Director, External Partnerships

The External Partnership Director develops and executes the engagement strategy for high impact collaborations with external partners to support clinical trial delivery. The role oversees the full partnership lifecycle—from strategic planning to operational execution—ensuring strong performance, best-in-class relationships, and cross functional alignment. Key responsibilities include identifying opportunities to expand collaboration, managing partner interfaces for clinical trials, and coordinating across clinical, legal, medical affairs, and other internal teams. 

Accountabilities

• Partnership Strategy: Define and implement an external partnership strategy aligned with portfolio priorities, including governance structures and performance metrics. 

• Relationship Management: Serve as the primary Clinical Operations contact for key partners. Establish governance, lead business planning and performance reviews, manage issue escalation, and provide executive-level updates. 

• Cross Functional Orchestration: Collaborate with stakeholders such as Feasibility, Clinical Operations, Legal, Contracts, and Medical Affairs to align priorities, optimize study and site placement, and ensure effective communication between partners, vendors, and AstraZeneca. 

• Performance Management:  Establish KPIs and dashboards (e.g., enrollment, cycle times, data quality). Lead review cadences, monitor compliance with agreements, and implement corrective or preventive actions. 

• Maximize enrollment and experience: Identify and execute opportunities to accelerate enrollment while improving the clinical trial and customer experience. 

• Scientific and regional insight: Apply scientific and regional knowledge to support feasibility assessments, strategic site allocation, and portfolio planning. Leverage oncology strategy maps to ensure alignment with evolving treatment landscapes and site priorities 

• Barrier removal and issue escalation: Partner with internal teams to resolve operational barriers. Serve as the escalation point for performance issues for both internally and externally led studies. 

• Operational excellence and standardization: Develop and implement partnership frameworks and operating models that promote standardization and best practices. 

• Environmental surveillance and strategy: Monitor regulatory and operational trends to inform leadership of emerging risks, site landscape changes, and innovative engagement models 

• Technology:  Drive the integration of digital and centralized solutions (e.g., eReg, remote SIVs, EMR based identification) 

• Continuous Improvement: Benchmark partner performance, refine playbooks, and share insights and lessons learned 

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, preferably life sciences, or equivalent qualification.  

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in Clinical Operations or related fields. 

• Proven experience in partnership focused roles.  

• Strong understanding of ICHGCP and applicable local regulations.  

• Strong strategic influence and persuasive communication skills.  

• Skilled in client relationship management and cross functional collaboration.  

• Proficiency in digital solutions, interest in emerging technologies and knowledge of industry trends and research.  

• Strong analytical thinking with the ability to translate strategy into actionable plans and KPIs.  

• Effective negotiation, problem solving, and conflict resolution capabilities.  

• Ability to champion process improvements that optimize speed, quality, and cost in clinical trial delivery.  

• Change leadership capability, including guiding teams through transformation and ambiguity.

• Experience working across multiple studies, indications, and stakeholder groups.  

• High integrity and adherence to ethical standards.  

• Ability to travel domestically as required. 

Preferred Skills

• Understanding of medical knowledge and ability to learn relevant AZ Therapeutic Areas. 

• Experience across early and late-stage development programs. 

• Understanding of the drug development process and clinical study operations, including monitoring, data management, and study drug handling.  

• Ability to operate effectively in complex, high-visibility, and high-pressure environments.

• ​Awareness of evolving regulatory expectations and technical advancements.  

• Experience in oncology. 

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $171K to $257K. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans. 

Date Posted

Closing Date

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.