Senior Director, Alliance Management
Kura Oncology, Inc.
August 26, 2026
Remote friendly (Boston, MA)
United States
Corporate Functions
Essential Job Functions
The Senior Director of Alliance Management will manage and optimize Kura’s strategic alliance with Kyowa Kirin, supporting strategic and operational execution of programs. Responsibilities include leading alliance governance, developing and executing alliance strategies, fostering internal/external collaboration and communication, and ensuring mutual value delivery.
- Develop and execute alliance management strategy aligned with business objectives, partnership agreements, and long-term priorities.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with Joint Committee members, governance leaders, internal stakeholders, and partner counterparts.
- Facilitate joint committees and working groups to promote collaboration.
- Drive accountability to partnership agreements and governance decisions (commitments, obligations, milestones, actions).
- Serve as primary point of contact for partners; maintain strong relationships and clear communication.
- Drive continuous improvement to strengthen the partnership for program execution.
- Partner with Program Leadership/Program Management to translate governance outcomes into execution plans (owners, timelines, deliverables) and own follow-through.
- Establish communication and decision-making protocols; ensure contractually required communication is timely.
- Interpret contracts, manage obligations, establish/monitor metrics and milestones, negotiate amendments, and manage conflicts/escalations.
Job Specifications
- Advanced degree in life sciences, business administration, or related field (preferred).
- Significant experience in alliance management or partnership development and commercialization in pharma/biotech.
- Minimum 12 years experience.
- Strong negotiation and communication skills; manage complex relationships.
- Executive presence; confidence to raise issues, challenge stakeholders, and influence across boundaries.
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving.
- Expertise working in matrix and cross-cultural teams; influence without authority.
- Experience across commercial, business development, clinical development, CMC, R&D, finance, and legal.
- Ability to lead decisions across multiple programs; set direction and trade-offs.
- Drive cross-functional alignment.
Benefits/Compensation
- Base range: $284,000 - $328,000 per year; plus benefits, equity, and annual target bonus.
The Kura Package
- Career advancement/development opportunities, competitive comp, 401K + employer contributions, generous stock options, ESPP, 20 days PTO to start, paid parental leave, catered lunches, home office setup, lifestyle stipend, commuter stipend (Boston), and social activities.
The Senior Director of Alliance Management will manage and optimize Kura’s strategic alliance with Kyowa Kirin, supporting strategic and operational execution of programs. Responsibilities include leading alliance governance, developing and executing alliance strategies, fostering internal/external collaboration and communication, and ensuring mutual value delivery.
- Develop and execute alliance management strategy aligned with business objectives, partnership agreements, and long-term priorities.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with Joint Committee members, governance leaders, internal stakeholders, and partner counterparts.
- Facilitate joint committees and working groups to promote collaboration.
- Drive accountability to partnership agreements and governance decisions (commitments, obligations, milestones, actions).
- Serve as primary point of contact for partners; maintain strong relationships and clear communication.
- Drive continuous improvement to strengthen the partnership for program execution.
- Partner with Program Leadership/Program Management to translate governance outcomes into execution plans (owners, timelines, deliverables) and own follow-through.
- Establish communication and decision-making protocols; ensure contractually required communication is timely.
- Interpret contracts, manage obligations, establish/monitor metrics and milestones, negotiate amendments, and manage conflicts/escalations.
Job Specifications
- Advanced degree in life sciences, business administration, or related field (preferred).
- Significant experience in alliance management or partnership development and commercialization in pharma/biotech.
- Minimum 12 years experience.
- Strong negotiation and communication skills; manage complex relationships.
- Executive presence; confidence to raise issues, challenge stakeholders, and influence across boundaries.
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving.
- Expertise working in matrix and cross-cultural teams; influence without authority.
- Experience across commercial, business development, clinical development, CMC, R&D, finance, and legal.
- Ability to lead decisions across multiple programs; set direction and trade-offs.
- Drive cross-functional alignment.
Benefits/Compensation
- Base range: $284,000 - $328,000 per year; plus benefits, equity, and annual target bonus.
The Kura Package
- Career advancement/development opportunities, competitive comp, 401K + employer contributions, generous stock options, ESPP, 20 days PTO to start, paid parental leave, catered lunches, home office setup, lifestyle stipend, commuter stipend (Boston), and social activities.