Clinical Partnership Manager

Date: 3 Sept 2026

Department: Global Clinical Development

Business Area: R&D, Pharmacovigilance & Regulatory Affairs

Job Type: Direct Employee

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Parma or Chiesi Affiliates in , IT

About us

Chiesi is an international research-focused biopharmaceutical group with 90 years’ experience, operating in more than 30 countries, with its Headquarter in Parma, Italy. More than 8,000 employees across the group are united by a singular purpose: promoting a healthier world for our people, patients, and the planet. This is what drives us as we research, develop, and market innovative drugs across our main therapeutic areas. Discover more here.

At Chiesi we are thinking generations ahead, driving sustainable innovation with purpose. This fosters a culture of reliability, transparency, and ethical behaviour at every level. As a Benefit Corporation and a certified B Corp, we have embedded sustainability in our bylaws and continuously measure our impact.

Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of who we are. We believe our differences make us stronger. We are a vibrant ecosystem of passionate, talented individuals united by strong values, each bringing unique perspectives that help us to continuously challenge the status quo for the better.

Chiesi Research & Development

Our R&D team represents a fundamental asset for the business. It is divided into integrated functional areas focusing on pipeline projects including discovery and preclinical research, global technical development, drug delivery technology, clinical development, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, intellectual property, quality assurance, R&D project and portfolio management. Headquartered in the new purpose-built and fully integrated Research and Development Centre in Parma (Italy), the team also has important operations in Paris (France), Chippenham (UK), Cary (US), Stockholm (Sweden), Toronto (Canada) and Shanghai (China).

Who we are looking for

This is what you will do

Within Global Clinical Operations and reporting to the Clinical Partnerships & Operations Excellence Lead, the Clinical Partnership Manager will play a key role in enabling, fostering and optimizing the governance and operational model of strategic partnerships with CROs, working closely with clinical study teams, category managers and other key stakeholders.

You will be responsible for

• Develops and manages strong, trust-based partnerships with external stakeholders, particularly CROs, and by embedding excellence, agility, and innovation into the clinical delivery model

• Ensures the technical maintenance, monitoring and continuous improvement of an effective operational and partnership model within GCO

• Fosters a sustainable and future-proof vendor management approach aligned with Chiesi’s portfolio and long-term strategic vision

• Develops and manages vendor partnership model and ensure appropriate governance to assure the highest quality delivery of clinical trials

• Collaborates in vendor selection, onboarding and integration of digital platforms and services, collaborating with the involved internal parties (GICT, etc..)

• Maintains strong relationships with CROs/vendors to ensure a collaborative and productive partnership

• Liases with internal and external stakeholders to leverage best practices, technology and expert knowledge

• Defines Third-Party Vendors Governance, vendors panels and oversees setup activities, timelines and performance to ensure alignment with company SOPs, study protocols, and company objectives

• Partners closely with Procurement to support preparation of Master Service Agreements/Service Level Agreements and related documentation and to ensure compliance with contractual agreements

• Develops and mantains collaborative relationships with external partners to enhance delivery capabilities and innovation

• Collaborates in the assessment and technical implementation of current and new processes/procedures within GCO, in light of the revision of GCO operational model

• Collaborates with GCO/GCD leadership and workstreams to identify opportunities for sharing best practices

• Identifies process issues and develop resolutions to meet productivity, quality and internal and external stakeholder satisfaction goals and objectives

• Contributes in the identification of the best fitting technological infrastructure(s) to exploit the increasing external offer of solutions

• Partners with study teams to prepare for and engage in interaction with strategic providers to ensure successful outcomes for studies (e.g. revision of RFP, change order requests)

• Partners with study teams to prepare for and engage in interaction with strategic providers to ensure studies success (e.g.participation to BDM, KOM and other applicable study level interactions)

• Partners with QA for vendor qualification and manteinance

• Fosters a culture of continuous improvement, setting high performance standards, focusing on exceeding objectives

You will need to have

• 8–10 years of relevant experience in Clinical Operations, with solid knowledge of clinical trial management and the different phases of clinical development

• Ability to navigate complexity and manage multiple priorities while maintaining strong attention to detail

• Proven experience in clinical trial budget negotiation and management

• Experience managing external partnerships, such as CROs, vendors or other third-party providers involved in clinical studies

• Experience in vendor governance and performance management, including oversight of service quality, delivery performance and issue resolution

• Fluency in English, both written and spoken, with the ability to operate effectively in an international environment

• Strong collaboration skills, with the ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners

• Ability to influence and engage cross-functional stakeholders, aligning different parties toward shared business objectives

• Strong problem-solving and continuous improvement mindset, with the ability to identify operational challenges and drive sustainable solutions across complex stakeholder environments

• Strong negotiation and mediation skills with the ability to identify balanced solutions that support both operational needs and company priorities

• Experience working in cross-functional and international environments, collaborating with Clinical Delivery functions, Quality, Procurement, Digital/IT and external partners

• Knowledge of ICH-GCP principles and of the operational and quality requirements associated with outsourced clinical trial activities

Location

The role is based in Chiesi R&D Center in Parma, with hybrid ways of working combining presence in the office and remote working

Compensation Range

The minimum salary for this role is €52.240, aligned to our established salary framework. The final offer will reflect the candidate’s skills, experience, qualifications and internal equity considerations.

This role is eligible to participate in an annual bonus scheme, subject to company and individual performance.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including pension, private medical insurance, wellbeing programme, flexible benefits programme.

What we offer

No matter where your path starts at Chiesi, it leads to inspiring possibilities. Your future is our focus, and we are committed to nurturing your development in our dynamic, friendly environment with access to resources and training every step of the way.

We provide top-class benefits, including comprehensive healthcare programs, work-life balance initiatives, and robust relocation support. Our salary package is competitive, comprising a basic salary, performance bonuses, and benefits benchmarked against the external market. Additionally, we offer flexible working arrangements, remote work options, and tax assistance services for foreign colleagues, all designed to help you thrive.

Chiesi is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce at all levels of our business. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment based on attitude and merit, without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits, and termination.