Associate Director, Alliance Management

Everyone at Kite is grounded by one common goal – curing cancer. Every single day, we seek to establish a direct line between that purpose and our day-to-day work. Would you like to join us in this mission?

We are seeking an initiative-taking individual to join our Alliance Management team as an Associate Director, Alliance Management. The Alliance Management group is responsible for managing and optimizing the value of alliances for pioneering cell therapies at all stages of the product life cycle (research, development, and commercial). Alliances include joint ventures and in- and out-licensing of products and technologies. The position will be based in Santa Monica, California and will report to a Vice President of Alliance Management.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Oversee the governance of strategic partnerships in research, development, and commercialization partnerships. This includes managing governance committees, identifying key issues and solution-driving.

• Supervise implementation of and adherence to agreed-upon research, development, and commercialization plans; take appropriate action to ensure follow through.

• Collaborate closely with partner companies to set the direction and scope for implementation of partnership agreement: key activities, timing, and responsibilities on either side.

• Issue management – address hot topic issues that require immediate senior stakeholder attention while working diligently manage issues and to minimize crisis management situations.

• Perform regular alliance audits and health checks.

• Compliance/contract management – liaise with legal, finance, R&D and Commercial to ensure that key contract milestones, financial transactions, and progress reports are managed appropriately and to provide information/updates as needed. Regularly compile, develop, and control quality of forecasts to support financial planning activities.

• Internal Alliance Representation

• Host regular reviews and meetings with senior stakeholders and other functions to communicate key issues, landmarks, and gather feedback.

• Lead and/or participate in contract renegotiations as appropriate.

• Participate in review of new partner contract negotiations as appropriate and provide input into partnership implementation terms of the contract, in particular governance structures and processes.

• Cultivate expertise about corporate partnerships and lead a portfolio of partner companies as well as government and academic institutions. Oversee differences across organizations regarding their leadership structure, strategies, financials, priorities, and decision making.

• Lead or support infrastructure projects which include project tracking, developing lessons learned and alliance summaries, as well as content for intracompany website and other communications.

• Participate in group meetings to review progress and issues and share standard methodologies.

Basic Qualifications:

• Doctorate and 5+ years of experience OR Master’s and 8+ years of experience OR Bachelor’s and 10+ years of experience ​

• 5+ years' experience in Alliance Management, Business Development, academic technology transfer office or related function

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Life Sciences, Business, Medicine, or Law.

• 10+ years' experience with BS/BA or 8+ years with an advanced degree in the pharmaceutical, life sciences or related industry, preferably in commercial, business development, or project management role.

• Preferred experience in CAR-T immuno-oncology therapeutic areas and emerging areas of research and drug development.

• Noted experience with cross-industry engagement, collaboration, and aligning diverse partners.

• Excellent motivation and self-direction, high capacity for learning quickly.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to lead, interact with, focus, negotiate, and resolve conflict.

• Demonstrated ability to identify, prioritize and resolve key project and partnership issues, with mindfulness and excellence in project management to effectively manage multiple projects and priorities.

• Demonstrated ability to interact with and to present to senior stakeholders and executives.

• Demonstrated ability to work with and coordinate asks from multiple customers, both internally and with partners. Must be able to manage ambiguity well.

• Demonstrated ability to operate in a matrixed team environment.

• Participation in development and life cycle management project teams.

• Excellent presentation skills with an ability to efficiently and productively communicate both orally and in writing.

• Experience in global markets (e.g., EU, Japan, and other).

• Ability to travel 15%.