Director, Alliance Management (Alliance Lead)

The HBS Alliance Management (AM) group sits within PPA within PMB and is accountable for setting the sourcing strategy across R&D and managing adherence to it. They ensure our partners deliver to the needs of the organisations; and develop strong, beneficial partnerships with key suppliers.

The role of the Alliance Management Director is to act as the Alliance Lead for one or more partner(s) within AZ’s outsourced central lab model(s).  They will be responsible for ensuring the partners(s) within the model(s) are meeting the operational needs of the customers; ensuring alliance effectiveness, appropriate communications, ensuring that selected partners deliver to contract; and that strong relationships with the external partners are created and maintained

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 partner audits as applicable

Partner / Model Quality and Performance

• With the AM Group Lead ensures definition of appropriate Metrics and SLAs for the partner within the MSA
• Monitors quality and performance of service deliverables in alignment with the MSA  
• Ensure that selected partners 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 across delivery 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. Alliance Handbooks)

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 have responsibility 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

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 skills required 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

​

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.