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About the Role

Cerba Research is seeking a Strategic Alliance Lead to own and build strategic partnerships, preferred-provider relationships, and sole-source alliances within Central and Specialty Laboratory Services. This role involves designing governance, frameworks, and cross-functional alignment, acting as an executive and operational bridge between Cerba Research and its key partners.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the designated executive and operational lead for assigned strategic partners, sole-source relationships, and preferred-provider agreements.
• Lead the implementation and onboarding of newly signed strategic partnerships, coordinating cross-functional readiness and governance structures.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with MSA commitments, service levels, and contractual obligations, proactively identifying and closing gaps.
• Define, track, and report KPIs including study award rates, turnaround time, quality indicators, and customer satisfaction, translating them into executive-ready insight.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across Procurement, Vendor Management, Clinical Operations, and Executive Leadership.
• Lead resolution of complex operational, quality, or commercial issues affecting strategic partners, coordinating cross-functional teams to close them out.
• Develop and maintain Strategic Alliance Plans covering stakeholder mapping, growth targets, competitive positioning, and expansion opportunities.

Requirements

• Owned a strategic alliance relationship in CRO or central/specialty lab services from the point it was awarded.
• Comfortable in the detail with a project team as well as across the table from a senior procurement or clinical leader.
• Prefer to build the framework rather than be handed one.
• Minimum 5 years in strategic account management, alliance management, or business operations within CRO, central laboratory, or a related life sciences environment.
• Lab alliance experience preferred, CRO alliance experience essential.
• Demonstrated experience owning a strategic partnership, preferred-provider agreement, or sole-source relationship end to end.
• Comfortable operating in a heavily matrixed organization, able to influence delivery teams and senior leadership without formal authority.
• Executive-level stakeholder engagement experience, ideally including pharma procurement or vendor management.
• A genuine interest in mentorship and team development.
• Fluent in English.

Skills

• Strategic alliance leadership
• Governance model building and execution
• Customer advocacy and external representation
• Strategic account growth
• Team coaching and development
• Stakeholder management
• Issue resolution
• Strategic planning

Location

• Europe (UK, France or Belgium)
• United States (East Coast)

Work Type

• Full-time
• Hybrid

Experience Level

• Associate Director
• Director

Education Level

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Business Administration, Clinical Research, or a related field (advanced degree preferred)

Benefits

• Real Ownership, From Day One
• A True Blank Slate
• Executive Access
• Global Reach, Real Impact

About the Company

• With over 40 years of clinical research expertise, Cerba Research has built a unique offering of services, which includes clinical trial management, specialty lab & biomarkers services and medical devices & diagnostics offerings.
• Cerba Research supports clients from research and development all the way through clinical studies and commercialization of therapies.
• We combine the deep therapeutic understanding and agility of a specialist with the capacity, breadth and global reach of a central lab.
• Our extensive experience in central & specialty laboratory services is key to our success, allowing us to provide clients with early scientific insights that optimize protocol development.
• We provide key laboratory services to biopharma, government and not-for-profit organizations, supporting clinical trials.
• Our global accredited laboratory network and connected logistical infrastructure covers the US, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Australia and Africa.
• Our aim is to transform clinical research to deliver the promise of precision and predictive medicine to help people live healthier lives.
• It's our passion, expertise, and commitment to quality that drive Cerba Research.
• We want to change the shape of clinical development, and help patients around the world get access to new treatments faster.

Equal Opportunity

• At Cerba HealthCare, we believe that the diversity of people, backgrounds, and perspectives is an essential asset in fulfilling our mission: to improve the health of everyone, everywhere.
• We are committed to providing an inclusive work environment that guarantees equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of age, background, sexual orientation, disability, or any other personal characteristic.
• All talented individuals are encouraged to apply.