Director, Alliance Management (Alliance Lead)

Typical Accountabilities

Partner / Model Governance

• Accountable for the alliance management of one or more HBS partners within or across model(s) 

• Proactively identifies and manages risks at the partner / model level 

• Serves as point of contact for issue escalation to AM for their assigned partner(s), and key in ensuring solutions are identified in collaboration with the business stakeholders. Facilitates resolution of any operational issues that impact delivery

• Leads operational governance of the partner(s) / model(s)

• In collaboration with the AM Group Lead, contributes to executive level governance meetings; and contributes to or leads model level governance and partner council forums, as required

• Acts as audit Sponsor and/or audit co-ordinator for AZ led partneraudits as applicable

Partner / Model Quality and Performance

• With the AM Group Lead ensures definition of appropriate Metrics and SLAs for the partnerwithin the MSA

• Monitors quality and performance of service deliverables in alignment with the MSA

• Ensure that selectedpartners deliver to contract and that strong relationships with the external partners and internal customers are created and maintained

• Ensures effective visibility of partner performance to relevant stakeholders

• Ensures ongoing assessment and integration of Lessons Learned for partners / models

• Seeks opportunities to drive efficiencies, co-create value, and foster innovation within partner and model by engaging in joint planning and collaborative innovation initiatives.

Study Team Support

• Ensures understanding of roles and responsibilities acrossdelivery teams for assigned delivery model(s) (s)

• Works with AM Process and standards Lead, internal subject matter experts and counterparts in partner organisations to ensure the effective use and maintenance of interface processes / ways of working (e.g.AllianceHandbooks) 

Stakeholder Engagement

• Fosters development of a collaborative, organizational culture; and ensures successful relationships by building trust, demonstrating proactive partnership management, and holding internal and external stakeholders to account

• Role models partnering behaviours and expected ways of working 

Portfolio / Capacity Management

• Monitors capacity within the partner and model to support the portfolio  

Alliance Management Development

• May haveresponsibility for line management or coaching of junior members of the team 

• Serves as a delegate for the AM Group Lead for specific tasks or activities, as necessary

• May support or lead key strategic initiatives within AM and contribute to initiatives outside of AM 

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Higher University degree in related discipline, or equivalent

• Strong experience from within the pharmaceutical industry, clinical research organization, a healthcare related industry or academia/hospital environment related to HBS

• Detailed knowledge of clinical and pharmaceutical drug development process at various phases of development

• Experience of working successfully with external partners / managing relationships 

• Experience of directing alliance governance frameworks and processes (incl performance metrics)

• Ability to network and collaborate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders (incl senior stakeholders)

• Strong leadership and influencing skills, especially without authority 

• Strong collaboration skills across global and functional boundaries  

• Strategic mindset and innovative thinker with affinity toward experimentation and appropriate risk taking

• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal

• Excellent conflict resolution, mediation and negotiation skills

• Strong project management skills

• Able to see the full picture and understand impact of actions 

• Ability to work with agility to solve problems that involve many decision makers, and develop multiple options/recommendations 

• Excellent collaboration skillsrequired to work across global and functional boundaries

• Familiar with ICH GCP and related guidelines and practices

Desirable

• Experience of partner selection and qualification 

• Proven experience in contributing to operational deployment of clinical laboratory testing

• Proven ability to holistically deal with complex situations 

• Technical understanding of service deliverables and subject matter expertise (e.g. sample management, clinical sample analysis, Central laboratory operations)

• Knowledge of existing AstraZeneca external partners & models 

• Knowledge of AstraZeneca policies, procedures and guidelines

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