strategic thinking, with the ability to evaluate risk, value creation potential, and strategic fit, and to frame clear recommendations on high-stakes decisionsAbility to synthesize scientific, market, and financial inputs into clear, actionable insightsHighly effective executive communication and stakeholder influence, with the ability to influence decisions without direct authorityDeep scientific and technical acumen in life sciences, including understanding of R&D pipelines and clinical developmentProven ability to lead across global, highly matrixed organizations, driving alignment and outcomes across functions, geographies, and competing prioritiesStrong results orientation with a focus on value creation, execution quality, and measurable outcomes across the transaction lifecycleSupervisory Responsibilities:Lead cross-functional deal teams and coordinate external advisorsProvide mentorship and guidance to team members and stakeholdersMinimum Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree requiredTypically requires a minimum of 18 years of relevant experience OR advanced degree with 8–12+ years of relevant experience, with 10+ years of Management experience. Experience in corporate development, M&A, investment banking, or strategy within life sciences or healthcareStrong understanding of life sciences or healthcare marketsProven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed environmentPreferred Credentials:PhD in life sciences or related field strongly preferredExperience at a top-tier consulting firm or investment bankExperience supporting life sciences transactions or asset evaluationExposure to integration planning and value captureOther Requirements:Ability to operate effectively in a global, highly matrixed organizationDemonstrated ability to influence without authorityStrong executive presenceWillingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed, approximately 25% of the time.This is a full-time role, Monday through Friday, with an expectation of 2- 3 in-office days per week and additional on-site presence as needed. The individual must reside in the San Diego area and be able to commute to our corporate offices.#LI-HYBRIDThe estimated base salary range for the Director, Corporate Development (San Diego/Hybrid) role based in the United States of America is: $187,400 - $281,000. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable base pay range may be updated accordingly. The range reflects long‑term growth in the role. Most candidates are hired between the minimum and middle of the range. Placement depends on experience, skills, location, and internal equity. Additionally, all employees are eligible for one of our variable cash programs (bonus or commission) and eligible roles may receive equity as part of the compensation package. We offer a wide range of benefits as innovative as our work, including access to genomics sequencing, family planning, health/dental/vision, retirement benefits, and paid time off.We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritized openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact accommodations@illumina.com. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants.
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