Associate Director, Technology Alliance Management

Associate Director - Tchnology Alliance Management

Hybrid work

The Alliance Management (AM) group sits within Biopharmaceutical Clinical Operations and is accountable for setting the sourcing strategy across R&D and managing adherence to it. They ensure our suppliers deliver to the needs of the organisations; and develop strong, beneficial partnerships with key suppliers.

The role of the AD – Alliance Management is to support the Alliance Leads in managing one or more supplier(s) contracted to deliver services within the scope of Alliance Management support. They will be responsible for supporting governance activities, support to ensure model(s) are meeting the operational needs of the customers, ensuring alliance effectiveness, communications support, providing training on AM supported delivery models / suppliers and be a primary point of contact for study teams for general questions relating to ways of working. This role may also be assigned as the Alliance Lead for selected small and/or low complexity supplier(s).

Typical Accountabilities:

Supplier / Model Governance

• Supports assigned Alliance Leads in management of model /service line and  supplier framework and governance
• Ensures understanding of roles and responsibilities across delivery teams for assigned delivery model(s)/service line(s)
• Ensures implementation of new or changes to processes for assigned suppliers
• Works with Alliance Leads, Process Integration Lead, internal subject matter experts and counterparts in supplier organisations to ensure the maintenance of interface processes / ways of working (e.g. Alliance Handbook)
• Lead or supports operational governance of assigned supplier(s) / model(s)/service line(s). Working with CRO/supplier counterpart - generate agendas, co-ordinate presenters and pre-reads, minutes and action tracking, etc
• Provides input into the enhancement and development of excellence of governance meetings
• Serves as point of contact for issue escalation. Facilitates resolution of non-complex operational issue
• Supports / ensures ongoing assessment of Lessons Learned and seeks new opportunities to drive efficiencies and continuous improvement within supplier, across functions and across delivery models
• Acts as an advocate for Partnering, ensuring behaviours and expected ways of working are universally understood, providing feedback and support to teams as required
• May act as audit co-ordinator for AZ led supplier audits
• May act as Alliance Lead for small and/or low complexity models/service lines/ suppliers

Supplier / Model Quality and Performance

• Supports the definition of, and monitors quality and performance of service deliverables in alignment with MSAs
• Produces performance reports for stakeholder / governance review
• Compiles and maintains model and /or supplier-level risk and issue logs for governance interactions
• Supports creation and execution of delivery model surveys / health checks

Strategy Development / Enablement

• Supports implementation of sourcing strategies across the R&D organisations e.g. model documentation / training materials

Supplier selection and qualification

• Supports / co-ordinate activities relating to supplier selection as required by the assigned Alliance Lead
• Supports / co-ordinate activities relating to supplier qualification as required by the assigned Alliance Lead (where Alliance Lead assigned to lead these activities)

Study team support / training:-

• Supports study teams with ways of working within the model/service line/supplier, developing and providing training as required
• Supports sharing of successes relating to supplier performance or delivery e.g. postcards, monthly update submissions
• May act as facilitator for relevant study kick off meetings
• May act as facilitator/mediator for study level issue management between CRO/supplier and study teams
• May facilitate Lessons Learned sessions with study teams, ensuring knowledge sharing across Alliance Management on key outcomes or themes

Stakeholder Engagement

• Acts as point of contact with business and functional process owners for external delivery models/service lines and /or specific suppliers to agree application of internal processes, systems and tools where required 
• Manages study team relationships

Portfolio / Capacity Management

• Where relevant, reviews ongoing book of work for supplier to ensure supplier can support the portfolio

Alliance Management Development

• May contribute to the delivery of strategic initiatives within and beyond AM
• Serves as a delegate for the AM Group Lead for specific tasks or activities, as necessary 

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Essential:

• University degree in related discipline, or equivalent
• Strong experience from within the pharmaceutical industry or clinical research organization
• Good knowledge of clinical and pharmaceutical drug development process at various phases of development
• Experience of working successfully with external suppliers
• Strong collaboration skills to work across global and functional boundaries
• Strong leadership and influencing skills, especially without authority and with resilience
• Strong communication skills, written and verbal
• Strong confliction resolution and negotiation skills
• Able to see the full picture and understand impact of actions
• Ability to network and collaborate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
• Strong project management skills
• Familiar with ICH GCP and related guidelines and practices  

Desirable:

• Knowledge of alliance governance frameworks and processes (including performance metrics)
• Ability to work flexibly to solve problems that involve many decision makers, and develop multiple options/recommendations
• Experience of partner selection and qualification  
• Innovative thinker with affinity toward experimentation and appropriate risk taking
• Technical understanding of service deliverables and subject matter expertise (e.g. study management, data management, analysis and reporting)
• Knowledge of existing AstraZeneca external suppliers & models  
• Knowledge of AstraZeneca policies, procedures and guidelines 

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.