Alliance Management Lead

Summary

As Alliance Management Lead, this role is primarily responsible for managing strategic alliances and will be responsible for driving internal alignment, maintaining, and fostering internal and external relationships, providing strategic perspectives and proactively identifying risks and challenges that need to be addressed. These responsibilities apply to both external alliances as well as collaborations between Spark and the Roche organization. In addition, this role is responsible for ensuring that day-to-day operating requirements for assigned alliances are effectively managed and performance objectives are achieved. Last, this role will lead elements of the Center of Excellence (CoE) build within Program and Alliance Management (AM).

All of this requires the following:

• Developing and maintaining relationships with all individuals involved in the alliance, both internal to Spark and with the external partners

• Planning and coordinating implementation activities with the alliance partner

• Resolving related issues

• Reporting results to management

As such, the Alliance Management Lead will be responsible for at least one major alliance, various internal collaborations with the Roche Group, and several secondary alliances and sponsored research and other earlier-stage research collaborations as well as management of License Agreement obligations. The ideal candidate excels at relationship management, strategic thinking, problem solving, risk mitigation and is able to quickly become a trusted colleague to both internal and external partners.

Responsibilities

Support activities occurring across alliance life cycle for assigned alliances:

• Contribute to deal team following term sheet drafting in order to input to ongoing obligations for an alliance and understand potential future challenges for the collaboration

• Implement successful alliance launch for new alliances or new internal Roche collaborations

• Lead the resolution of operational-level conflicts

• Maintain organizational alignment

• Manage alliance performance per alliance metrics/measurement system

• Identify new opportunities for relationship building or expansion within an alliance

• Plan, implement, and monitor operational activities of alliance in conjunction with internal teams as needed

• Establish and maintain relationships within and across organizations

• Monitor cultural fit with alliance partner and adapt processes where necessary

Support alliance governance process:

• Implement an operational model relevant to the alliance

• Lead interactions/steering committees with alliance partner by developing agenda, setting priorities for discussions, capturing meeting minutes and tracking/following up on actions

• Track progress and providing updates to Spark governance boards appropriately

• Support or lead alliance negotiations/renegotiations throughout the alliance lifecycle

• Ensure orderly transition/transformation of alliance

• Form strong partnerships with internal functional areas involved in each alliance (e.g. Research, Development, Technology, Commercial, Patient Advocacy, Market Access, Business Development, Legal, Finance)

Support the creation of the AM CoE as part of the broader Program & Alliance Management CoE:

• Develop and use consistent practices across alliance launch, maintenance and termination

• Support the Spark organization in developing more of a partnering mindset through coaching and training

• Capture and develop AM Best Practices for different types and tiers of alliances to apply to Spark’s portfolio of alliances

Relationship Building:

• Influence internal and external stakeholders on an ongoing basis to deliver the alliance objectives - examples include: reprioritizations; budget reviews; strategic planning

• Capture and develop Alliance Management Best Practices for different types and tiers of alliances to apply to Spark’s portfolio of alliances

Education and Experience Requirements

•B.A./B.S. degree required MBA or science related graduate degree preferred and 8years life sciences (Pharmaceutical and/or biotech) industry experience required

• Experience managing cross-functional teams spanning R&D through commercialization

• Experience managing strategic alliances, and/or working in research collaborations or withexternal partners preferred

Key Skills, Abilities, and Competencies

• Self-Starter with an entrepreneurial spirit

• Empathetic and able to understand multiple perspectives

• Strong organizational skills; ability to effectively manage multiple projects and priorities

• Ability to self-prioritize workload, as well as manage and communicate resource conflicts

• Flexible and adaptable

• Comfortable working in a team environment with a results-focused work ethic

• Strong project management, analytical, critical thinking skills, and interpersonal skills

• Integrity and commitment to high ethical standards

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and superior attention to detail ; ability to effectively communicate at all levels of the organization

• Ability to engage credibly with internal and external stakeholders around scientific topics

Internal and External Contacts

• Accountable: Head of Alliance Management

• Advises: Functional Leads, Sub-team Leads, Finance, Legal, IP

• Coordinates: Cross-functional Joint teams, steering committee’s Sub-teams, ad-hoc strategic teams

Other Job Requirements

• Light travel may be required both domestic and international

Please be aware that Spark mandates COVID-19 vaccination of all employees regardless of work location. Accommodations may be made in accordance with applicable law.

Nearest Major Market: Philadelphia

Join the Spark Team

We were born of innovation, springing from the curiosity, imagination and dedication of remarkable scientists and healthcare visionaries. Our shared mission is to challenge the inevitability of genetic disease by discovering, developing, and delivering treatments in ways unimaginable - until now.

We don't follow footsteps. We create the path.