Senior Director, Alliance Management

Role Summary

Senior Director, Alliance Management will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction and growth of the company, leading efforts to manage strategic partnerships, licensing agreements, and future opportunities that support the advancement of our cutting-edge science & therapies.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Executive Leadership Team, Program Leadership, R&D, and Commercial teams to ensure alignment of alliance management activities with the company's strategic and operational objectives.
• Collaborate with BD, program / project teams, and functional leadership to assess the feasibility and execution of partnerships and alliance deliverables.
• Work with prospective, new and existing partners to ensure that Intellia and the partner achieve the goals of the alliance.
• Accountable for coordinating effective communication and governance, in line with both the letter and spirit of the alliance governance provisions. Directly manage joint governance committees, ensure proactive preparation with appropriate stakeholders, and timely documentation and dissemination of detailed, accurate, and actionable meeting minutes.
• Understand joint roles, responsibilities, and processes to proactively engage on decisions. Serve as the initial point of contact for conflict resolution and exercise sound judgement in escalation of key issues and risks as unexpected events emerge.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive knowledge of each contract and associated contracts, ensuring internal and external parties are adhering to their obligations across all aspects of the alliance.
• While keeping a close eye on the contractual commitments and boundaries, maintain a wider perspective and continually consider the principles, spirit, and long-term goals of the alliance to ensure we are always driving towards those objectives.
• Identify issues and opportunities that are “extra-contractual” and work both in Intellia and with the partner to construct a path forward to address or capitalize on them.
• Coordinate external communication plans and execution to ensure critical information is shared in timely manner and to enable each party to effectively communicate with third parties in a meaningful manner.
• Partner with legal on alliance renegotiation as opportunities for improvement arise. Actively participate in the process and decision-making around the conclusion of alliances, including potential expansion/extension of a collaboration, when they reach the end of their term or any other termination event.
• In collaboration with legal and R&D, coordinate progress reports for in-licensed IP and reviews for external-facing manuscripts and presentations that are relevant to partnerships.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Manages colleagues involved in the Alliance process through a matrixed/dotted line role (strong influence skills required)
• The role will lead Alliance Management within the broader department of Strategic Operations, Program & Alliance Management and may directly manage or oversee future alliance managers, as appropriate, based on scope and expansion of partnerships.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels and across company lines.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong network of industry contacts and proven ability to build relationships with key decision-makers.
• Excellent business acumen, with the ability to assess and balance opportunities with risk.
• Desire and ability to perform both at a strategic leadership level as well as in a hands-on capacity as a player/coach.
• Thorough understanding of contracts.
• Understanding of the drug development process and working knowledge of the essential activities for all key functional areas.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including specifically, the skills needed to manage difficult conversations and resolve conflicts as they arise.
• Develop a strong understanding of our research platform, in-vivo and/or ex-vivo capabilities and pipeline
• Ability to work with scientific team members at all levels.

Education

• Advanced degree in life sciences (e.g., MS, PhD) required, MBA a plus

Experience

• Minimum 12+ years of experience within the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, and at least 5+ years of experience in roles within alliance management / program management
• Proven track record of managing successful commercial partnerships, ideally global alliances. Prior experience with early R&D alliances.
• Experience in negotiating licensing and contract amendments for strategic alliances.
• Deep understanding of the biotechnology and healthcare sectors, with multidisciplinary knowledge across research, development, and commercialization

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Ability to travel onsite or to in-person governance meetings with partners