Program and Alliance Manager Associate Director

Program and Alliance Manager Associate Director

Rion Inc.

Rochester, MN, USA Hybrid

Full time

Program and Alliance Manager Associate Director

Rion Inc.

Position Summary

Reporting to the VP of Program & Alliance Management, the Associate Director of Program & Alliance Management is a primary partner-facing role responsible for execution and oversight of partnered programs and partner relationships. The Associate Director will drive alignment and accountability across internal cross functional teams while fostering strong, transparent partner relationships through ownership of program execution, partner communications, scope/schedule/cost management, and proactive issue escalation, as appropriate.

Alliance Management Key Responsibilities

Partnered Program Leadership & Execution

Lead integrated joint program planning efforts

Lead program execution with minimal oversight, anticipating downstream impacts to manufacturing, quality, and regulatory deliverables, as well as commitments made to partners

Drive alignment between contractual scope and operational execution; ensure programs are executed in alignment with approved scope, schedule, and quality requirements

Lead joint internal/partner escalation discussions and provide executive-level updates

Partner Alliance & Relationship Management

Serve as a partner advocate for internal budget, resource and prioritization efforts

Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with partner teams and leadership

Manage partner expectations through transparent communication of risks and mitigation options and impact

Support partner satisfaction through responsiveness, consistent delivery, and issue resolution

Program Management Key Responsibilities

Internal Cross-Functional Coordination

Translate partner objectives, detailed in scopes of work (SOWs), into actionable internal workplans with clear ownership and accountability

Drive alignment across Rion internal line functions, including R&D, Analytical and Process Development, GMP Manufacturing, Supply Chain, QA, QC, Clinical, and Regulatory Affairs

Operate with a deep understanding of GMP environments, quality systems, and inspection readiness; partner with Quality to assess and communicate impacts of deviations, CAPAs, and change controls to timelines of milestone deliverables and partner commitments

Joint Program Coordination

Create a positive team environment that instills trust, ensures clear and transparent communication, and promotes alignment on program objectives and priorities

Lead routine joint internal/partner program meetings and focused ad-hoc meetings as necessary

Ensure meeting minutes, action items, and decisions are documented and tracked to closure

Develop program timelines; actively manage dependencies and constraints

Facilitate critical decision-making within the team; identify where strategic and operational adjustments are necessary throughout development

Drive issue identification and resolution, risk management and contingency planning

Prepare clear, accurate program status updates for joint team members and leadership; maintain transparency regarding risks, mitigations, options, and impact to enable efficient decision-making, and appropriately escalate as necessary

Scope Contracts, Change Control, Financial Oversight

Support development and execution of Statements of Work (SOWs) based on partner objectives and internal capabilities

Develop (with line functions) cost projections associated with SOWs; track to actual spend

Ensure alignment between execution and contractual obligations; generate change orders where necessary

Partner with Finance to track program milestone completion and invoicing readiness

Measures of Success

Strong internal collaboration and effective cross-functional coordination

Clear execution-to-contract alignment across programs

On-time, compliant delivery of partner program milestones

Clear visibility of program health, risks, and milestone delivery status

High partner satisfaction

Required Qualifications

A minimum of 10 years of biotech/pharmaceutical industry experience with at least 5 years of relevant Project Management experience

Strong leadership, negotiation, and conflict management skills; experience in managing projects and people in a team environment through change

Proven track record of successfully leading complex, multi-functional programs in GMP settings to deliverables

Demonstrated experience coordinating cross-functional teams in a regulated GMP environment.

In-depth knowledge of biological drug development process with preferred experience in late-phase and commercial programs

Strong understanding of pharmaceutical/biotech workflows, including GMP manufacturing, GMP testing, manufacturing process implementation and/or tech transfer, quality systems, clinical trial execution, and regulatory submissions

Experience in program/project management best practices and project management tools

Bachelor of Science degree in life sciences, engineering, or relevant to medicine, human disease, or pharmaceutical development

Ability to travel domestically up to 20%

Excellent communication, organization, and stakeholder relationship and management skills

Preferred Qualifications

Direct experience working in a CMO/CDMO environment managing sponsor programs strongly preferred

Experience managing late-stage development, validation/PPQ, BLA-preparedness, or commercial manufacturing programs

Familiarity with contract management, change order processes, and financial tracking

Experience with contract structures (MSA/SOW/change orders).

Key Competencies

Partner-centric mindset with strong relationship-building skills

Operational fluency in GMP manufacturing, quality, and regulatory submissions

Strong execution discipline and attention to detail

Clear, concise, and professional communication under pressure

Collaborative leadership without direct authority

Exemplary organizational skills

Experience in timeline management and risk management

Aptitude for working independently under evolving conditions and with a sense of urgency to meet milestones

Ability to respond quickly and effectively to evolving priorities

Proficiency in active problem-solving and driving issues to resolution

Proven ability to achieve results in a virtual setting