Strategic Alliance Manager: Cancer Research UK

4,000 professionals, 0 days wasted, 1 incredible purpose. Together, we will beat cancer

Strategic Alliance Manager

Salary:  £52,000 – £57,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Location: Cambridge or London (High flex – we’d expect you to be in the office 1 to 2 days a week); with travel

Contract: Permanent, 35 hours per week

Closing date: 27 April 2023 23:55 This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications are received or once a suitable candidate is found

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer

We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That’s why we we’re looking for someone talented, someone innovative and ambitious, someone like you.

Join the interface between scientific innovation and industry commercial development as a Strategic Alliance Manager – and help in our mission to cure cancer faster.

We’re already the world’s largest non-governmental cancer research organisation, but our ambition doesn’t stop there. As part of Commercial Partnerships’ efforts to expand its alliance management resource and capabilities, our Strategic Alliance team provide best-in-class alliance management to drive, support and expand our innovative portfolio of strategic commercial alliances.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Strategic Alliance Manager. As a Strategic Alliance Manager working within the Strategic Alliances team, you will be responsible for the management and propulsion of CRUK’s strategic commercial alliances within Cancer Research Horizons and will play a critical role in advancing portfolios of discoveries to beat cancer.  Cancer Research Horizons is CRUK’s recently launched drug discovery and commercialisation organisation aimed at driving therapeutic innovation and translation. We are creating more partnerships with industry and academia and the Strategic Alliance team within Cancer Research Horizons provides best-in-class alliance management to drive, support and expand our innovative portfolio of strategic commercial alliances.

You will work closely with academics, technology transfer offices, biotech and pharma partners to develop and support a diverse portfolio of alliances focussed on cancer therapeutics and platform technologies, applying your business acumen to deliver business management to the alliance to achieve successful commercialisation of the portfolio to benefit cancer patients across the globe.  You will play a key role in the delivery of the Cancer Research Horizon’s strategy to expand CRUK’s commercial alliance portfolio to deliver novel technologies.  Your outstanding interpersonal skills will help you navigate complex relationships with alliance stakeholders and you will have the ability to translate contractual frameworks into functional, progressive and collaborative partnerships.  You will also apply your alliance management skills to provide support in the build and negotiation of new alliances to progress CRUK towards its vision of a world where everybody can lead longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.

If this sounds like a challenge you want to take on we would love to hear from you!

What will you be doing?

• Oversee a portfolio of alliances and manage the day-to-day business activities required to progress alliances towards success
• Provide a deep understanding of contracts, scientific awareness and business acumen
• Manage long term relationships with alliance stakeholders, including senior members of pharma/biotech alliance partners and academics by establishing a high level of trust
• Develop joint alliance vision, goals and guiding principles with the Project Manager (e.g. communication, decision-making, issue resolution)
• In consultation with alliance partner, lead on the patent strategy of IP arising from alliance activities
• Oversee and play an active role in the governance of alliances (including supporting joint committees, launch of new partnerships, setting agendas)
• Liaise with Cancer Research Horizons’ Search and Evaluation team to input to new alliance build and to support existing alliances
• Work closely with related functional areas within Cancer Research Horizons including Business Development, and Legal to support new alliance deal negotiation, advise on contractual needs of alliance agreements and oversee negotiation of small contracts and amendments to alliance agreements 
• Conduct regular market intelligence to ensure alliance portfolio remains competitive in the relevant landscape
• Professionally represent CRUK and Cancer Research Horizons in our alliance activities with pharma, biotech and investors

Who are we looking for?

• PhD (or equivalent) in a life sciences discipline, ideally oncology related
• Knowledge of the drug discovery, clinical development and technology translation pathways is essential with ability to grasp scientific concepts, making sound scientific judgement
• Previous experience of relationship management involving multiple external stakeholders is essential (2+ years is desirable)Project or alliance management, together with a broad-based business acumen having good understanding of varied contractual arrangements and proven operational delivery
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to work in a matrix environment, working collaboratively to deliver the scientific, commercial and operational objectives of an alliance
• Strong relationship management skills able to work effectively with key stakeholders at all levels in both academic and commercial organisations, championing needs of partners
• Excellent negotiation skills, having tenacity and ability to identify innovative win-win solutions to influence and resolve conflict to overcome challenges
• Excellent listening and communication skills, able to communicate at all levels of an organisation internally and externally, both verbally and in writing
• Familiarity with patent and commercial databases is preferable
• Experience of deal negotiation and post deal management is desirable.
• Working collaboratively within a cross-functional team to deliver scientific, commercial and operational objectives

What will I gain?

Each and every one of our employees contributes to our progress and is supporting our work to beat cancer. We think that’s impressive.

In return, we make sure you are supported by a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools, policies and processes to enable you to do your job well.

Our benefits package includes a substantial retirement plan, a generous and flexible leave allowance, discounts on anything from travel to technology, gym membership, and much more.

We review pay annually and aim to recognise individual performance and achievements. 

We don’t forget people have lives outside of work too and so we actively encourage a flexible working culture.

Our work – from funding cutting-edge research to developing public policy – will change the world. It’s exciting to be part of our team.

How do I apply?

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.

There’s a place for everyone at Cancer Research UK. Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We're committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. 

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented, and believe that a diverse workforce will help us to beat cancer sooner.