Director, AIRx External Partnership Management Lead

Role Purpose:
- Director, AIRx CRO & External Partnerships is the single accountable owner of all CRO relationships for AIRx.
- Own the full external execution lifecycle: partner identification, contracting, data specification, and ongoing performance management to ensure CRO outputs feed AIRx data systems for AI/ML decision-making.

Accountabilities:
- Active CRO management: set expectations, drive cadences, hold partners accountable for milestones and quality; maintain periodic on-site presence at key domestic and international CROs; improve service speed with required quality; coordinate daily/weekly with scientific leads; proactively identify and resolve performance issues.
- Partner selection & contracting: identify/evaluate CROs for chemistry, biology, DMPK and other needed capabilities; own contracts/SOWs/timelines/quality standards; build preferred supplier network; develop innovative CRO capabilities via partnerships.
- Data, budget & landscape: standardize data handoffs into AIRx systems (TetraScience, SAIL) for AI/ML pipelines; track/manage outsourcing spend and provide budget visibility; monitor CRO/innovation landscape for new capabilities and partnership models.

Qualifications & Competencies:
- Degree in life sciences or chemistry; advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years in pharmaceutical outsourcing/CRO or alliance management (biotech experience strongly preferred).
- Proven experience developing new capabilities/ways of working with outsourced partners.
- Deep CRO landscape knowledge across chemistry, biology, DMPK; established network.
- Track record managing complex multi-CRO programs with urgency, rigor, and budget discipline.
- Hands-on operational style; travel domestically/internationally regularly.
- Strong contract negotiation, vendor management, and performance oversight.
- Preferred: experience in AI/ML-enabled/digital drug discovery; plus familiarity with data standardization (TetraScience, FAIR).