Director - External Partnerships (Research)

Director, External Partnership Management (AI-Driven Drug Discovery) An innovative biotechnology and pharmaceutical organisation is seeking a Director of External Partnership Management to lead and optimise strategic CRO (Contract Research Organisation) partnerships supporting next-generation AI-enabled drug discovery. This is a highly operational leadership role responsible for ensuring external research partners function as an integrated extension of internal scientific teams. The successful candidate will oversee the full external execution lifecycle—from partner selection and contracting through to performance management, data integration, and delivery against critical research milestones. Key Responsibilities Lead the strategic management of CRO partnerships, driving accountability for quality, timelines, and delivery. Establish clear governance, communication cadences, and performance expectations across multiple external partners. Build strong working relationships through regular engagement and onsite visits with domestic and international CROs. Partner closely with scientific, program management, procurement, legal, and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure seamless project execution. Identify, evaluate, and onboard CROs across chemistry, biology, DMPK, and related drug discovery disciplines. Negotiate Statements of Work (SOWs), contracts, budgets, timelines, and quality standards. Manage external outsourcing spend and provide accurate budget tracking and reporting. Ensure research data is captured, standardised, and integrated into internal AI/ML platforms and data environments. Monitor the external research landscape to identify emerging technologies, capabilities, and partnership opportunities. Proactively identify and resolve delivery risks before they impact programme timelines. Requirements Degree in Life Sciences, Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline (advanced degree preferred). 10+ years' experience in pharmaceutical outsourcing, CRO management, alliance management, or external partnerships within drug discovery. Strong knowledge of the global CRO landscape across chemistry, biology, DMPK, and related scientific services. Demonstrated success managing multiple complex CRO programmes simultaneously. Strong commercial acumen with experience negotiating contracts, managing budgets, and overseeing vendor performance. Experience working within fast-paced biotechnology or pharmaceutical research environments. Familiarity with AI-enabled or digital drug discovery programmes is advantageous. Knowledge of scientific data standardisation platforms and principles (e.g. TetraScience, FAIR data) is beneficial. Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, and relationship-building skills. Willingness to travel domestically and internationally on a regular basis. This opportunity is ideal for a strategic yet hands-on leader who thrives in fast-moving research environments and enjoys building high-performing external partnerships that accelerate scientific innovation. #J-18808-Ljbffr SoTalent