Pleased to meet you! We are Galapagos, headquartered in Belgium and growing our executive team in the U.S., with a mission to deploy our capital to secure and advance transformative, clinical-stage assets, primarily in immunology and oncology, to transform patient outcomes.

We are looking for a Vice President Corporate Strategy to strengthen our strategy team in our newly established Chicago office.

Scope of the job

As Vice President Corporate Strategy, you will play a critical role in shaping and executing Galapagos’ corporate vision. Reporting directly to the Chief Strategy Officer, this senior leader will drive strategy - including the mapping and prioritization of key areas for M&A, licensing, and partnerships - to guide us toward a robust, future-ready pipeline. This role is central to our efforts as a small, nimble biotech to deliver shareholder value and patient benefit, and offers extensive exposure to executive leadership, the Board of Directors, and cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in biopharma strategy and corporate development, with a demonstrated ability to navigate scientific, commercial, and financial requirements for sustained growth.

Your role

Business Development Strategy Leadership

• Build and maintain landscape overviews for promising disease areas and mechanisms of action (MoAs) within oncology and immunology, reflecting unmet need, emerging scientific potential, current & future competitive activity, commercial impact, and other strategic factors.

• Work closely with executive leadership to define strategic priorities for pipeline expansion (TA, Phase, Geo) based on these overviews, which will guide Galapagos’ search & evaluation efforts (led by CBO team).  

Portfolio Strategy & Insights

• Develop dynamic portfolio models that assess risk (technical, regulatory, commercial, and other), value, and strategic fit of Galapagos’ portfolio, as a whole and in its component parts.

• Engage as a member of diligence teams to ensure that emerging opportunities are aligned with our corporate strategic vision and portfolio risk/reward frameworks. Generate insights from this work to inform executive leadership’s long-term investment and BD decision-making. 

Market Intelligence & Scenario Planning

• Generate expert- and data-informed views on macro industry trends, competitor moves, and innovation landscapes in prioritized areas to inform strategy and identify new opportunities.

• Develop external scenarios based on these trends to pressure-test disease area and MoA recommendations, and to ensure portfolio resilience. 

Executive & Board Communications and Corporate Governance Support

• Shape agendas and develop and craft materials for senior leadership forums, including the Management Committee, CEO, and Board of Directors.

• Maintain relationships across the Management Committee, and as needed, synthesize complex activities and data into clear senior executive presentations, including investment cases, portfolio reviews, and select initiatives across departments. This work will generate exposure to a broad range of company activity, beyond the core remit of the role. 

Who are you?

• 10-15+ years of experience in biopharma strategy, corporate development, or strategy consulting, with a strong track record of engagement in pipeline-enhancing transactions

• Deep understanding of drug development and commercial dynamics in the biopharma industry, including of the scientific, clinical, and commercial drivers of value

• Exceptional analytical and strategic skills, with experience in portfolio modeling and scenario planning, and the ability to synthesize complex information into actionable insights

• Strong executive presence and communication skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership and boards

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment

• Advanced degree preferred (MBA, PhD, MD, or equivalent)

What’s in it for you?

At Galapagos, we prioritize your continuous growth and development, fostering a culture of empowerment. Our employees are the driving force behind our mission to lead in pharmaceutical research and innovation.

Base compensation for this position ranges from $313,000 to $406,900. Actual base compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors including experience, qualifications, job-related knowledge, demonstrated skills and geographic location. The company reserves the right to modify base salary ranges at any time. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Galapagos’ performance bonus plan and long-term incentive program. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support important moments in life.

Galapagos is dedicated to ensuring equal employment opportunities. Our hiring decisions are based on merit, considering qualifications, skills, performance, and achievements. We strictly prohibit discrimination against any employee or job applicant based on personal characteristics that are unrelated to their job.

We are Galapagos: together we can make it happen…!