Job Description

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections, where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters.


The Position
Are you passionate about shaping the future of cancer therapy? As our new External Innovation Lead for Discovery Oncology, you will play a pivotal role in defining and executing our external innovation strategy, directly enhancing our portfolio by identifying and securing strategic collaborations with biotechs. This is a unique opportunity to join our Discovery Leadership Team and make a direct impact on the future of cancer care.

The Opportunity

The lead in this role develops and implements the external innovation strategy for our Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED) Oncology team. This position acts as the central point of contact for all Discovery-related external innovation activities, interfacing with leadership, Strategy, Partnering, and other key internal teams. The role holder leads the search, scouting, and evaluation of external opportunities, from target identification through to Phase 1, assessing their scientific rationale, competitiveness, and strategic fit. A key function is to actively monitor the oncology field for novel trends, scientific breakthroughs, and competitive dynamics to guide strategic planning. The lead drives due diligence activities for external programs and proposes next steps to senior management. This position directs and coordinates a group of subject matter experts dedicated to external innovation projects. A core responsibility is providing regular progress updates on external innovation initiatives to leadership teams. The role represents our pRED Oncology team externally, building relationships with biotech companies and potential partners at major scientific congresses.

Who You Are

We are looking for a candidate who brings the following experience and capabilities:

A PhD or MD/PhD with profound scientific knowledge in Oncology and extensive experience in target validation, disease modeling, and drug discovery. A minimum of 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, with a proven track record of scientific achievement. Strategic, future-oriented thinking combined with a hands-on approach, and the ability to thrive in a dynamic and inclusive environment. Outstanding communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences. A strong team player who can also work independently, navigate uncertainty with scientific rigor, and build robust networks with internal and external partners.

Who we are
A healthier future drives us to innovate. Together, more than 100'000 employees across the globe are dedicated to advance science, ensuring everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Our efforts result in more than 26 million people treated with our medicines and over 30 billion tests conducted using our Diagnostics products. We empower each other to explore new possibilities, foster creativity, and keep our ambitions high, so we can deliver life-changing healthcare solutions that make a global impact.



Let's build a healthier future, together.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.