Head of Alliance and Integration Management (AIM)

Help us accelerate towards our big purpose and impact patients

At AstraZeneca, we believe in the potential of our people, and we’ll develop you beyond what you thought possible. We make the most of your skills and passion by actively supporting you to see what you can achieve no matter where you start with us

Business Development Operations (BDO) plays a critical role in AstraZeneca achieving the successful execution of both in and out bound transactions which expand, focus and rationalise the Company’s pipeline and portfolio. By creating strong, long-term partnerships with other companies, we can help with the delivery of innovative and life-changing medicines to the people who need them. We also work hard to ensure that both parties receive the greatest possible value from the relationship.

Our Alliance & Integration Management (AIM) team are engaged throughout the deal process. Gaining an early understanding of the strategic, operational and cultural fit between us and our partners helps us structure the partnership governance to be as effective as possible from the start. It also helps to build trust, transparency and strong relationships at all levels. Based on our work across a wide range of complex transactions, we have developed industry-leading processes and tools that ensure smooth and efficient interactions.

Our business development activity is varied and includes;

• Company acquisitions

• Strategic collaborations and in-licensing with peer companies and biotechs to enhance our portfolio and pipeline in our main therapy areas.

• Out-licensing and divesting our medicines that sit outside our main therapy areas and mature brands that can be deployed better by a partner or purchaser. This allows us to maximise the value of our assets while ensuring patients have access to these medicines.

Recent transaction examples include: The acquisition of Neogene Therapeutics, CinCor Pharma, Alexion Pharmaceuticals and TeneoTwo; the strategic collaborations with Daiichi Sankyo and Merck; and a number of divestment transactions.

The Role

The Executive Director, Head of Alliance and Integration Management (AIM) within the Business Development Operation organization, will be personally accountable for leading key strategic alliances, working closely with cross-functional Global Project Teams and leading integration activities across the business globally. The Head of AIM will lead a team of 7 based in the US and UK.

In addition, they will ensure an industry leading capability that positions AstraZeneca as the ‘Partner of Choice’ across the industry through the development and constant improvement of tools, techniques and processes in Alliance and Integration Management and through influencing and supporting Alliance Managers across other functions and geographies.

Key accountabilities:

• Leading the integration and alliance activities for high priority and complex company acquisitions, strategic alliances and other deal types, through global cross-functional teams

• Creating a successful entrepreneurial team culture and behaviours in the immediate AIM team and broader Deal Teams

• Providing high quality frequent coaching and mentoring of AIM team members to support performance and personal and professional development

• Driving the rapid establishment of optimised, efficient business models for integrated entities and alliance relationships that deliver the value underpinning the case for the deal whilst balancing and handling risks appropriately

• Actively engaging with Transaction Leads to influence and operationalize new deals, driving early inclusion of governance and integration planning through the Due Diligence process and ensuring seamless transition post signature into the alliance / Integration ‘kick off’ to increase the potential value and operational success

• Closely monitoring the general state of progress, relationship and operational health, and effectiveness of the collaboration; proactively helping to identify, facilitate, and generally steward changes and creative solutions, where necessary and appropriate, to maintain highly effective collaborations.

• Ensuring compliance with contractual provisions through a thorough understanding of the applicable contract(s), managing contractual disputes, and coordinating contract renegotiation or amendments when required.

• Enhancing the broader AZ AIM functional capabilities, through developing and implementing tools, training and development programmes

• Driving and embedding a strong culture of continuous improvement across the Alliance Management community, ensuring all key learning is applied to subsequent alliances / acquisitions / divestments

• Reporting progress for the most important acquisitions and alliances across AZ to SET and Senior stakeholders and recommending areas for performance improvement

• Establishing and maintaining an external profile and network as an ambassador for AZ and AZ AIM externally, contributing as a thought leader to Conference and Symposium panels, podiums and periodicals

Essential Requirements:

You will be an experienced problem solver, with the ability to influence Global stakeholders across all levels. With strong decision making and the ability to work well under significant pressure, you will be able to maintain outstanding communication, collaboration and networking through situations of ambiguity

• Bachelors degree, with minimum 15 years experience in Pharma and partnering

• A significant knowledge of the drug development process, intellectual property management, commercial, financial and other aspects typically associated with the global deal making process.

• Business development and transaction experience (significant role in global transactions with risk adjusted terms of >$150M)

• Integration management experience (ranging from clinical to full scale commercial, development and operations)

• Alliance management experience with large complex / peer alliances (to include development, and commercial spanning US, EU, Asia, and Japan)

• Demonstrated knowledge of alliance and integration management tools and processes.

• Shown ability to lead and collaborate across areas (Commercial R&D, Legal, Finance)

• Strong financial and legal acumen

• Demonstrable abilities to translate complex contract terms and conditions into strategic and operational elements for both internal and external parties.

• Executive presence and gravitas

Desirable

Higher Level Degree or MBA

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.

So, what’s next?

• Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have one seat available, and we hope it’s yours.

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We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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 requires all US employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 but will consider requests for reasonable accommodations as required by applicable law.