Translational Medicine Alliance Management Project Manager – 12 month contract

At AstraZeneca, we pride ourselves on crafting a collaborative culture that champions knowledge-sharing, ambitious thinking and innovation – ultimately providing employees with the opportunity to work across teams, functions and even the globe.

Recognizing the importance of individualized flexibility, our ways of working allow employees to balance personal and work commitments while ensuring we continue to create a strong culture of collaboration and teamwork by engaging face-to-face in our offices 3 days a week. Our head office and BlueSky Hub in downtown Toronto are purposely designed with collaboration in mind, providing space where teams can come together to strategize, brainstorm and connect on key projects.

Our dedication to sustainability is also central to our culture and part of what makes AstraZeneca a great place to work. We know the health of people, the planet and our business are interconnected which is why we’re taking ambitious action to tackle some of the biggest challenges of our time, from climate change to access to healthcare and disease prevention.

The Role:

To support the management of the outsourcing strategy across the EO TM organization; ensuring our suppliers deliver to the needs of the organization; and developing strong, beneficial partnerships with key suppliers.

You will assist in providing operational and project management support for business critical partners that require a single TM point of contact. These are typically diagnostic partners, complex collaborations or partnerships where enterprise wide prioritization is needed. Remit will also include prospective studies, prioritized retrospective/exploratory scientific collaborations, pilot studies focused on technology development and new technology scoping where required.

You will manage activities spanning one or more supplier(s) or outsourcing models within the EO TM team.  You will assist in ensuring the supplier(s) and / or model(s) are meeting the needs of the Translational Medicine Leads (TMLs) and ensure that selected partners deliver to contract and that strong relationships with the external suppliers are created and maintained.

We expect you to assist the Alliance Management Lead in ensuring the maintenance and oversight of supplier / model, ensuring seamless execution, quality and timely delivery of relevant scope of work deliverables and to manage operational governance of the supplier(s) / model(s) and contribute to other governance as required. You will also contribute to monitoring quality and performance of service deliverables in alignment with the project requirements.

Roles and Responsibilities:

·       Provide operational and project management support for Early Oncology Translational Medicine business critical partnerships, retrospective studies, prospective studies, scientific collaborations and new technology opportunities

• Initiate contracting drafts, review contracting drafts, manage POs

• Opportunity for skilled candidate to support issue management escalation and further refine their Alliance Management skill set

·       Opportunity for an ambitious candidate to 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 Requirements:

• Contracting and/or project management experience in the pharmaceutical industry

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

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

• A flexible, team orientated attitude, willing to contribute own skills to deliver priority projects.

Desirable Requirements:

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

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

• 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 the meetings and facilitating discussions within internal cross-functional teams and external partners regarding deliverables, timelines, budget and samples to execute project strategy

• Highly developed problem solving, risk management and collaborative working skills

• Ability to act as an external ambassador and to 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

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

• 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

Great People want to Work with us! Find out why:

• GTAA Top Employer Award for 11 years

• Top 100 Employers Award

• Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Culture

• Learn more about working with us in Canada

• View our YouTube channel

Are you interested in working at AZ, apply today!

AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion and providing a workplace that is free from discrimination. AstraZeneca is committed to accommodating persons with disabilities. Such accommodation is available on request in respect of all aspects of the recruitment, assessment and selection process and may be requested by emailing AZCHumanResources@astrazeneca.com.

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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.