Business Development and M&A plays a critical core role in AZ achieving its strategic priority of growth through scientific innovation through the successful execution of transactions which expand, focus and rationalise the Company’s pipeline and portfolio. Recent transaction examples include the acquisition of Neogene Therapeutics, CinCor Pharma and Alexion Pharmaceuticals, the exclusive license agreement with Eccogene and the collaborations with Daiichi Sankyo and Merck.

Additionally, Externalisation is a core component of the AZ strategy, partnering assets outside AZ’s main Therapeutic Areas (TA), collaborating with third parties to access scientific and commercial capability or geographic reach that AZ does not possess. AZ will also, from time to time, divest mature or non-core assets where greater value and patient access and reach can be achieved in the hands of a third party.

The Alliance and Integration Management (AIM) Director will be responsible for supporting strategic alliances or integration or divestment activities across the business, or may lead smaller scale opportunities. The role holder will work closely with Transaction Leads and stakeholders on a global basis across AstraZeneca’s therapy areas.

In addition, the AIM Director, in collaboration with the Alliance and Integration Management team, will contribute to ensuring AstraZeneca has an industry leading Alliance Management (AM) and Integration Management (IM) capability that improves our reputation as the ‘Partner of Choice’. This will be accomplished through the development and constant improvement of tools, techniques and processes in Alliance and Integration Management, by influencing and supporting Alliance Managers across other functions and therapeutic areas, and by becoming recognized by our partners as a trusted ombudsman in key strategic alliances.

Typical Accountabilities

The role-holder will be accountable for:

• Supporting the integration and alliance activities for high priority and complex company acquisitions, divestitures, strategic alliances and other deal types, through global cross-functional teams

• Utilise and develop high calibre senior stakeholder management skills and strategies.

• Acting in the capacity of project manager in support of the Alliance and Integration Management Senior Directors as required.

• Leading smaller scale alliances, and other projects.

• Supporting the rapid establishment of optimised, efficient business processes for integrated entities and alliance relationships that deliver the value underpinning the business case for the deal whilst balancing and managing business, legal, and human risks appropriately

• In collaboration with AIM Senior Directors, supporting early inclusion of governance and integration planning through the Due Diligence process and ensuring seamless transition post signature into the alliance / Integration ‘kick off’ through steady state and eventual alliance termination.

• Reporting progress for the most important acquisitions and alliances across AZ to SET and senior stakeholders and recommending areas for performance improvement

• Ensuring compliance with all alliance contractual provisions, managing contractual disputes, and coordinating alliance contract renegotiation or amendments when required.

• Developing and implementing best in industry approaches to Alliance and Integration Management

• Developing and implementing tools, techniques and processes to support future activities and establish an AZ way of working in partnerships

• Driving and embedding a strong culture of continuous improvement across the AZ Alliance Management community , ensuring key learning is applied to subsequent alliances / integrations

• Enhancing the broader AZ AM and IM functional capabilities, through developing and implementing tools,training and development programmes

• At all times, promote AstraZeneca externally as the preferred partner by:

  • Responding promptly to external requests for information.

  • Proactively making contacts, attending conferences and seminars.

  • Keeping up-to-date with industry and research trends.

  • Maintaining formal contact channels (such as regular meetings with partners).

  • Contributes to the sharing of best practice.

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Essential

• Bachelors Degree with 8 years experience

• Significant project management experience

• Excellent judgement – regarding the “how”, “what”, and “when” of addressing alliance partners and key stakeholders with sensitive issues.

• Established meeting facilitation skills

• Integration management experience (ranging from clinical to full scale commercial , development and operations )

• Alliance management experience with large complex / peer alliances (to include development, and commercial spanning US, EU and Japan)

• Knowledge of alliance and integration management tools and processes.

• Ability to work and command the respect of senior management across AZ and with partners.

• Experience in problem solving/ conflict resolution in a cross-functional, cross-cultural environment

• Collaborative and networking skills

• Strong financial and legal accumen

• Understanding of the drug development process, intellectual property management, commercial and other aspects typically associated with global licensing evaluation process.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Desirable

• Higher level degree (MBA)