Sr Alliance Manager, China External Innovation
Novo Nordisk
August 09, 2026
On-site
Shanghai, VA
Corporate Functions
Role purpose / responsibilities:
- Coordinate end-to-end external collaborations with biotech companies and academic institutions, covering deal execution and post-deal alliance management.
- Serve as the primary operational and governance interface between Novo Nordisk and external partners to ensure collaborations are efficiently negotiated, well-governed, and successfully executed from contract signature through scientific and pipeline outcomes.
- Deal execution & contracting coordination:
- Coordinate external collaboration deal execution, aligning internal stakeholders (scientific, legal, BD, finance).
- Support negotiation of research scope, milestones, governance, and contractual terms.
- Work with Sourcing Directors, Alliance Management, Legal, IP, and BD to translate scientific intent into executable agreements and ensure alignment with Novo Nordisk standards and compliance requirements.
- Support progression through R&D External Innovation governance and decision processes.
- Post-deal alliance management & project coordination:
- Act as day-to-day alliance lead after deal signature: establish/run governance structures; coordinate meetings, milestones, timelines, and deliverables.
- Track budgets, payments, and contractual obligations; ensure clear roles/responsibilities and communication flows.
- Proactively identify/manage risks, issues, and dependencies; escalate when needed.
Qualifications:
- PhD in life sciences, pharmacology, chemistry, biology, or related discipline.
- 5+ years’ experience in alliance management and project management, including external collaborations within pharma/biotech.
- Hands-on experience managing biotech partnerships and academic SRAs/co-research agreements.
- Familiarity with research collaboration contracts, milestone-based agreements, and governance models in R&D collaborations.
Working conditions:
- Based in Shanghai; up to ~20% travel within China as required.
- Coordinate end-to-end external collaborations with biotech companies and academic institutions, covering deal execution and post-deal alliance management.
- Serve as the primary operational and governance interface between Novo Nordisk and external partners to ensure collaborations are efficiently negotiated, well-governed, and successfully executed from contract signature through scientific and pipeline outcomes.
- Deal execution & contracting coordination:
- Coordinate external collaboration deal execution, aligning internal stakeholders (scientific, legal, BD, finance).
- Support negotiation of research scope, milestones, governance, and contractual terms.
- Work with Sourcing Directors, Alliance Management, Legal, IP, and BD to translate scientific intent into executable agreements and ensure alignment with Novo Nordisk standards and compliance requirements.
- Support progression through R&D External Innovation governance and decision processes.
- Post-deal alliance management & project coordination:
- Act as day-to-day alliance lead after deal signature: establish/run governance structures; coordinate meetings, milestones, timelines, and deliverables.
- Track budgets, payments, and contractual obligations; ensure clear roles/responsibilities and communication flows.
- Proactively identify/manage risks, issues, and dependencies; escalate when needed.
Qualifications:
- PhD in life sciences, pharmacology, chemistry, biology, or related discipline.
- 5+ years’ experience in alliance management and project management, including external collaborations within pharma/biotech.
- Hands-on experience managing biotech partnerships and academic SRAs/co-research agreements.
- Familiarity with research collaboration contracts, milestone-based agreements, and governance models in R&D collaborations.
Working conditions:
- Based in Shanghai; up to ~20% travel within China as required.