Director, US Oncology Advocacy & Alliance (Lung and GI Cancers)

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company and our innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. This is the place to make an impact. Here we ensure everyone can reach their full potential, perform at their best and make a valued contribution to the enterprise!

We are looking for a Quality professional with strong subject knowledge, both in depth and breadth. Experience from a number of different areas of quality. Will control, monitor and develop systems and procedures to enhance the approach quality across multiple disciplines.

About the role:

As the Director, US Oncology Advocacy & Alliance, you will lead AstraZeneca’s strategic engagement and partnership efforts within the lung and gastrointestinal cancer therapeutic areas. This role is responsible for building and sustaining long-term collaborations with patient organizations, professional associations, and independent advocates to advance shared clinical and patient-centric goals. Acting as a critical link between the advocacy community and internal stakeholders across R&D, Medical Affairs, and Commercial, you will ensure the patient perspective is integrated into our national strategy while overseeing program execution, budget management, and compliant external relations.

What you'll do:

• Strategic Ownership: Lead the development, execution, and delivery of a comprehensive US patient advocacy strategy for Lung and GI cancers, ensuring full alignment with AstraZeneca’s overarching business objectives. 

• Two-Way Advocacy Dialogue: Serve as the primary liaison between AstraZeneca and Patient Advocacy Groups (PAGs) to identify unmet patient needs and integrate those insights into the discovery and delivery of therapeutic products.

• Stakeholder Mapping & Growth: Utilize rigorous stakeholder mapping to identify, cultivate, and manage new strategic relationships with patient and caregiver organizations within the therapeutic area.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Represent PAG interests across the internal matrix—including Commercial, Medical, R&D, and Market Access—to ensure the patient voice informs project outputs, such as white papers and strategic exchanges.

• Policy & Communications Partnership: Collaborate with Federal and State Government Affairs & Policy teams to advance state and policy priorities and partner with Brand Communications to highlight key partnership milestones.

• Executive & Congress Leadership: Lead high-level patient organization engagements at major medical congresses and facilitate quarterly meetings between AstraZeneca leadership and PAG partners to build long-term trust. 

• Operational & Financial Oversight: Direct agency partners and vendors while managing budgets, reconciliation reports, and impact metrics for all planned and ad-hoc partner funding. 

• Compliance & Governance: Ensure all team interactions and programs strictly adhere to national guidelines, internal policies, and ethical engagement standards. 

Essential Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree in business, communications, public health, or related field 

• At least 7-10 years’ experience working experience in a corporate affairs role  

• Effective communicator and storyteller  

• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills 

• Strong presentation and facilitation skills  

• Ability to navigate complex and matrixed organizations and contribute as both a strategic counsellor and strong individual contributor 

• Proven ability to align advocacy strategies with state and federal policy priorities to advance patient access and care. 

Desirable Requirements:

• Experience at a non-profit organization 

• Preference for a candidate who has experience with patients, and/or patient advocacy and professional associations

• Project management capability, with knowledge of and direct experience working with patient advocacy groups and/or professional associations to develop and deliver programs and projects  

• Experience reviewing or applying for grants or corporate funding  

• Oncology experience 

• Ability to anticipate and adapt to change, with strong problem-solving skills 

• Ability to travel as required by the business 

Working at AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. We’re committed to being a Great Place to Work—empowering people to push the boundaries of science in an inclusive culture that champions diversity, collaboration, and continuous learning.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $151,753.60 - $ 227,630.40 USD Annual (80% - 120%). Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

So,what’snext:

Are you already envisioning yourself joining our team? Good, because wecan’twait to hear from you!

You will have access to a flexible employee benefits fund, including holiday purchase and flexible time off, pension contributions, Share Save Plans, A performance recognitionschemeand a competitive, generousremunerationpackage.

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