Global Medical Affairs Leader, External Scientific Engagement

Biopharmaceuticals Medical (BPM) ensures the best patient outcomes by providing healthcare decision-makers around the world with the evidence and confidence they need on AstraZeneca (AZ) therapies and supports our internal stakeholders with medical insight and expertise. BPM provides medical leadership with market participation and connectivity while also impacting the life cycle planning and execution of all our products. BPM aims to lead AZ in achieving scientific leadership, being a great place to work, and keeping patients at the core of everything we do. 

Reporting directly to the Head of External Scientific Engagement, the GMAL External Scientific Relations (GMAL ESR) is a key strategic business role working across the TA, with the ability to combine their unique medical expertise with insights from markets, healthcare professionals, patients, and health systems to develop and execute world-class external engagement strategies for AstraZeneca medicines and market-shaping teams globally.   

As a key member of the Global Medical Team (GMT) within a specific brand and/or disease area, the GMAL ESR serves as a strategic partner and leader, working across the medical enterprise, R&D, and commercial functions. The GMAL ESR is pivotal in shaping and communicating the external AstraZeneca persona within a specific disease area, ensuring alignment to the needs of the brands, marketing company affiliates, healthcare professionals, and patients through ambitious global external engagement strategies. By conducting world-class scientific engagement, the GMAL ESR enables affiliates worldwide to deliver outstanding product launches, transform health systems, conduct practice-defining studies and real-world evidence initiatives, and accelerate the delivery of AstraZeneca clinical trials. 

Key Expectations of a GMAL ESR; a successful GMAL will: 

Global Guideline Strategic engagement and pull through: 

• Lead the cross functional Guideline Steering committee and TA activities to inform global guidance with AstraZeneca aligned evidence   

• Lead the creation of strategic guideline engagement plans and delivery of a clear preferred AZ evidence-based guideline scenario  

• Create evidence generation plans in conjunction with evidence team to address guideline needs  

• Lead AZ internal review and response to newly published global guidance 

• Drive global guideline pull through to markets including partnerships with scientific societies on implementation 

• Work with global guideline committees to identify and implement ways to drive GDMT   

World Class KEE Partnership and Collaboration: 

• Own and lead TA strategic long term KEE engagement strategy that delivers on AZ global objectives and KEEs own needs and requirements  

• Own strategic KEE mapping and allocation of KEEs (including digital influencers, rising stars, involved in guidelines, centres of excellence, KEEs with policy interests, etc.) across BBU to ensure optimal engagement, diversity and inclusion 

• Drive immersion of global KEEs in pipeline development across R&D  

• Work with MCs to progress regional and local KEEs into global KEEs through integration into global activities, 

• Proactively identify development of ‘next generation’ and novel KEEs to address future strategic needs (AI, GDMT, Policy)  

• Identify potential trialist KEEs and clinical trial recruitment opportunities aligned to R&D needs 

Development of Strategic Partnerships and collaboration: 

• Pro-actively manage strategic partnerships and collaborations to further AstraZeneca strategic priorities and deliver maximum ROI  

• Actively work with societies to create mutual awareness and alignment with current and future AZ TA strategic priorities including identifying opportunities to enhance the Transform Care agenda 

• Ownership of key global society relationships (executive and the Board) including oversight and co-ordination of all AZ society interactions to ensure consistency and a coherent messaging 

• Identify and implement novel research collaboration opportunities with external parties to enhance AZ strategic priorities 

• Lead cross-TA collaborations committee to maximise collaboration ROI 

Shaping the AstraZeneca External Persona: 

• Coordinate AZ interactions with the external world to create scientific leadership and shape AZ persona based on AZ strategic priorities  

• Provide strategic guidance to internal TA stakeholders across BBU functions on external stakeholders’ priorities and unmet needs 

• Ensure timely direct and indirect external input into external scientific and medical narratives 

• Act as the known conduit for the external world to access AstraZeneca for scientific engagement and resource 

• Ensure AZ external persona is pulled through at core congress group to deliver fully aligned, strategically coherent congress presence to maximize ROI 

• Identify and develop opportunities to deliver innovative external engagement activities including medical education initiatives  

Essential for the role:

• Science degree with 5-10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry (Medical, Marketing, R&D, Market access roles), or experience working within a relevant health system setting (clinical, pharmacy, pathway design, etc.) + 3-5 years experience in the pharmaceutical sector. 

• Demonstration of strategic leadership and prowess pre- and post-product launch, including the ability to define strategic needs, create compelling narratives & strategy to deliver on those. 

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and compelling value propositions for patients, payers, and providers. 

• Demonstrable stakeholder matrix management skills, the ability to influence across geographical, cultural, functional and hierarchical boundaries in the internal and external environment 

• A drive for results – the ability to drive step changes in the performance of others and inspire commitment beyond your immediate circle of influence 

Desirable for the role:

• Master’s degree (MD, PhD, PharmD) in a relevant discipline. 

• Recognized expertise in the relevant or related therapeutic area. 

• Experience operating successfully in complex, matrixed organizational environments. 

• Successful track record of launching new products or indications. 

• Established relationships with global clinical thought leaders, professional societies, and healthcare organizations. 

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $ 193,281.60 - 289,922.40 USD. 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. Benefits offered include 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.

Date Posted

26-May-2026

Closing Date

08-Jun-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.