Do you have expertise in, and passion for, building alliances to further pharmaceutical research? Would you like to apply your expertise to impact the Oncology R&D Alliance Management team in a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life changing medicines? Then AstraZeneca might be the one for you!

We work together at AstraZeneca across global boundaries to make an impact and find answers to challenges. We are committed to advancing the science of oncology to deliver life-changing medicines to patients most in need. We win through the science, it’s at the heart of our every success.

Gaithersburg is one of over 400 sites here at AstraZeneca, providing a collaborative environment where everyone feels comfortable and able to be themselves is at the core of AstraZeneca’s priorities. This site includes a fitness center, employee healthcare clinic, electric vehicle charging stations, dry cleaning, full-service cafeteria and copy center, game rooms, community garden and more to keep our employees happy and balanced! This modern and vibrant scientific campus is the home of R&D and Oncology in the US.

What you’ll do:

The Director of Alliance Management will support priority and complex alliances with multiple AstraZeneca partners and collaborators. Responsibilities include leading the strategic discussions and decision making processes to effectively lead external collaborations and partnerships. This role will coordinate cross functional activities with internal work groups in Legal, Business Development, Project Management, and Finance.

• Plans and manages the operational aspects of the alliance, including joint governance committee, ensuring alliance efficiency, appropriate communications, coordination of activities, handling partner concerns, solving business problems, and negotiating with the partner on ongoing agreements
• Provides a single point-of-contact for partners and a pathway for business/contractual issue resolution or other business-related matters
• Proactively tracks, monitors and communicates contract achievements, obligations and any financial payments to project team leaders and management. Works with project team leaders to ensure that both AstraZeneca and its alliance partners, are on track to meet contractual obligations and landmarks
• Reviews and approves material financial payments and routes payment requests through Finance
• Works with Legal and other internal partners, as well as alliance partners, to review and complete contract renewals and amendments
• Reviews existing collaboration agreements and develops plans to clarify/amend in order to improve their overall value
• Collaborates with project teams and alliance partners to evaluate and resolve any business/contractual issues in an equitable and timely manner, helping to ensure the overall value and success of each project
• Routinely assess partnership health, performance risks, and potential value proposition according to AstraZeneca business strategy; provide visibility and recommendations to Senior Management and follow-up with action plans

Help drive alliance management capabilities and strategy:

• Understands AstraZeneca's strategies, objectives and goals related to collaborations and associated capabilities
• Stays abreast of all developments, trends and dynamics; identifies new, improved or revised capabilities as appropriate
• Leads the development of internal tools, systems, processes, and standard methodologies for the smooth operation of the alliance management function.
• On-boarding and training new Alliance Managers.

Contributes to developing business relationships with existing and potential alliance partners:

• Actively engages BD and R&D partners to influence and operationalize new deals balancing risks and opportunities, establish effective governance structures, strategies and processes to improve the potential value and operational success of pending collaborations
• Sets specific and measurable performance objectives, standards, and accountabilities for each assigned collaboration. Ensuring the vision, goals and objectives are aligned and communicated
• Develops strong working relationships with key involved parties for each project, internally and externally. Strives to proactively anticipate and address business-related needs of the parties to optimize success
• Educates team members on contract terms, obligations, achievements and roles and responsibilities

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in life sciences or equivalent
• At least 10 years of relevant pharmaceutical/biotech industry experience with at least 3 years of work experience in legal, finance, contract development & administration, business development, licensing, strategic planning, research, development, commercial, or manufacturing
• Must demonstrate knowledge of the drug development process relevant to pharmaceutical/biotech organizations.
• Ability to manage and/or resolve issues, risks, and conflicts both internally and externally in a timely manner through great listening skills and the capability to ask the right questions
• Strong interpersonal skills. Capacity to work cross-functionally and to influence people without direct authority.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA, other graduate-level degree or CA-AM certification
• Demonstrable abilities to translate complex contract terms and conditions into strategic and operational elements for both internal and external parties.
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding professional/work-related objectives, goals and targets.
• Dynamic, team oriented, able to partner well with all functional management.

Ability to travel up to 15% of the time, including internationally if required.

Additional site locations include Waltham, (MA) US and Cambridge (UK).

Next Steps – Apply today

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We follow all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.

AstraZeneca has taken critical steps to protect colleagues, loved ones, and patients from COVID-19 and its variants. Accordingly, AstraZeneca requires all US employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to the first date of employment. AstraZeneca will consider requests for reasonable accommodations as required by applicable law.