Technology Alliance Management (Alliance Lead)

Role Summary

Be part of a dedicated Research & Development team focused on helping more patients, strengthening the pipeline, and advancing the area. This role sits in BioPharma Clinical Operations and is responsible for guiding alliance management with external suppliers to meet customer needs, ensuring alliance effectiveness, and maintaining strong supplier relationships. The position supports and leads Patient Recruitment and Retention.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for the alliance management of one or more supplier(s) within or across service lines
• Proactively identifies and manages risks at the supplier/model/service line level
• Serves as the point of contact for issue escalation to AM for assigned supplier(s); collaborates with stakeholders to identify solutions and facilitates resolution of operational issues affecting delivery
• Leads operational governance of the supplier(s)/service line(s)
• Contributes to executive-level governance meetings and model-level governance/supplier council forums as required
• Acts as audit Sponsor and/or audit co-ordinator for AZ-led supplier audits as applicable
• Defines metrics and SLAs for the supplier within the MSA; monitors quality and performance of deliverables
• Ensures selected suppliers deliver to contract and maintains strong relationships with external suppliers and internal customers
• Ensures visibility of supplier performance to relevant stakeholders; integrates Lessons Learned for suppliers/models
• Seeks opportunities to drive efficiencies and continuous improvement within supplier/model/service lines
• Ensures understanding of roles and responsibilities across delivery teams for assigned models/service lines
• Collaborates with AM Process Integration Lead and supplier counterparts to maintain interface processes and ways of working
• May manage or coach junior team members; may delegate tasks to others and lead key initiatives within AM

Qualifications

• Required: University degree in a related field (PhD/ MSc preferred; BSc required with 10+ years of pharmaceutical industry or CRO experience)
• Required: Strong experience in the pharmaceutical industry or CRO; detailed knowledge of clinical and pharmaceutical drug development processes
• Required: Experience working with external partners and managing relationships; experience directing alliance governance frameworks and metrics
• Required: Strong leadership and influencing skills, especially without formal authority; strong collaboration across global and functional boundaries
• Required: Excellent conflict resolution, mediation, and negotiation skills; ability to solve problems with many decision makers and develop multiple options/recommendations
• Required: Familiarity with ICH GCP and related guidelines and practices

Education

• University degree in a related field (PhD/MSc preferred; BSc required with 10+ years of experience in pharma/CRO)