VP, Strategic Growth & Partnerships

McKesson • Nashville, TN

13h

About The Position

It’s More Than a Career, It’s a Mission. Our people are the foundation of our success. By joining our growing team at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), a subsidiary of McKesson, you will have the opportunity to become part of one of the largest community-based cancer programs to advance oncology treatments and improve outcomes for cancer patients across the globe. We look for mission-driven candidates who have a desire to advance the fight against cancer and make a difference in the lives of patients diagnosed with cancer every day. Our Mission People who live with cancer – those who work to prevent it, fight it, and survive it – are at the heart of every decision we make. Bringing the most innovative medical minds together with the most passionate caregivers in their communities, we are transforming care and personalizing treatment. Through clinical excellence and cutting-edge research, SCRI is redefining cancer care around the world. The VP of Strategic Growth and Partnerships is a senior leadership team member responsible for driving SCRI’s enterprise growth strategy by integrating marketing, communications, business development, partnerships, and clinical research expansion. This role elevates SCRI’s visibility and reputation as a global leader in oncology research through enterprise-wide marketing and communications initiatives while delivering measurable growth with sponsors, sites, and stakeholders across a complex, matrixed environment. The VP of Strategic Growth and Partnerships leads strategic planning and execution for clinical research programs, manages biopharma relationships, identifies new market opportunities (including partnerships and M&A), and represents SCRI at key industry forums. Expertise in biopharma, clinical research, drug development, and integrated marketing and communications is essential to the success of this role.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree required; Master's Degree preferred
• 10+ years of relevant experience
• Deep expertise in healthcare/oncology marketing and communications.
• Extensive experience in clinical research sales and biopharma business development, preferably in a leadership role
• Understanding of drug development processes, regulatory requirements (ICH‑GCP, FDA/EMA guidance, HIPAA, GDPR; sponsor/CRO oversight expectations), and clinical trial methodologies
• Understanding of the Biopharma ecosystem: Sponsor/CRO decision drivers, therapeutic area pipelines (esp. oncology), protocol design basics, endpoints, and competitive trial landscape.
• Extensive experience in brand and communications positioning for scientific, patient, provider, and sponsor audiences; crisis/issue management; media and thought leadership dynamics.
• Knowledge of core marketing and sales technologies, including CRM systems, marketing automation platforms, and web/digital analytics tools.
• Strategy & execution: Proven track record leading complex programs; strategic thinking, decision‑making, and problem‑solving.
• Communication, influence, & storytelling: Exceptional communication and stakeholder influence skills; Tailor narratives to scientific, commercial, and community audiences; executive presence with board‑level clarity.
• Stakeholder management: Align executives, investigators, operations, finance, and legal in a matrix; secure resources and decisions.
• Data-driven decision making: Proficiency in interpreting and analyzing clinical trial data and market analytics
• Partnership Development: Source, qualify, and negotiate sponsor/CRO and health system/academic partnerships; structure agreements.
• Pipeline building: Design multi‑channel demand programs for sponsors and studies; optimize patient recruitment and site capacity utilization.
• Financial acumen: Build and manage multi‑million‑dollar budgets; evaluate pricing, margin, and investment cases; prioritize by ROI.
• Change leadership: Lead transformations (new tools, processes, org design) with structured change management and measurable adoption.
• Talent leadership: Recruit, develop, and retain high‑performing Marketing & BD leaders; set standards, coach, and succession‑plan.
• Operate in ambiguity: Ability to effectively work in a fast‑paced, matrixed environment; manage multiple priorities simultaneously and drive cross‑functional alignment.
• Systems thinking: Connect brand, demand, site capacity, and sponsor needs into one growth engine; anticipate downstream impacts.
• Prioritization & focus: Focus on the initiatives that materially move accruals, revenue, and reputation.
• Cross‑functional collaboration: Bridge key stakeholders (internal and external) to execute initiatives end‑to-end.
• Resilience & adaptability: Navigate protocol changes, regulatory shifts, and market volatility; maintain momentum under pressure.
• Ethics & compliance orientation: Champion patient safety, data privacy, and model integrity.

