Sr. Director, Pharma Partnerships

CareDx, Inc.; Brisbane (CA); Hybrid; USD 246,000 - 307,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary and incentive

Health and welfare benefits

Gym reimbursement program

Living Donor Employee Recovery Policy

Total Rewards package for US Employees

Job summary

CareDx, Inc. is seeking a Senior Director of Pharma Partnerships to lead the biopharma partnership strategy across transplant and oncology diagnostics.

You will identify, negotiate, and expand strategic relationships with pharma/biotech firms to generate biomarker data and partnership revenue. You will build the Pharma Partnerships organization, align with executive leadership, and drive a sustainable growth engine through strategic account development, pipeline growth, and external relationship

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, healthcare, or related field; advanceddeg preferred.
• 15+ years in biopharma partnerships, BD, alliance management, or related areas.
• Proven track record closing complex pharma/biotech partnerships with tangible impact.
• Experience leading opportunities via scientific eval, proposal work, finance, negotiation.
• Networks with senior pharmaceutical leaders across scientific, clinical, commercial functions.
• Governance and operating models for autonomous alliance execution.
• Strong understanding of diagnostics/biomarkers in translational to commercial phases.
• Ability to translate complex info into clear partner value propositions and programs.
• Excellent executive presentation, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple opportunities and partner relationships in a matrix org.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute strategy, vision, and priorities for biopharma partnerships across transplant and oncology.
• Identify and prioritize biopharma partners using market, pipeline, trial, biomarker data.
• Develop account strategies with stakeholder needs, competitive positioning, expansion paths.
• Anticipate market opportunities and create new demand with differentiated partnership models.
• Build networks with senior pharmaceutical executives to advance opportunities.
• Represent CareDx at industry conferences and executive forums as a leader in precision medicine.
• Own development of a portfolio of partnership opportunities supporting bookings and revenue.
• Maintain a robust pipeline through outreach, market intel, relationship cultivation, account management.
• Lead opportunities from identification through qualification, proposal, pricing, negotiation, contracting, closing.
• Structure partnerships balancing partner objectives with CareDx's goals.
• Develop business cases synthesizing revenue, investment, feasibility, risk, and value.
• Lead negotiations for NDAs, service agreements, data partnerships, clinical programs, and broader collaborations.
• Achieve annual partnership, bookings, and revenue objectives with strong partner satisfaction.
• Scale the Pharma Partnerships organization and governance, metrics, and processes.
• Collaborate with R&D, Medical Affairs, Lab Ops, Bioinformatics, Regulatory, Legal, Finance, Commercial teams.
• Serve as executive sponsor for strategic pharma relationships and expand collaboration over time.
• Mentor team members and foster accountability, collaboration, and growth.

Skills

Executive communication

Negotiation

Relationship management

Strategic account management

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic thinking

Business development

Market analysis

Executive relationship building

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, healthcare, or related

MBA / MS / PhD / PharmD / MD preferred

Job description

CareDx is a leading precision medicine diagnostics company advancing care in transplant, specialty oncology, and cell therapy. Through our innovative portfolio of molecular diagnostics, digital health solutions, AI-powered data and analytics, and patient support services, we partner with healthcare providers, patients, and biopharma organizations to help inform clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes.

At CareDx, every employee has the opportunity to contribute to innovations that help transform patient care and improve lives.

The Senior Director Pharma Partnerships role is responsible for developing and executing CareDx's biopharma partnership strategy across its oncology and transplant diagnostics businesses. This leader will identify, develop, negotiate, and expand strategic relationships with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies seeking biomarker and data generation solutions.

This role serves as CareDx's senior commercial leader for biopharma partnerships and will be responsible for building a sustainable growth engine for pharma partnering, including strategic account development, opportunity creation, pipeline generation, and external relationship expansion. The Senior Director will work closely with executive leadership to shape the long-term vision, strategy, and operating model for CareDx's Pharma Partnerships organization while driving measurable partnership revenue and strategic value creation.

This highly visible role requires scientific and commercial acumen, executive relationship management, and demonstrated success closing complex biopharma partnerships. The successful candidate will be expected to create new partnership opportunities, influence market direction, and establish CareDx as a preferred partner for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies across transplant and oncology.

Core Responsibilities:

• Define and execute the strategy, vision, and priorities for CareDx’s biopharma partnership approach across transplant and oncology diagnostics, ensuring alignment with company objectives.
• Use market, drug pipeline, clinical trial, biomarker, and strategic data to identify and prioritize biopharma partners with company-level growth potential.
• Develop account strategies for priority partners that clarify stakeholder needs, competitive positioning, partnership pathways, decision-making processes, and long-term expansion opportunities.
• Anticipate future market opportunities and proactively identify unmet needs where CareDx can create new demand and differentiated partnership models before formal partner requirements emerge.
• Build trusted networks of influence with senior pharmaceutical executives and key industry stakeholders to advance strategic partnership opportunities.
• Represent CareDx externally at industry conferences, scientific meetings, and executive forums, positioning the company as a leader in precision medicine and diagnostic-enabled drug development.

