Introduction to role

Are you ready to manage the outsourcing strategy across the Early Oncology Translational Medicine organization? As an Associate Director Translational Medicine Alliance Manager, you'll ensure our suppliers deliver to the needs of the organization and develop strong, beneficial partnerships with key suppliers. You'll be pivotal in supporting business-critical partners, acting as a single point of contact for diagnostic partners, complex collaborations, and enterprise-wide prioritizations. Your role will encompass prospective studies, prioritized retrospective/exploratory scientific collaborations, pilot studies focused on technology development, and new technology scoping where required. You'll manage supplier relationships within the EO TM team, ensuring they meet the needs of Translational Medicine Leads and deliver to contract while fostering strong external partnerships.

Accountabilities

Provide support for Early Oncology Translational Medicine business-critical partnerships, retrospective studies, prospective studies, scientific collaborations, and new technology opportunities.

Manage day-to-day interactions with key partners, including senior managers and project teams both internally and externally to advance collaboration and build trust.

Maintain oversight of programs with a partner, and be the “Go to person for the partnership” especially for issue resolution, contracting, and governance.

Act as the key point of contact for a dedicated partner contributing to agreement negotiation, development of agreement templates, ensuring consistency in terms and pricing as well as communicating prioritization needs back to the vendor.

Collaborate cross-functionally with Procurement, Business Development, Precision Medicine, and Academic Alliances to establish new relationships/maintain current working relationships, contribute to contracting process to meet project timelines.

Liaise with Strategy Leads, Operations, and other Alliance Managers for early-stage drug project work and to execute translational biomarker strategy.

Take the initiative to introduce and design new systems and tools as needed, aimed at streamlining our ways of working with partners. These solutions may be tailored to key collaborators or designed as an overall strategy ultimately addressing any gaps or deficiencies and incorporating process improvements.

Essential Skills/Experience

Advanced university degree in related discipline, 5+ years in the pharmaceutical industry, 2+ years proven applied experience in alliance management.

Scientific background sufficient to allow for technical understanding of service deliverables (e.g. study management, data management, analysis and reporting).

Experience in establishing and maintaining project portfolio to facilitate internal and external partnering collaboration.

Experience in issue resolution, contracting and facilitating governance meetings.

Experience in setting up meetings and facilitating discussions within internal cross-functional teams and external partners regarding deliverables, timelines, budget, and samples to execute project strategy

Highly motivated with organizational skills demonstrating a strong attention to detail.

Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with ability to clearly communicate.

Highly developed problem-solving, risk management, and collaborative working skills.

Ability to act as an external ambassador and influence external organizations to enhance the image and reputation of our organization.

Demonstrated experience working successfully with external partners.

Experienced and/or comfortable working in a matrixed environment.

Understanding of and adaptable to working variances of different countries and different cultures.

Strong interpersonal, negotiation, collaboration, and team player skills, demonstrating flexibility and a proven ability to deal with complexity under time pressure.

Tenacity and resourcefulness.

A flexible, team-oriented attitude, willing to contribute own skills to deliver priority projects.

Knowledge of clinical testing procedures and applicable laboratory testing regulations such as Good Clinical Practice, CAP/CLIA, Good Clinical Practice and Quality Systems Regulation).

Proficient in MS Office, including Word, Excel, SharePoint, and PowerPoint.

Familiarization/working knowledge of Coupa, Contracts+, Smartsheets.

Knowledge of alliance governance frameworks and processes (including performance metrics).

Knowledge of clinical and pharmaceutical drug development process at various phases of development.

Knowledge of partner selection and qualification processes (e.g request for information/proposal, bid defense, operational due diligence).

Knowledge of contracting, procurement, and budgeting approval processes.

Ability to identify continuous improvement & innovation opportunities.

A high level of cultural sensitivity. This role necessitates considerable tact, discretion, and persuasion to obtain desired business outcomes while maintaining ongoing healthy professional relationships.

Desirable Skills/Experience

Active CA-AM certification.

Ability to travel occasionally for key face-to-face interactions and congresses.

Experience navigating In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR) to support associated activities for prospective testing in the EU and ROW (Rest of World).

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

At AstraZeneca, we are driven by curiosity and courage as we pioneer new frontiers in science. Our commitment to eliminating cancer as a cause of death unites us in our mission. With cutting-edge science fused with the latest technology, we aim for breakthroughs that transform medicine. Our investment in research fuels our ambition to deliver new molecular entities by 2025. Collaborating with leading medical centers worldwide empowers us to expedite research in challenging cancers. Join us on this journey where bold decisions are made with patient outcomes at heart.

Ready to make an impact? Apply now!

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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.