Alliance Manager, Translational Medicine

Role Description

The Alliance Manager will play a critical role in enabling successful external collaborations that accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into clinically actionable molecular solutions. This individual combines a strong scientific understanding of translational medicine with exceptional relationship management, legal/contracting acumen, and strategic oversight. Serving as the primary relationship manager for strategic external partnerships, the Alliance Manager ensures Natera’s technology is deeply embedded into external drug development pipelines while safeguarding Natera's strategic data and secondary-use interests.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategic Alliance Leadership & Ingestion
  • Drive Oncology Partnerships: Serve as the primary relationship manager for strategic external oncology alliances, moving beyond vendor status to build long-term, high-trust collaborations.
  • Oversee Study Intake: Own the high-level tracking and overview of incoming studies, establishing a clear understanding of each study's clinical priority and alignment with Natera's broader strategic goals.
  • Maximize Portfolio Value: Lead the initial assessment of partnerships prior to contracting to evaluate secondary-use importance (clinical data acquisition, residual samples, publications, validation, and algorithm-development potential).
  • Strategic Governance: Establish high-level communication plans and governance frameworks for collaborations; maintain strategic visibility over final deliverables and overall relationship health.
• Contract Management & External Coordination
  • Lead Legal Coordination: Serve as the primary internal driver for contract management, owning day-to-day legal coordination and protocol/ICF reviews with external partners.
  • Contract Communication: Own all external communication and tracking required to advance contracts through execution, maintaining strategic visibility internally.
  • Contract Compliance: Monitor compliance with contractual obligations, including IP boundaries, data-sharing rights, and high-level reporting requirements.
• Cross-Functional Synchronization
  • Translate Strategy to Operations: Partner closely with the internal TMED Program Manager to hand off executed agreements, ensuring identified strategic objectives and secondary-use requirements are successfully translated into internal operational plans.
  • Collaborative Support: Maintain an active feedback loop, keeping internal scientific leaders and the TMED Program Manager informed on high-priority alliance matters and external relationship statuses.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Biology, Molecular Biology required; PhD or equivalent preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in alliance management, relationship management, or external collaborations within the biotech, pharmaceutical, or diagnostics sectors.
• A sophisticated understanding of the oncology landscape, biomarker development, and the application of translational medicine in clinical trials.
• Demonstrated experience navigating complex legal agreements, multi-party research collaborations, and compliance requirements (including HIPAA/PHI data sharing standards).

Logistics

• Location: Remote-friendly (Incumbent can be based anywhere in the US).
• Travel: Up to 25% to maintain high-touch visibility with partners.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• High-level onboarding efficiency and contract execution timelines.
• Maximization of contract value via secondary-use data, sample acquisition, and publication rights.
• Partner satisfaction and external relationship health.
• Seamless strategic handoff to the TMED Program Management team for operational execution.

Compensation

• Remote USA: $107,000 — $134,000 USD

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life, and disability plans for eligible employees and their dependents.
• Free testing for Natera employees and their immediate families, in addition to fertility care benefits.
• Pregnancy and baby bonding leave.
• 401k benefits and commuter benefits.
• A generous employee referral program.

Company Description

Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing, dedicated to oncology, women’s health, and organ health. Our aim is to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard of care to protect health and enable earlier and more targeted interventions that lead to longer, healthier lives.

The Natera team consists of highly dedicated statisticians, geneticists, doctors, laboratory scientists, business professionals, software engineers, and many other professionals from world-class institutions, who care deeply for our work and each other. When you join Natera, you’ll work hard and grow quickly. Working alongside the elite of the industry, you’ll be stretched and challenged, and take pride in being part of a company that is changing the landscape of genetic disease management.