Business Development Executive – Research Investment Office

Job description

Introduction
At IBM, work is more than a job - it's a calling: To build. To design. To code. To consult. To think along with clients and sell. To make markets. To invent. To collaborate. Not just to do something better, but to attempt things you've never thought possible. Are you ready to lead in this new era of technology and solve some of the world's most challenging problems? If so, lets talk.

Your Role and Responsibilities

IBM’s Intellectual Property team is well known for its global and unique deal making. The Research Investment Office’s mission is to partner with inventors of IBM Research to co-create, design and build business strategies and evaluate inorganic opportunities. Our team infuses innovation with business rigor to yield faster and steeper commercial trajectory of early-stage technologies.

This role appeals to self-directed, flexible team players who are not afraid of asking questions and failing fast to learn quickly and thrives in a fast-paced environment. We value great communication skills, someone who is a strategic thinker, has business/financial acumen and loves to learn about emerging technologies.

RIO’s mandate focuses on:

1) partnering with IBM Research to help co-create, design, and build business/growth strategies for key strategic innovations, such as quantum computing, AI, & semiconductor technologies

2) monetizing IP assets from IBM Research and business units through complex transactions, including forming multi-party entities, spinouts, and minority equity investments from inception to close.

About the role:

As a Business Development Executive, you are part of a collaborative team of venture builders and strategic advisors to senior leaders of IBM Research. You are passionate about emerging technologies, use a strategic and design mindset when exploring creative solutions, possess "storytelling” & efficient communication skills, and has experience in quantitative and qualitative analysis in order to derive exceptional business recommendations.

In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to support high-impact strategy projects and complex deals requiring your creativity and prior experience in strategy consulting, business design, and/or lab to market. The candidate will collaborate with RIO colleagues and cross-functional teams on a variety of consulting projects focused on bringing key IBM Research emerging technologies from lab to market. You will perform quantitative and qualitative analyses and share key insights and recommendations with leadership. You will also support the development of creative business models, monetization strategy and business case in support of key Research programs and/or non-strategic assets. You will work with the RIO team to analyze optimal monetization models for non-strategic assets and identify a target list of adequate suitors for such assets. Monetization models may include, but are not limited to, licensing, asset sales, incubation, divestitures, assignments, royalties, minority equity investments, and establishing new companies. In addition, you will support the execution of complex deals from strategy to deal closing.

About you:

Achievement of the above goals requires knowledge of strategy development, financial modeling and generating market insights. The ability to perform research (primary and secondary) and financial analysis, and to transform complex ideas into insights and recommendations is key to success.

The candidate will possess core skills like strategic and critical thinking when supporting projects and strong communication skills; prior experience in lab to market, venture capital, mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity, or strategy consulting is preferred.

Knowledge of IBM business processes relevant to Intellectual Property, Research, and M&A transactions is a plus.

Required Technical and Professional Expertise

·  At least 1 year of experience in venture building, strategy consulting, or deal transaction
·  Prior experience for deal transaction may include, but are not limited to roles in corporate mergers & acquisitions (M&A), investment banking, private equity, venture capital, etc.
·  Strong skills in developing financial models, reading and analyzing financial statements
·  High proficiency in translating analysis and business recommendations into storytelling and visual illustrations using tools such as Microsoft Word and PowePpoint, Mural, etc
·  Demonstrated aptitude for grasping new technologies and performing primary and secondary research
·  Self-motivated, independent, and proactive; validated creative and critical thinking capabilities; can quickly prioritize.

Preferred Technical and Professional Expertise

·  Experience working with emerging technologies that are strategic to IBM (AI, Quantum Computing, Semiconductors)
·  Knowledge of incubating new businesses and creating business plans for emerging technologies
·  Experience supporting deals from inception to close
·  Experience with agile methodologies and design thinking
·  Familiarity or experience with all stages of the investment lifecycles from deal sourcing, to deal execution
·  Skills in supporting acquisitions and investments, such as developing financial models featuring discounted cash flows, comparable valuations, and return on investment (ROI)