Nice To Haves

• Relevant industry certifications (e.g., clinical research, marketing analytics) are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Growth & Brand Stewardship: Craft and execute visionary growth strategies in collaboration with site management and contract research organizations, ensuring alignment with our overarching organizational goals.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, translating business goals into high‑impact programs that advance SCRI’s mission.
• Scout the market for promising partnerships, sales opportunities, or M&A prospects, while maintaining a sharp eye on the competitive landscape in oncology clinical research and care.
• Define and execute an integrated growth strategy that aligns business objectives with brand positioning across all channels and audiences
• Maintain awareness of emerging medical and scientific trends, industry breakthroughs, and regulatory shifts that influence drug development.
• Lead efforts to enhance the company's competitive position in the clinical research landscape through innovative solutions and services.
• Partner with fellow senior leaders to champion innovation and spearhead growth.
• Integrated Marketing & Communications Define and execute SCRI’s brand strategy, ensuring consistent positioning across all channels and audiences.
• Lead omnichannel campaigns (digital, social, experiential, traditional), clinical trial awareness, and patient recruitment; oversee content strategy and thought leadership.
• Lead the development of the marketing and communications budget aligned with strategic priorities.
• Direct corporate communications, media relations, crisis communications, and community outreach to strengthen SCRI’s reputation.
• Stakeholder Engagement Partner with physician leaders and scientific teams to amplify research breakthroughs and elevate flagship initiatives (e.g., Accelero) through strategic storytelling.
• Collaborate with pharma and biotech sponsors to develop targeted patient recruitment strategies.
• Business Development & Partnerships Build and nurture relationships with investigators, study sponsors, CROs, pharmaceutical/biotech partners, and academic institutions; expand collaborations to optimize resource utilization.
• Oversee marketing and sales strategies that grow brand awareness and market share with biopharma customers; represent SCRI at scientific conferences and industry gatherings.
• Enhance company competitiveness in clinical research through innovative solutions and services.
• Performance, Analytics & Innovation Establish metrics dashboards and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to monitor campaign and growth outcomes; leverage market research and analytics to guide decision making and continuous optimization.
• Stay ahead of industry trends and emerging technologies to evolve SCRI’s capabilities and stakeholder engagement.
• People Leadership & Culture Lead and develop a high‑performing team; recruit, mentor, and manage internal talent and external partners (agencies/contractors).
• Provide continuous performance feedback, conduct thorough evaluations, and identify opportunities for training and development to elevate team capabilities.
• Supervise leaders across growth disciplines (e.g., Business Development, Directors of Corporate Communication, Site Marketing & Communications, Marketing & Digital Engagement)
• Champion a collaborative, inclusive culture that fosters innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Inspire teams around patient impact and scientific advancement while meeting commercial targets.
• Cross ‑ Functional & Matrix Collaboration Partner closely with internal business units, network marketing teams, and external stakeholders to ensure integrated planning and execution; collaborate with HCA Healthcare, McKesson, and partner practices.
• Practices and adheres to the “Code of Conduct” philosophy and “Mission and Value Statement.”
• During your employment with SCRI, you will be routinely assigned training requirements. You are expected to complete any training assignments by the due date.

Benefits

• We care about the well-being of the patients and communities we serve, and that starts with caring for our people. That’s why we have a Total Rewards package that includes comprehensive benefits to support physical, mental, and financial well-being.
• Our Total Rewards offerings serve the different needs of our diverse colleague population and ensure they are the healthiest versions of themselves.
• For more information regarding benefits through our parent company, McKesson, please click here . As part of Total Rewards, we are proud to offer a competitive compensation package.
• This is determined by several factors, including performance, experience and skills, equity, regular job market evaluations, and geographical markets.
• In addition to base pay, other compensation, such as an annual bonus or long-term incentive opportunities may be offered.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees