The Sr Alliance Manager of China External Innovation is responsible for endtoend coordination of external collaborations, spanning deal execution and postdeal alliance management, for partnerships with biotech companies and academic institutions.
The role serves as the primary operational and governance interface between Novo Nordisk and external partners, ensuring that collaborations are efficiently negotiated, wellgoverned, and successfully executed, from contract signature through delivery of scientific and pipeline outcomes.
Key responsibilities
Deal execution & contracting coordination:
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Coordinate deal execution activities for external collaborations, including:
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alignment of internal stakeholders (scientific, legal, BD, finance)
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support to negotiation of research scope, milestones, governance, and contractual terms
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Work closely with Sourcing Directors, Alliance Management, Legal, IP, and BD to:
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translate scientific intent into executable agreements
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ensure contracts are aligned with Novo Nordisk standards and compliance requirements
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Support progression of opportunities through R&D External Innovation governance and decision processes
Postdeal alliance management & project coordination
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Act as the daytoday alliance lead after deal signature, responsible for:
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establishing and running governance structures
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coordinating project meetings, milestones, timelines, and deliverables
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tracking budgets, payments, and contractual obligations
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Ensure clear roles, responsibilities, and communication flows between Novo Nordisk teams and external partners
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Proactively identify and manage risks, issues, and dependencies, escalating when needed
Scientific & operational enablement
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Support internal project teams and external partners to:
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maintain focus on agreed scientific objectives and success criteria
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ensure data, materials, and knowledge transfer occur as planned
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Coordinate with internal scientists who may act as project leads on certain SRAs, while retaining overall alliance oversight
Stakeholder management & integration
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Serve as a trusted operational partner to:
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External partners
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Novo Nordisk internal stakeholders
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Global R&D External Innovation and Alliance Management
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Enable smooth integration of externally generated outputs into internal programs and workflows
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Maintain clear documentation, reporting, and compliance records for all managed collaborations
Qualifications & Education
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PhD in life sciences, pharmacology, chemistry, biology, or related discipline
Experience
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5+ years experience in:
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alliance management
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project management
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external collaborations within pharma or biotech
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Handson experience managing:
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biotech partnerships
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academic SRAs or coresearch agreements
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Familiarity with:
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research collaboration contracts
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milestonebased agreements
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governance models in R&D collaborations
Working conditions
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Based in Shanghai
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Up to 20% travel, primarily within China, as required for partner and project engagement
