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External Innovation Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Eisai

Senior Manager, External Innovation

Cambridge, MA

$136K - $179K/yr

This role integrates search & evaluation (S&E) with hands-on alliance management to translate external innovation into meaningful impact for Eisai's portfolio. A central component of this position is ...

Biogen

Head of Immunobiology, Cambridge

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$250K - $344K/yr

External Innovation & Ventures Collaboration * Serve as a scientific leader in sourcing, evaluating, and advancing external opportunities aligned with emerging immunobiology and therapeutic ...

Novo Nordisk

Scientific Director

Lexington, MA · On-site

The role also requires cross-functional collaboration with R&D, External Innovation, Medical & Science, Translational Science, Computational Drug Discovery (CDD), Global Research Technologies (GRT ...

Novo Nordisk

Scientific Director

Lexington, MA · On-site

The role also requires cross-functional collaboration with R&D, External Innovation, Medical & Science, Translational Science, Computational Drug Discovery (CDD), Global Research Technologies (GRT ...

Novo Nordisk

Scientific Director

Lexington, MA · On-site

The role also requires cross-functional collaboration with R&D, External Innovation, Medical & Science, Translational Science, Computational Drug Discovery (CDD), Global Research Technologies (GRT ...

Biogen

Head of Immunobiology, Cambridge

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$250K - $344K/yr

External Innovation & Ventures Collaboration * Serve as a scientific leader in sourcing, evaluating, and advancing external opportunities aligned with emerging immunobiology and therapeutic ...

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All JobsExternal Innovation JobsExternal Innovation Jobs in Boston, MA

External Innovation information

See Boston, MA salary details

$65.2K

$102.9K

$142.9K

How much do external innovation jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 31, 2026, the average yearly pay for external innovation in Boston, MA is $102,928.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,300.00 and $119,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between External Innovation vs R&D Specialist?

AspectExternal InnovationR&D Specialist
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in business, innovation management, or related fieldsRequires a degree in engineering, science, or related technical disciplines
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with external partners, startups, and innovation hubsWorks primarily within R&D departments of companies or labs
Industry UsageCommon in industries focusing on open innovation and external partnershipsFound in industries with in-house research and development teams
Search & Comparison IntentOften compared for roles involving external collaboration and innovation strategyCompared for technical research and product development roles

External Innovation focuses on leveraging external partners and open innovation strategies, while R&D Specialists conduct internal research and development. Both roles are vital for innovation but differ in their approach and environment.

How does an External Innovation professional typically collaborate with internal teams to drive successful partnerships and projects?

External Innovation professionals work closely with various internal stakeholders, such as R&D, product management, legal, and business development teams, to identify needs and evaluate potential external partners. They facilitate communication between internal decision-makers and external organizations, ensuring alignment on goals, timelines, and deliverables. This role often involves coordinating cross-functional meetings, managing due diligence processes, and translating external opportunities into actionable internal projects. Effective collaboration is key to integrating external innovations smoothly and maximizing value for the organization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in External Innovation, and why are they important?

To thrive in External Innovation, you need a strong background in business development, market analysis, and scientific or technical expertise relevant to your industry, often supported by a degree in business, science, or engineering. Familiarity with innovation management tools, intellectual property systems, and platforms for scouting emerging technologies is highly valuable. Exceptional networking, negotiation, and cross-functional communication skills set top performers apart in this field. These abilities are crucial for successfully identifying, evaluating, and integrating external opportunities that drive organizational growth and competitiveness.

What is external innovation?

External innovation refers to the process where organizations seek new ideas, technologies, or partnerships from outside their own company to drive growth and stay competitive. This can involve collaborating with startups, universities, research institutions, or other companies to access fresh perspectives and expertise. By leveraging external resources, businesses can accelerate product development, expand into new markets, and reduce risks associated with innovation. External innovation is often part of a broader open innovation strategy, emphasizing collaboration beyond traditional organizational boundaries.
What are popular job titles related to External Innovation jobs in Boston, MA? For External Innovation jobs in Boston, MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching External Innovation jobs in Boston, MA look for? The top searched job categories for External Innovation jobs in Boston, MA are:
What cities near Boston, MA are hiring for External Innovation jobs? Cities near Boston, MA with the most External Innovation job openings:
External Innovation jobs near you
Infographic showing various External Innovation job openings in Boston, MA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $102,928 per year, or $49.5 per hour.

