Director/Associate Director, R&D Strategic Collaborations

Biogen SANDBOX•Cambridge, MA

About The Position

Job Description Key Responsibilities: Support success of key alliance goals & ensure relationships with partners remain productive for 1 or more strategic alliances Work closely with and support cross-functional program teams to prepare for and engage in interactions with our partners towards successful outcomes (e.g. direction for joint steering committee meetings, project-based analyses & recommendations, behind-the-scenes pre-wiring & coordination, etc.). Be familiar and close enough to details of the programs (internally and at the partner) to provide thoughtful direction & counsel to team members on strategy & approach. Drive and/or assist in the review and creation of inter-company communications and develop agendas, manage key joint committee meetings and document the key discussion points and decisions taken at these meetings. Liaise with Legal, Finance, Business Development, and program/asset teams to ensure that key contract terms, including roles & responsibilities, milestones, financial transactions, progress reports, etc. are executed appropriately, developing an informed & practical point of view when dealing with areas of ambiguity. Proactively work to identify & mitigate potential future issues Build and maintain relationships with key personnel both internally and with alliance partner. Regularly communicate with partner alliance management counterpart and other key partner stakeholders as needed, including ad hoc communications/events that require cross-functional communication. Engage with the partner on the various day-to-day issues and opportunities arising from the collaborations. Identify issues as they arise internally, or as a result of partner interactions, and work with team leadership and other necessary stakeholders to formulate a position/strategy and participate/drive resolution process. Conduct post-mortem analyses & identify and implement proactive mitigation strategies to minimize crisis management situations Perform regular alliance audits and “health checks” Build expertise about partner company, including company organization/leadership, strategies, financials, priorities, etc.; become Biogen “internal expert” on partner company Engage manager as needed to discuss/brainstorm sticking points, potential solutions, and escalation requirements. Conduct regular reviews/meetings with senior management and other functions as appropriate to communicate key issues, milestones, etc. and gather feedback #LI-ML2 Qualifications Minimum of 7 years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry Drug development knowledge with basic to strong understanding of other functions relevant to the position, which may include: Research, Non-Clinical, Clinical, Tech Ops, Com Additional Information Successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing alliance management activities across R&D and for identifying novel business and operating models to help execute the portfolio outside of Biogen’s walls. They will also be responsible for assessing and tracking overall performance of the portfolio of external activity and working closely with Research Unit heads and other members of the Business Operations team to ensure the advancement of the portfolio.

Requirements

Minimum of 7 years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry
Drug development knowledge with basic to strong understanding of other functions relevant to the position, which may include: Research, Non-Clinical, Clinical, Tech Ops, Com

Responsibilities

Support success of key alliance goals & ensure relationships with partners remain productive for 1 or more strategic alliances
Work closely with and support cross-functional program teams to prepare for and engage in interactions with our partners towards successful outcomes (e.g. direction for joint steering committee meetings, project-based analyses & recommendations, behind-the-scenes pre-wiring & coordination, etc.)
Be familiar and close enough to details of the programs (internally and at the partner) to provide thoughtful direction & counsel to team members on strategy & approach.
Drive and/or assist in the review and creation of inter-company communications and develop agendas, manage key joint committee meetings and document the key discussion points and decisions taken at these meetings.
Liaise with Legal, Finance, Business Development, and program/asset teams to ensure that key contract terms, including roles & responsibilities, milestones, financial transactions, progress reports, etc. are executed appropriately, developing an informed & practical point of view when dealing with areas of ambiguity. Proactively work to identify & mitigate potential future issues
Build and maintain relationships with key personnel both internally and with alliance partner.
Regularly communicate with partner alliance management counterpart and other key partner stakeholders as needed, including ad hoc communications/events that require cross-functional communication.
Engage with the partner on the various day-to-day issues and opportunities arising from the collaborations.
Identify issues as they arise internally, or as a result of partner interactions, and work with team leadership and other necessary stakeholders to formulate a position/strategy and participate/drive resolution process.
Conduct post-mortem analyses & identify and implement proactive mitigation strategies to minimize crisis management situations
Perform regular alliance audits and “health checks”
Build expertise about partner company, including company organization/leadership, strategies, financials, priorities, etc.; become Biogen “internal expert” on partner company
Engage manager as needed to discuss/brainstorm sticking points, potential solutions, and escalation requirements.
Conduct regular reviews/meetings with senior management and other functions as appropriate to communicate key issues, milestones, etc. and gather feedback
Coordinate and oversee alliance management activities across R&D
Identifying novel business and operating models to help execute the portfolio outside of Biogen’s walls
Assessing and tracking overall performance of the portfolio of external activity and working closely with Research Unit heads and other members of the Business Operations team to ensure the advancement of the portfolio.