Director, Alliance Management

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 203,000 - 285,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Stock options

Paid time off

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is seeking a Director of Alliance Management based in Irvine with a hybrid work model.

The role partners with Business Development and cross‑functional teams to drive alliance milestones, governance, and value creation for development and commercialization collaborations. The successful candidate will have 15+ years in pharma, with 7+ years in global alliances, and strong negotiation, leadership, and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred (MBA or PhD).
• 15+ years of pharmaceutical industry experience with at least 7 years in global alliance and project management.
• Proven track record negotiating and collaborating across organizations.
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Solid understanding of clinical development, regulatory, and commercialization.

Responsibilities

• Lead alliance management strategy and governance for multiple collaborations.
• Interface with strategic partners and internal cross‑functional teams to meet milestones and maximize value.
• Oversee due diligence activities with Business Development and cross‑functional experts.
• Prepare summaries and recommendations for R&D leadership on alliance opportunities.
• Manage integration planning for licensed or acquired assets and partnerships.

Skills

Strategic partnerships

Negotiation

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

MBA or PhD preferred

Tools

Contract management

Job description

About The Role

Reporting to the Sr. Director of Program and Alliance Management, the Director of Alliance Management will be responsible for developing the capabilities, infrastructure, and talent of the Alliance Management department to support Tarsus' growth trajectory. This role will also act as the key interface with strategic partners and internal cross-functional teams to ensure that development and commercial milestones for each alliance are achieved thereby maximizing value for both Tarsus and our partners. Additionally, this Director of Alliance Management will work closely with Business Development and will be responsible for leading and managing R&D due diligence efforts to develop a technical and comprehensive assessment of all opportunities of interest.

Additionally, the candidate will require excellent communication and interpersonal skills to foster partnerships constructed on trust and respect. A successful candidate would have demonstrated, in previous experience, successful management of Alliance partnerships and a solid understanding of pharmaceutical development.

Let’s talk about some of the key responsibilities of the role

Leadership and Infrastructure Growth

• Build internal Alliance Management processes and tools, in concert with the Sr. Director, Program and Alliance Management, to ensure effective communication between internal and external stakeholders.


• Support alliance governance and operational structures to achieve alliance objectives and maximize resource utilization efficiency.


• Clearly and concisely communicate (both written and verbally) alliance issues and possible resolutions to the various internal and partner stakeholders.


• Coordinate and manage touchpoint meetings with Legal and Finance to ensure alignment on contractual obligations.

Partner Stewardship

• Lead and manage the development and commercialization collaborations to ensure all goals for each alliance are achieved.


• Build, direct, and execute a successful alliance management strategy for each collaboration.


• Develop a deep understanding of contractual elements pertinent to each alliance.


• Oversee Tarsus' contractual obligations and be the "go-to" person internally and for our partners on all alliance-related matters.


• Work closely with Business Development to facilitate cross‑organizational and cross‑functional teams to collaborate on strategy & operational details.


• Prepare agendas, lead partner meetings, and document the key discussion points and decisions taken at these meetings.


• Issue management – foresees and addresses key issues that may require immediate senior leadership attention while working diligently to manage issues and get ahead of issues in a timely manner.

Due Diligence Leadership

• Serves as the primary point of contact with Business Development for R&D diligence efforts.


• Acts as the internal quarterback pulling together subject‑matter experts (Clinical, Regulatory, Translational Science, CMC/manufacturing, IP/legal, commercial, finance) to assess the target asset or partner.


• Leads R&D diligence assessments to evaluate the risks and opportunities of any given asset or partnership.


• Prepares executive summaries of the diligence assessments and presents the concerted recommendation of the R&D diligence team to R&D Leadership.


• Leads and manages integration planning and execution, in concert with a cross functional team, of licensed or acquired assets ensuring smooth and seamless integration.

Factors for Success

• Bachelor’s Degree required in appropriate specialty (preference for science or business). Advance degree preferred but no required (MBA or PhD).


• Minimum 15+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry with at least 7 years in global alliance and project management with a proven track record in negotiating and collaborating across organizations.


• Demonstrated experience in developing strategies in line with R&D strategy and business needs.


• Excellent intercultural awareness and negotiation skills.


• Solid understanding in clinical drug development, regulatory approvals, and/or commercialization.


• Established leadership track record of people management experience, problem solving, collaboration, cross‑functional leadership and effective communication skills.


• Decision Making – Demonstrates strong decision‑making by applying structured analysis to complex challenges, balancing competing priorities and long‑term impacts while engaging stakeholders and driving solutions aligned with organizational goals.


• Collaboration and Team Building – Promotes collaboration by aligning diverse teams around shared goals, fostering healthy debate to advance outcomes, and building strong networks that strengthen organizational effectiveness and cross‑team learning.


• Outcome Driven – Demonstrates strong outcomes focus by aligning teams around shared priorities, proactively addressing risks and dependencies, and driving cross‑functional accountability to sustain progress and deliver results.


• Empowering Others – Fosters empowerment by aligning authority with accountability, developing leaders’ decision‑making capability, and creating systems that support performance and growth.


• Emotional Intelligence – Foster trust and psychological safety, navigating complex interpersonal dynamics with compassion and accountability, and adapting leadership style to support others while maintaining composure under pressure.

A Few Other Details Worth Mentioning

• The position will be based in our beautiful Irvine office, complete with onsite gym, pool, snacks, drinks, and occasional catered meals. We provide a hybrid work environment. Remote work will be considered.


• We are passionate about our culture! Our Tarsans live our values of commitment to patients, empowerment to champion innovation, and teamwork to amplify impact!


• This position reports directly to our Director, Program and Alliance Management.


• Some travel may be required – up to 10%.

At Tarsus, we understand the importance of attracting and retaining top talent. The expected base pay range for this position is $203,200 - $284,600 plus bonus, stock equity, and comprehensive benefits. The base pay range reflects the target range for this position, but individual pay will be determined by additional factors such as job‑related skills, experience and relevant education or training. Our benefits include health, dental and vision insurance benefits to ensure your well‑being. We believe in work‑life balance and offer generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and personal days. For more details regarding Tarsus benefits, please visit: https://eb.alliant.com/26tarsusbenefitssnapshot.

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.