Program and Alliance Manager – Associate Director

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

• 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
• 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

• 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
• 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
• 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

Company Overview:

Rion is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Rochester, Minnesota. Rion was founded as a Mayo Clinic Employee Entrepreneurial Program startup company. Rion’s mission is to develop clinically impactful and accessible therapies using innovative regenerative medicine technologies based on extracellular vesicle science. Our proprietary exosome platform has the ability to address significant unmet patient needs in many fields of medicine; accordingly, we are actively pursuing clinical programs in wound healing, cardiovascular diseases, and women’s health. Our ultimate mission is to deliver cutting edge solutions accessible to any patient in need, anywhere in the world.

Rion recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue career path their goals, both at work and in their personal lives.

EOE:

Rion is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state and local fair employment practices laws. Rion strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including pregnancy), gender (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, marital status, AIDS/HIV status, smoker/nonsmoker, and occupational pneumoconiosis or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Location:

The position would be hybrid with 20% travel or 100% on-site in Rochester, MN. Relocation allowance is available.

Pay: From $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Will you now or in the future require a visa sponsorship?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Biotech / Pharmaceutical: 10 years (Required)
• GMP: 1 year (Required)
• Project Management : 5 years (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Rochester, MN 55902

Salary : $150,000