Strategic Alliance Lead - Director
About The Position
Cerba Research is seeking a Strategic Alliance Lead to take ownership of its most strategic partnerships, preferred-provider relationships, and sole-source alliances across Central and Specialty Laboratory Services. This is a build role where the individual will serve as the executive and operational bridge between Cerba Research and its key partners. The role involves designing the governance, framework, and cross-functional alignment for these relationships, while also elevating the team to adopt a more strategic way of working. The company, Cerba Research, has over 40 years of clinical research expertise, offering services including clinical trial management, specialty lab & biomarkers services, and medical devices & diagnostics. They support clients from R&D through clinical studies and commercialization, combining specialist agility with global reach. Their aim is to transform clinical research to deliver precision and predictive medicine, helping patients access new treatments faster.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Business Administration, Clinical Research, or a related field
- Minimum 5 years in strategic account management, alliance management, or business operations within CRO, central laboratory, or a related life sciences environment
- Demonstrated experience owning a strategic partnership, preferred-provider agreement, or sole-source relationship end to end
- Comfortable operating in a heavily matrixed organization. Able to influence delivery teams and senior leadership in both directions without formal authority over either
- Executive-level stakeholder engagement experience, ideally including pharma procurement or vendor management
- A genuine interest in mentorship and team development
- Fluent in English
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree preferred
- Lab alliance experience preferred
- CRO alliance experience essential
Responsibilities
- Owning strategic alliance leadership across Cerba Research's highest-value partnerships, sole-source relationships, and preferred-provider agreements
- Building and running the governance model - QBRs, executive steering committees, escalation pathways; from the ground up
- Acting as the voice of the customer internally and the voice of Cerba Research externally, translating what each side actually needs into action
- Driving strategic account growth - new services, new therapeutic areas, and expanded scope, in partnership with Commercial leadership
- Coaching and elevating the existing portfolio oversight team into a more strategic, alliance-first way of working
- Serve as the designated executive and operational lead for assigned strategic partners, sole-source relationships, and preferred-provider agreements
- Lead the implementation and onboarding of newly signed strategic partnerships, coordinating cross-functional readiness and governance structures
- Monitor and ensure compliance with MSA commitments, service levels, and contractual obligations - proactively identifying and closing gaps
- Define, track, and report KPIs including study award rates, turnaround time, quality indicators, and customer satisfaction, translating them into executive-ready insight
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across Procurement, Vendor Management, Clinical Operations, and Executive Leadership
- Lead resolution of complex operational, quality, or commercial issues affecting strategic partners, coordinating cross-functional teams to close them out
- Develop and maintain Strategic Alliance Plans covering stakeholder mapping, growth targets, competitive positioning, and expansion opportunities
Benefits
- Real Ownership, From Day One
- A True Blank Slate
- Executive Access
- Global Reach, Real Impact
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
