Associate Director, Operations Alliance Management

Responsibilities

• Alliance Governance & Operations:
• Partner with the Director, Alliance Management to implement and maintain alliance governance frameworks, including Joint Steering Committees (JSCs), Joint Operating Teams (JOTs), and other governance bodies.
• Support the development and execution of alliance governance charters, communication plans, and escalation pathways.
• Coordinate governance meetings, prepare agendas and materials, capture decisions and actions, and track deliverables across governance structures.
• Monitor alliance performance against contractual obligations, milestones, and KPIs.
• Facilitate issue resolution and decision-making processes across alliance stakeholders.
• Project & Program Management:
• Lead cross-functional project management activities supporting alliance programs from development through commercialization.
• Develop integrated project plans aligned with partner and internal objectives.
• Track project milestones, timelines, and deliverables to ensure successful execution of alliance commitments.
• Identify and mitigate risks, dependencies, and resource constraints across alliance programs.
• Drive accountability across teams to ensure on-time and high-quality delivery.
• Technology Transfer & Product Launch Support
• Facilitate cross-functional coordination required for successful technology transfers between internal teams and external partners.
• Support planning and execution of product launches within alliance programs.
• Ensure alignment of manufacturing, quality, regulatory, supply chain, and commercial readiness activities.
• Monitor progress against launch readiness milestones and resolve cross-functional challenges.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to tech transfer and launch execution.
• Joint Operating Team (JOT) Leadership:
• Establish and lead Joint Operating Teams (JOTs) to support day-to-day alliance execution.
• Define JOT structure, roles, responsibilities, and operating cadence.
• Facilitate JOT meetings and ensure effective communication across partner organizations.
• Drive alignment across internal and external stakeholders on project priorities and deliverables.
• Ensure timely escalation of risks and issues to governance committees.
• Stakeholder & Relationship Management:
• Serve as a primary operational interface between internal teams and alliance partners.
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with partner counterparts.
• Promote collaboration, transparency, and effective communication across alliance teams.
• Support conflict resolution and alignment across organizations.
• Represent alliance management in cross-functional and executive-level forums.
• Continuous Improvement & Best Practices:
• Contribute to the development and refinement of alliance management tools, templates, and best practices.
• Identify opportunities to improve alliance execution efficiency and operational effectiveness.
• Support lessons-learned activities following major milestones such as tech transfers and product launches.
• Maintain documentation supporting alliance knowledge management and governance compliance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering, or related discipline
• 15+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
• Demonstrated experience in alliance management, program management, or cross-functional project leadership.
• Proven experience supporting or leading technology transfers and/or product launches.
• Experience implementing alliance governance structures (e.g., JSCs, JOTs) strongly preferred.
• Experience working with external partners such as CMOs, CDMOs, or commercial collaborators.
• Skills & Competencies
• Project & Program Management:
• Strong project management skills with demonstrated ability to manage complex, cross-functional programs.
• Profi

Additional Information

Cytokinetics is a specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company, building on its over 25 years of pioneering scientific innovations in muscle biology, and advancing a pipeline of potential new medicines for patients suffering from diseases of cardiac muscle dysfunction. The Associate Director, Operations Alliance Management is responsible for supporting the management of external licensee partnerships to ensure reliable manufacturing and supply of products to out-licensed territories. This role works closely with the Director, Alliance Management to implement alliance governance structures, facilitate successful manufacturing technology transfers, supply readiness, and commercial product launches, and establish and lead Joint Operating Teams (JOTs) that support ongoing manufacturing and supply operations. The Associate Director serves as a key liaison between internal cross-functional teams and external partners, ensuring alignment, accountability, and timely delivery of shared program objectives. This role requires strong project management expertise, operational leadership, and the ability to drive collaboration across complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

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