Senior Director, PoC Network Strategy Lead

The Senior Director, Partners of Choice Network Strategy Lead is a member of the External R&D Leadership Team and is part of a concerted global effort to increase efficiencies and effectiveness of External R&D Strategy and Planning and to enhance and optimize the company’s collaborative efforts in Oncology both within and outside the company. 

The Senior Director will report to the VP External R&D and primarily will support in defining and leading global External R&D strategy, with specific responsibilities in implementing this engagement plan in different international regions by leading a Global Network of Partners of Choice and by driving excellence in External R&D strategy, planning and execution as well as supporting all major External R&D activities. 

The Senior Director would apply their experience, leadership and extensive expertise in oncology to promote an effective cross-functional work between the main internal stakeholders in the Hematology/Oncology R&D (Early Oncology, Late Oncology, Tumor Councils, etc) and Global Medical Affairs organization, to engage external scientific partners, to expand academic scientific collaborations, improve alliance management and deliver on our External R&D strategy. 

Responsibilities:

• Lead and implement the strategy for the Partners of Choice (PoC) Global Network of academic sites and drive delivery of the PoC portfolio of projects with clear impact to the overall AZ Oncology strategy. 

• Drive internal R&D opportunity analysis and gather strategic and scientific questions to be addressed with external partners.  
• Lead external engagements with the PoC sites via Joint Network meetings. Establish relationships with Key External Experts and support staff at key alliance sites. 
• Lead all aspects of the PoC network activities including budget management, call for proposals process, return on investment analysis and reporting. 
• Manage key alliance site specific information by maintaining collaboration dashboards, including ongoing studies from pre-clinical, translational and clinical, both AstraZeneca sponsored and Externally Sponsored Research studies. 
• Executional and operational oversight of new planning and governance processes to improve cross-functional collaboration and productivity. E.g.: Establish External R&D calendar and global workstream timelines,  

• Monitoring and tracking of knowledge, skill gaps to support team personal and professional development plans. E.g.: Create and manage repository for knowledge documents and common team resources (knowledge management), manage team Sharepoint site, etc.  
• Internal communications coordination across the External R&D team, SBDA full team members and other AZ stakeholders, i.e., preparing and sharing relevant External R&D comms to broader SBDA and AZ stakeholders (push) and engaging External R&D with broader AZ comms (pull) by leveraging team tools e.g., SBDA Workplace, Teams etc. e.g., sharing regular AZ updates on Workplace and preparing new joiner welcome announcements 
• Overall coordination within the team, broader SDB&A activities and Oncology R&D stakeholders. E.g.: Lead External R&D function townhalls and Congress coordination, team meeting organization,  
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of AZ pipeline, strategy and vision 
• Work closely with internal stakeholders across the enterprise in support of External R&D objectives. 
• Lead subset of External R&D internal workstreams in close collaboration with other members of the Leadership Team.
• Manage Key External Expert (KEE) relationships and participate in meetings with external partners; prepare and deliver external presentations.
• Contribute to budget management, governance processes, and annual planning processes.
• Actively participate in creating a community of partnership excellence and in activities that embed partnering best practices across the company. 
• Maintain compliance with all company compliance and regulatory guidelines governing external interactions. 

Basic Qualifications:

• PhD and/or MD (in sciences) with minimum of 10 years of combined experience in research and/or pharmaceutical industry. ​
• Critical strategic thinker comfortable with designing and executing workplans and communication cascades within a highly matrixed organization.
• Knowledge of Hematology/Oncology drug development is required 
• 3 years of work experience in strategic planning, research, development, commercial, or medical departments. 
• Demonstrate knowledge of the drug development process relevant to pharmaceutical/biotech organizations. 
• Ability to manage and/or resolve issues, risks, and conflicts both internally and externally in a timely manner through great listening skills and the capability to ask the right questions.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Capacity to work cross-functionally and to influence people without direct authority. Proven display of soft skills and excellent communication skills. 

• Well-developed organizational and interpersonal skills. Comfortable working with culturally diverse teams. 
• Dedicated team player. 
• Demonstrable abilities to translate complex contract terms and conditions into strategic and operational elements for both internal and external parties. 
• Proven track record of meeting/exceeding professional/work-related objectives and goals  
• Dynamic, team oriented, able to partner well with all functional management. 

• Ability to initiate, develop and implement new strategies and processes. 
• Experience working in a matrix organization 
• Experience of working in a global organization with complex/geographical context. 
• Ability to travel internationally 

About AstraZeneca in Gaithersburg, MD

Our Gaithersburg, Maryland facility creates life-changing medicines for people around the world. This campus employs more than 3,500 experts in our field and is only a short drive from Washington, DC. This modern and vibrant scientific campus is the home of R&D and Oncology in the US. Here, we play host to some of the most innovative technology and lab spaces, all designed to inspire collaboration and cross-functional science. We believe employees benefit from being challenged and inspired at work. We are dedicated to creating a culture of inclusion and collaboration.

The Gaithersburg site offers a variety of amenities to help boost productivity and help keep our employees happy and healthy. This includes a fitness center, employee healthcare clinic, electric vehicle charging stations, dry cleaning, full-service cafeteria and copy center. This is where you’ll find newly-designed, activity-based work spaces to suit a variety of working styles while increasing collaboration between teams.

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $245,286-$367,921. However, 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 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 salary (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.

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca, we 're dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There is no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration. Always committed to lifelong learning, growth and development.

So, what’s next?

A place built on courage, curiosity and collaboration – we make bold decisions driven by patient outcomes. Empowered to lead at every level, free to ask questions and take calculated risks that write the next chapter for our pipeline.

If you are swift to action, confident to lead, willing to collaborate, and passionate about the possibilities, then we are keen to hear from you!

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.