Senior Manager, External Innovation

Eisai, Inc.

Cambridge, MA • On-site

$136K - $179K/yr

Full-time

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

At Eisai, satisfying unmet medical needs and increasing the benefits healthcare provides to patients, their families, and caregivers is Eisai's human health care (hhc) mission. We're a growing pharmaceutical company that is breaking through in neurology and oncology, with a strong emphasis on research and development. Our history includes the development of many innovative medicines, notably the discovery of the world's most widely-used treatment for Alzheimer's disease. As we continue to expand, we are seeking highly-motivated individuals who want to work in a fast-paced environment and make a difference. If this is your profile, we want to hear from you.
This role integrates search & evaluation (S&E) with hands-on alliance management to translate external innovation into meaningful impact for Eisai's portfolio. A central component of this position is the end-to-end management of external collaborations to ensure delivery against scientific, strategic, and contractual objectives.
In parallel, this role is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing new external opportunities across academia and industry. The position serves as a scientific and strategic thought partner, ensuring both effective execution of ongoing collaborations and continued development of the external innovation pipeline.
Key Responsibilities:
Alliance Management & Execution
  • Lead and manage active external collaborations, ensuring delivery against scientific objectives, timelines, and contractual commitments
  • Drive collaboration governance, including meeting leadership, milestone tracking, and issue resolution
  • Ensure alignment between scientific activities and contractual terms
  • Translate scientific discussions into clear deliverables, action plans, and next steps

Search & Evaluation (S&E)
  • Conduct S&E of external opportunities including novel therapeutics, platforms, models, and consortia
  • Develop competitive and technology landscapes across priority therapeutic areas
  • Identify and cultivate relationships with external experts and key opinion leaders (KOLs)
  • Prioritize opportunities for diligence using scientific and strategic criteria

Strategic Integration
  • Provide scientific and strategic input into collaboration workplans and external opportunities
  • Partner cross-functionally to align external activities with internal program and portfolio strategy
  • Ensure external innovation activities support both near-term execution and long-term portfolio growth

Qualifications:
  • Master's degree with 5+ years of biotech/pharma industry experience. PhD preferred.
  • Direct experience independently managing external collaborations in a biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry setting
  • Strong scientific expertise in neurology with an interest in exploring other therapeutic areas.
  • Demonstrated ability to critically evaluate novel technologies and platforms, particularly in the neurodegeneration space
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex scientific ideas
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional colleagues and engage senior stakeholders in a global matrixed environment. This includes openly sharing knowledge and resources, valuing different perspectives, and contributing to a positive work environment.
  • Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners
  • Demonstrated ability to balance hands-on alliance management with proactive opportunity identification

#LI-CC
Eisai Salary Transparency Language:
The annual base salary range for the Senior Manager, External Innovation is from :$136,800-$179,600
Under current guidelines, this position is eligible to participate in : Eisai Inc. Annual Incentive Plan.
Final pay determinations will depend on various factors including but not limited to experience level, education, knowledge, and skills.
Employees are eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs. For additional information on Company employee benefits programs, visit https://careers.eisai.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.
Certain other benefits may be available for this position, please discuss any questions with your recruiter.
Eisai is an equal opportunity employer and as such, is committed in policy and in practice to recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status. Similarly, considering the need for reasonable accommodations, Eisai prohibits discrimination against persons because of disability, including disabled veterans.
Eisai Inc. participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of all new hires in the United States. Please click on the following link for more information:
Right To Work
E-Verify Participation
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About Eisai

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Eisai is a global pharmaceutical company (headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, NJ, US), renowned for its innovative research and development in neuroscience and oncology. The primary focus of the company is to provide therapeutic treatments and solutions for diseases like Alzheimer's, cancer, and other neurological disorders. Eisai was founded in Japan in 1941 and has since developed a strong presence across international markets. Eisai's core values center around their philosophy of 'human health care' (hhc), where they aim to make significant and positive contributions to patients and their families' healthcare worldwide.

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Nutley, NJ, US

Year founded

1995

Social media

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