IBM Hiring for Business Development Executive – Research Investment Office (RIO) at Yorktown Heights, NY

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 as well as its strong connection to IBM’s organic growth engine, IBM Research. IP’s Research Investment Office (RIO) team’s mandate focuses on:

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

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.

As a Business Development Executive, you are a Venture and Business Builder. You are passionate about emerging technologies, use a strategic and design mindset when exploring creative solutions, possess “storytelling” & efficient communication skills, and are experienced in quantitative and qualitative analysis and collaboration methods in order to derive exceptional business recommendations.

You are responsible for: (I) leading deal and project teams and (II) establishing relationships with investors such as venture capital and private equity firms.

I. Transaction and project lead (primary): You’ll have the opportunity to lead high-impact projects requiring your creativity and prior experience in strategy development, business design, and deal structuring & management. The candidate will work with executive stakeholders on developing creative business and monetization models in support of certain key Research programs and/or non-strategic assets. You will also be responsible for identifying and developing potential deal models and structures for assets to be monetized with third-party firms. Monetization models and deal features/terms may include, but are not limited to, licensing, asset sales, incubation, divestitures, assignments, royalties, minority equity investments, and establishing new companies. The candidate will also establish and manage a cross-functional team focused on a specific project and/or transaction.

Achievement of the above goals requires business acumen specifically related to start-ups and venture capital sponsorship, and a proven track record for financial modeling, generating market insights, and pursuing/closing equity investments. The candidate will possess core skills like strategic and critical thinking when evaluating and executing projects and strong communication skills; prior experience in lab to market, venture capital, mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity, or investment banking is preferred. The ideal candidate will have prior experience in managing a transaction through all stages of the deal cycle to closure.

II. Investor channel to market (secondary): Financial & strategic investors that are active in the technology spaces covered by the team are a critical channel to market for deals & opportunities. You will be responsible for preparing for and hosting introductory meetings with investors, growing relationships, and ultimately leveraging these relationships to pursue and close potential transactions with these firms or their portfolio companies. Your ability to research, prioritize and reach out to firms will be essential.

Other required skills include strong communication skills and ability to influence others, particularly when guiding small and large cross-functional teams, collaborating and presenting to senior executives, and dealing with external parties, such as buyers/acquirers and advisors. The candidate will also have prior experience and high proficiency in client/target relationship management and project management.

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

Required Technical and Professional Expertise

• 3+ years of experience in venture building or business building, strategy, or deal transaction (e.g. closing equity and/or M&A deals)
  • Prior experience for deal transaction may include, but are not limited to roles in corporate mergers & acquisitions (M&A) teams, investment banking, private equity, venture capital, etc.
• High proficiency in translating analysis and business recommendations into storytelling and visual illustrations using tools such as Microsoft Word and Powerpoint, Mural, physical and digital whiteboards
• Experience with incubating new businesses and creating business plans for emerging technologies
• 2+ years experience in forming collaborative teams from multiple disciplines (e.g., research, development, engineering, product management, finance, etc.)
• Experience with structuring and leading deals from inception to close
• Experience with managing c-level executive relationships
• Strong financial investment and modeling skills
• Demonstrated aptitude for grasping new technologies and researching new markets

Preferred Technical and Professional Expertise

• Experience with agile methodologies and design thinking
• Familiarity or experience with all stages of the investment lifecycles from deal sourcing, to deal execution, through to integration
• Skills in supporting acquisitions and investments, such as developing financial models featuring discounted cash flows, comparable valuations, and return on investment (ROI)

IBM Research is the organic growth engine of IBM and an innovation engine for our customers and partners. As part of this mission, IBM Research anticipates and examines ‘What’s Next in Computing’ to ultimately create and integrate the technologies the world relies upon to solve big challenges and unlock new opportunities. We create and pioneer new markets for IBM, our partners and customers as exemplified in our ongoing quest to reach practical and large-scale quantum computing. Across IBM Research, we realize the power and potential to accelerate discovery with our partners and clients by combining the power of high performance computing, AI, and Quantum, all integrated through the hybrid cloud.

This job requires you to provide your COVID-19 vaccination status with supporting documentation, where legally permissible.

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you’ll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you’ll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

This job requires you to provide your COVID-19 vaccination status with supporting documentation, where legally permissible.

IBM’s greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we’re also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 50 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it’s time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program. Eligible employees may have access to:

• Healthcare benefits including medical & prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and mental health & well being

– Financial programs such as 401(k), the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan, financial counseling, life insurance, short & long- term disability coverage, and opportunities for performance based salary incentive programs

• Generous paid time off including 12 holidays, minimum 56 hours sick time, 120 hours vacation, 12 weeks parental bonding leave in accordance with IBM Policy, and other Paid Care Leave programs. IBM also offers paid family leave benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law
• Training and educational resources on our personalized, AI-driven learning platform where IBMers can grow skills and obtain industry-recognized certifications to achieve their career goals
• Diverse and inclusive employee resource groups, giving & volunteer opportunities, and discounts on retail products, services & experiences

The compensation range and benefits for this position are based on a full-time schedule for a full calendar year. The salary will vary depending on your job-related skills, experience and location. Pay increment and frequency of pay will be in accordance with employment classification and applicable laws. For part time roles, your compensation and benefits will be adjusted to reflect your hours. Benefits may be pro-rated for those who start working during the calendar year.

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

IBM is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, pregnancy, disability, age, veteran status, or other characteristics. IBM is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.