Director, Alliance Management

Are you ready to make a significant impact in the pharmaceutical industry? Do you thrive in collaborative environments where you can foster partnerships that drive innovation? At Ascendis Pharma, we are on a mission to advance therapeutic innovations in rare diseases, and we are looking for a dynamic Director of Alliance Management to join our Corporate Development team.

Ascendis Pharma is a fast-growing biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, United States and EU Commercial offices in Munich, Madrid, Milan, London and Paris.

We are applying our TransCon technology to build a leading, fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Guided by our core values of patients, science, and passion, we use our TransCon® drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs. Today, we have a growing pipeline of product therapies in development, each designed to be a best-in-class therapy.

The role

As the Director of Alliance Management, you will play a pivotal role in managing and optimizing the value of Ascendis Pharma’s current and future strategic alliances. You will serve as the primary liaison between Ascendis and our alliance partners, supporting and enhancing processes to coordinate key activities. Your engagement with internal and external stakeholders will be essential in maximizing the potential of these alliances.

In this position, you will report directly to the Head of Business Development and Alliance Management within the Corporate Development organization. Alliance Management is a critical function within an expanding segment of Ascendis’ business as we work towards our Vision 2030.

Your key responsibilities will be

• Work with alliance partners (biotech, biopharma, big pharma) and act as main point-of-contact for all activities within the alliance
• Establish and ensure smooth operation of collaboration by developing strong relationships, coordinating governance and decision-making meetings, and alignment of responsibilities and deliverables across projects
• Proactively manage contractual obligations to address issues, find solutions, and incorporate opportunities
• Facilitate complex and nuanced discussions with partners to find mutual agreement on best solution for the alliance
• Identify important value drivers and key risks and lead efforts to anticipate and mitigate risks and accelerate value creation
• Maintain focus on the principles, spirit, and strategic aspects of the collaborations
• Anticipate and manage upcoming changes in projects or stakeholders
• Track internal and external progress toward milestones including schedule, budget and deliverables
• Participate in all relevant working group meetings with partners to ensure progress and alignment and to “connect the dots” across efforts
• Collaborate with Corporate Development organization, key internal subject matter experts, Group Legal and Finance, and other essential functions within Ascendis
• Communicate status of projects internally at all levels of organization, including presenting to executive management
• Fostering understanding and mutual trust with alliance partners

Qualifications and skills

• Master’s degree or PhD in Life Sciences, MBA, or equivalent degree.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with at least 5 years in relevant alliance management.
• In-depth knowledge of the drug development process, particularly in research and early development.

Key competencies

You possess strong leadership skills, along with high emotional intelligence and empathy, enabling you to effectively influence colleagues, resolve conflicts, and drive consensus among stakeholders. As a strategic thinker, you are capable of identifying, prioritizing, and resolving key issues and risks. Additionally, you demonstrate excellent project management skills and operate with a high degree of independence. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills are essential for your success in this role. Furthermore, you are willing to work across global time zones and have the ability to travel up to 10% of the time.

Apply now

Applications will be evaluated when received, so please apply as soon as possible.

If you are passionate about contributing to the field of rare diseases and eager to make a difference at Ascendis Pharma, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Join us in our mission to advance therapeutic innovations and improve patient lives worldwide.