Business Development and Transaction Execution

• Own the development and management of a high-quality portfolio of strategic partnership opportunities that supports annual bookings, revenue growth, and long-term strategic objectives.
• Establish and maintain a robust business-development pipeline through proactive outreach, market intelligence, relationship cultivation, and strategic account management.
• Lead complex opportunities from initial identification through scientific qualification, solution development, proposal preparation, pricing, negotiation, contracting, and closing.
• Structure partnership opportunities by balancing partner objectives with CareDx's scientific, diagnostic, operational, financial, and strategic goals.
• Develop compelling strategic and financial business cases by synthesizing revenue potential, investment requirements, operational feasibility, risk, and long-term strategic value.
• Lead negotiations and contract strategy for confidentiality agreements, service agreements, data partnerships, clinical-development programs, and broader strategic collaborations.
• Achieve defined annual partnership, booking, revenue, and growth objectives while maintaining strong partner satisfaction and long-term relationship development.

Organizational Leadership and Partner Growth

• Build and scale CareDx's Pharma Partnerships organization, including organizational design, talent acquisition, capability development, and operating processes as business needs evolve.
• Establish the operating model, talent strategy, governance framework, performance metrics, and best practices that support sustainable growth of the Pharma Partnerships function.
• Create scalable systems for portfolio management, account prioritization, pipeline management, forecasting, and performance measurement.
• Partner closely with R&D, Medical Affairs, Laboratory Operations, Bioinformatics, Regulatory, Legal, Finance, and Commercial teams to ensure successful development and execution of partnership opportunities.
• Serve as the executive sponsor for strategic pharmaceutical relationships, ensuring alignment on partnership objectives and identifying opportunities to expand collaboration over time.
• Collaborate closely with the Alliance Management responsible for project execution, operational governance, and delivery of active partnerships, ensuring seamless transition from deal execution to operational implementation.
• Mentor and develop current and future team members while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and growth.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, healthcare, or a related field. Advanced degree such as an MBA, MS, PhD, PharmD, or MD preferred.
• 15+ years of experience in biopharma partnerships, business development, strategic accounts, alliance management, molecular diagnostics, precision medicine, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success developing, negotiating, and closing complex partnerships with pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies that have significant business impact.
• Experience leading opportunities through scientific evaluation, proposal development, financial assessment, negotiation, contracting, implementation, and cross-functional change management.
• Proven ability to establish networks of influence and build trusted relationships with senior pharmaceutical leaders across scientific, clinical, commercial, and business functions.
• Experience creating governance processes, operating mechanisms, and alliance structures that enable autonomous execution and sustained partnership growth.
• Strong understanding of the role of diagnostics and biomarkers across translational research, clinical development, and commercialization.
• Ability to synthesize complex scientific, technical, operational, and financial information into clear partner value propositions, executable programs, and strategic business cases.
• Excellent executive communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-management skills, with the ability to persuade diverse audiences and navigate differing viewpoints.
• Demonstrated ability to align leaders around complex priorities, lead cross-functional change initiatives, and influence effectively in a matrixed organization.
• Ability to manage multiple complex opportunities and partner relationships simultaneously while setting clear priorities, clearing roadblocks, and remaining accountable for outcomes.
• Existing relationships across transplant and oncology pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
• Willingness to travel approximately 25-40%, including customer meetings, industry conferences, scientific congresses, and internal leadership engagements.

Every individual at CareDx has a direct impact on our collective mission to improve the lives of organ transplant patients worldwide. We believe in taking great care of our people, so they take even greater care of our patients.

Our competitive Total Rewards package for US Employees includes:

• Competitive base salary and incentive compensation
• Health and welfare benefits, including a gym reimbursement program

In addition, we have a Living Donor Employee Recovery Policy that allows up to 30 days of paid leave annually to a full-time employee who makes the selfless act of donating an organ or bone marrow.

With products that are making a difference in the lives of transplant patients today and a promising pipeline for the future, it’s an exciting time to be part of the CareDx team. Join us in partnering with transplant patients to transform our future together.

CareDx, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer-vets/disabled, and participates in the E-Verify program. By proceeding with our application and submitting your information, you acknowledge that you have read our U.S. Personnel Privacy Notice and consent to receive email communication from CareDx. Certain jurisdictions require notice of how we use and protect your personal information. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy

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This is the anticipated base salary range for candidates who will work in Brisbane, California. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include, but are not limited to, the type and length of experience within the job, the type and length of experience within the industry, education, etc. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives and restricted stock units. CareDx is a multi-state employer, and this salary range may not reflect positions that work in other states.

$246,000 - $307,000 USD

This is the anticipated base salary range in the United States. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include, but are not limited to, the type and length of experience within the job, the type and length of experience within the industry, education, etc. Base pay is one part of the Total Package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives and restricted stock units. CareDx is a multi-state employer, and this salary range may not reflect positions that work in other states.

Remote: US only roles

$226,000 - $282,000 USD

Voluntary Self-Identification

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As set forth in CareDx, Inc.’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

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An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.