Diagnostics Liaison Manager

ABOUT ASTRAZENECA

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

At AstraZeneca we turn ideas into life changing medicines. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the impossible a reality. We’re focused on the potential of science to address the unmet needs of patients around the world. We commit to those areas where we think we can really change the course of medicine and bring big new ideas to life. As a Diagnostic Medical Liaison you’ll play a pivotal role in channelling our scientific capabilities to make a positive impact on changing patients’ lives.

AstraZeneca’s vision in Oncology is to help patients by redefining the cancer-treatment paradigm, with the aim of bringing six new cancer medicines to patients between 2013 and 2020. A broad pipeline of next-generation medicines is focused principally on four disease areas - breast, ovarian, lung and hematological cancers. As well as other tumor types, these are being targeted through four key platforms - immunotherapy, the genetic drivers of cancer and resistance, DNA damage repair, and antibody drug conjugates, underpinned by personalized healthcare and biomarker technologies.

As the Medical Affairs Diagnostic Liaison Manager, you will leverage your current medical, diagnostic and clinical test experience that will make an impact within a large, global pharmaceutical company to help ensure understanding of the environment, gather insights, help inform the development strategy and support data generation to help support LCM and patient access. This is a newly developed field-based group reporting to the Diagnostics lead.

The Diagnostic Liaison Manager supports the timely, high quality in-market companion diagnostics / testing solutions to enable optimal patient access, treatment throughout the lifecycle of the product. It includes providing insights into the core medical team, interacting with key HCPs. An important element of this role is to work collaboratively with the medical scientific liaisons and execute on tactical plans with a good understanding of the medical and clinical operational issues on the interface between the oncologist/HCP and the testing pathway, helping to deliver appropriate information, insights and solutions.

The Diagnostic Liaison Manager is to work in appropriate coordination with the Field Sales Team and Medical Scientific Liaisons help gather insights and deliver education as appropriate to internal and external stakeholders and execute on tactical plans with a deep understanding of the medical environment and disease/pathology to help support clinical and medical questions to facilitate optimal testing, removal of barriers and advance the scientific development of appropriate testing solutions as needed.

Major Responsibilities:

• Identify and develop needs-based relationships with, Pathologists and molecular pathologists, molecular diagnostics kit suppliers, scientific experts, laboratory decision makers, thought-leaders: Health Care Professionals (HCP), and scientific organizations.
• Identify barriers to diagnostics testing through Diagnostic Testing labs, Diagnostics Kit companies, lab networks and HCPs. Execution of tactical plans locally to support and educate on appropriate testing.
• Help develop robust testing facilities in strategic centres, including protocol support, working on identification and removing bottlenecks in testing, monitoring the number and performance of testing. Demand generation through education, awareness, and advocacy.
• Help to deliver appropriate, approved, educational information on disease, pathology and diagnostics to internal and external stakeholders. Deliver highly technical and medical data presentations to Pathologists, HCPs and multidisciplinary teams.
• Support externally sponsored research as appropriate.
• Provide insights to core medical teams to aid in the development of India specific plan and to help inform and shape the local strategy.
• Strategic Key Account Management skills.
• Adhere to the AZ Code of Conduct, The Policy Handbook, Standards, and SOPs as well as comply with all regulatory and compliance requirements for your role.

Internal Contacts:

• Diagnostics Lead and other Diagnostics team members.
• Core medical team including Medical Leads.
• Brand Teams in coordination with the Diagnostic lead.

External engagement:

• Health Care Professionals including oncologists and pathologists.
• Diagnostic partners – labs, kit manufacturers.
• Advocacy and national and regional professional associations societies.
• Oncology Diagnostics Managers.
• Professional associations and societies.

Minimum Requirements:

• Master Degree in Life Sciences/Medical Biotechnology or Ph.D. (preferred).
• >5 years of experience in molecular diagnostic market and clinical testing; preferably oncology experience (lung cancer, women cancer, immunotherapy).
• Expertise in discussing scientific content and context to multiple audiences.
• Understand diagnostic verification and validation procedures to ensure robust study protocols.
• Ability to travel (>50%; percentage varies with geography).

Preferred Requirements:

• Strong team work and collaboration skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Has the ability to work under pressure and with short timelines, being resourceful and tenacious in approaching problems and leveraging all available sources for developing solutions.
• Thorough knowledge of diagnostic test development and regulatory environment and oncology environment (and experience with clinical trials preferred).
• Proven demonstration of effective cross-functional project team leadership.
• Strong execution focus.

AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer. AstraZeneca will consider all qualified applicants for employment without discrimination on grounds of disability, sex or sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity leave status, race or national or ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, gender identity or re-assignment, marital or civil partnership status, protected veteran status (if applicable) or any other characteristic protected by law.

Where can I find out more?

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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.