Sr. Manager, Clinical Operations & Strategic Alliances

About The Role:

The Sr. Manager, Clinical Operations and Strategic Alliances reporting to the Director, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships will drive the operational execution and strategic management of high-impact alliances central to 10x Genomics’ effort to advance future diagnostic applications for single cell and spatial technologies. 

Key responsibilities for this role include: managing a portfolio of academic collaborations and strategic partnerships according to established milestones and outcomes, leading the operational execution for large-scale, multi-year collaborations with premier academic institutions to generate evidence for future clinical applications of single-cell and spatial technologies, and driving collaboration between internal cross-functional teams and external partners to achieve desired results. 

This role requires a unique hybrid of Clinical Operations and Alliance Management. The ideal candidate is an action-oriented and highly-effective leader who has previously managed clinical research studies as well as strategic partnerships.

What You Will Be Doing:

Clinical Operations and Study Execution

• Study Execution: Manage the operational execution of large-scale, longitudinal clinical research studies according to established agreements with academic institutions
• Timeline & Risk Management: Own and drive clinical research study timelines, deliverables, and operational plans ensuring adherence to sampling schedules; identify operational risks regarding enrollment, setup, or logistics early, implementing mitigation strategies to maintain study integrity.  
• Sample Logistics & Chain of Custody: Establish and enforce auditable procedures for sample collection, tracking, and chain of custody, ensuring compliant transport from clinical sites to 10x Genomics laboratory.   
• Budget & Resource Oversight: Manage the study budgets, including the oversight of reimbursement, equipment provisioning, and consumables provided to partner sites.
• Regulatory & Quality Compliance: Ensure all study activities comply with IRB protocols, patient consent requirements, and GCLP/CLIA standards where applicable.

Strategic Alliance Management

• Partnership Management: Manage a diverse, high-value portfolio of academic collaborations and strategic partnerships to ensure all projects and agreements track toward established milestones and outcomes.
• Governance Management: Ensure transparent communication, effective decision-making, and rapid conflict resolution between internal teams and external partners; lead and facilitate Joint Steering Committees (JSCs) and cross-functional governance meetings as needed.
• Stakeholder Management: Act as the primary liaison between internal teams and key stakeholders at relevant academic institutions and industry partners to foster strong, collaborative relationships that drive engagement and performance.
• Contract Lifecycle Management: Oversee compliance with contractual obligations, milestones, and deliverables, working closely with Legal, Finance, and Business Development to drive contract amendments or renewals as needed.

To Be Successful, You Will Need:

• An Advanced degree (M.S., PharmD, Ph.D., M.B.A.) in a Life Science, Clinical, or related field is required.
• 8+ years of relevant industry experience with 4-5 years of experience in Clinical Operations and Alliance / Program Management within the diagnostics, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical industry.
• Direct experience managing research studies involving large numbers of patient samples and complex molecular testing or biomarkers
• Deep understanding of clinical study execution, site management, and the complexities of clinical sample logistics and chain of custody.
• Direct experience in managing high-value strategic alliances and driving value through the successful execution of collaborative research, development, or commercialization agreements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, swiftly resolve complex operational problems, and drive tangible results.

Preferred skills and experience

• Thrives in a fast-paced environment with a ‘roll up your sleeves and get it done’ mentality.
• Excellent at communicating, organizing, and leading external stakeholders and internal cross-functional teams to achieve desired outcomes.
• Comfortable leading through ambiguity and change; focusing on finding practical solutions and driving clarity to maintain program momentum.
• Exceptional at building strong, collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders, including external investigators, and internal technical and executive teams.
• Willing to travel up to 25% for site visits, investigator meetings, and external partner engagement.
• Startup or small biotech experience. Familiarity with CLIA/CAP standards as they relate to samples sent to a centralized testing laboratory is preferred.