Associate Director, Academic Alliances

**Associate Director, Academic Alliances - **BioPharmaceuticals R&D Business Development& Licensing**
**Cambridge, UK; Gaithersburg, US or Gothenburg, SE**
**Competitive salary and benefits**

We are now recruiting an **Associate Director, Academic Alliances **to join the **BioPharmaceuticals R&D Business Development, Licensing and Strategy **function at **AstraZeneca**’s dynamic R&D site in **Cambridge UK**, **Gothenburg Sweden or Gaithersburg US**

Working at AstraZeneca means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together across global boundaries to make the impossible a reality. We continuously establish partnerships that help pursue world-class medicines in new ways, combining our people’s exceptional skills with those of people from all over the globe.

As an **Associate Director, Academic Alliances**, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Business Development Licensing & Strategy, you will be a key member of a team which is responsible for establishing, negotiating and executing academic collaboration for the BioPharmaceuticals R&D functions. The BioPharmaceuticals R&D Business Development Licensing and Strategy team plays a key role in presenting business cases to internal and external stakeholders and ensuring that value is generated for the organization through transacting on deals to support the BioPharmaceuticals R&D strategy.

As a member of a multinational, multifunctional team, your primary role will be to support Biopharmaceuticals R&D in the execution of routine agreements to support collaborative interactions with academic partners. You will also play a supportive role in developing business cases, building term sheets and negotiating complex transactions, with assistance from other functions and the Head of Academic Alliances as required. As an Associate Director, Academic Alliances, you will also be a key ambassador for AstraZeneca in its external interactions as well as helping senior members of the team and wider BioPharmaceuticals R&D to identify future partners, maintain relationships with current and potential future partners and ensure that AstraZeneca is viewed as a partner of choice.

**Main duties and responsibilities**
- Work with key internal BioPharmaceuticals R&D stakeholders to identify the best research collaborations which are aligned with BioPharmaceuticals R&D business strategy.
- Under the direction and with the support of the Head of Academic Alliances, evaluate and advise internal stakeholders on the most appropriate type of agreement to cover specific collaborative and partnering opportunities.
- Under the direction and with the support of the Head of Academic Alliances and cross-functional deal teams (IP, legal, finance, R&D) negotiate and execute various types of agreements with academic partners.
- Initiate, lead and manage re-negotiations and terminations as necessary for academic alliances, under the direction or with the support of the Head of Academic Alliances as needed
- Manage relationships with potential partner in a timely and professional manner; ensuring that AZ remains competitive in the discussions
- Maintain a strong and effective network with key academic institutions within the therapeutic area through engaging in regular interactions.

**Essential requirements**:

- Degree in a relevant scientific discipline or alternatively significant relevant experience and knowledge of the scientific discipline from working in the life science sector.
- Pharmaceutical, biotech industry or technology transfer office experience
- Basic understanding of key principles of contracts, deal structures; intellectual property, value drivers and valuation principles of relevance for licensing, collaboration and related transactions.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to effectively understand and act on complex information during high time pressure.
- Project management experience.
- Good working knowledge of all relevant company and national regulations, ensuring industry standards are applied.
- **
A** Second degree in a relevant scientific or business discipline is an advantage