Head of Early Assets, Hematology

At AstraZeneca our ambition is to transform outcomes for patients with hematologic malignancies and related hematology conditions. We aim to reset standards of care by advancing innovative therapies across a broad pipeline inclusive of assets including bispecific T-cell engagers (TCEs) antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and other emerging modalities.

Reporting into the VP Global Head Hematology Franchise & Cell Therapy and sitting on the Leadership Team as Head of Early Assets Hematology you will operate at the commercialR&D interface to shape our early hematology pipeline from preclinical through early clinical developmentensuring clear line-of-sight to patient impact and long-term commercial value across modalities and disease segments.

You will partner closely with Oncology R&D Global Product Teams Business Development Medical Market Access/Pricing Finance and priority markets to build winning target product profiles inform clinical plans and define early go-to-market strategies that scale across indications. This role is highly visible within the OBU and requires a strong matrix leader who can influence without authority and translate scientific innovation into compelling commercial and development strategies. You will be accountable for understanding industry innovations and trends across hematology and translating those insights into strategy.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Commercial strategy for early assets: Lead the early commercial strategy across hematology modalities (TCEs ADCs small molecules and other emerging platforms) integrating disease biology competitive dynamics and customer insights to shape target product profiles positioning and differentiation.
• R&D partnership and development planning: Provide strategic input to discovery and early development teams on indication prioritization study design endpoints inclusion/exclusion criteria and line-of-therapy to optimize clinical and regulatory line-of-sight.
• Insights and analytics: Guide and collaborate with insights/analytics to integrate hematologist/center-of-excellence patient/caregiver payer and provider insights and competitive intelligence; partner closely to inform value stories price/reimbursement scenarios and risk/opportunity assessments that support commercial decision-making.
• Evidence and access strategy: Partner with Market Access & Pricing on early access strategies affordability models and system readiness. Shape early evidence needs (clinical RWE PROs HEOR) and payer value narratives tailored to hematology.
• Collaborate with lifecycle team: Shape lifecycle options next-wave indications and inform investment cases for internal programs and external opportunities in collaboration with Search & Evaluation and BD.
• Cross-BU collaboration and governance: Represent the hematology commercial and clinical view in cross-functional forums and governance (e.g. therapy area leadership early-stage portfolio committees) ensuring alignment to OBU strategy and enterprise priorities.
• Market readiness and launch pathways: Coordinate with priority markets (notably US) to pressure-test assumptions to enable scalable launch pathways for transitions to late development.
• Financials and planning: Lead Forecasting Long-Term Planning (LTP) scenario planning and budget needs for early assets; provide sensitivity analyses for clinical and market uncertainties.
• External engagement: Build and maintain networks with key clinical experts industry leaders patient advocacy payers and hematology centers to bring the external voice into strategy and development.

Skills and capabilities

• Commercial excellence: Demonstrated success shaping and executing commercial and development strategies for hematology assets (e.g. TCEs ADCs small molecules).
• Strategic thinking and financial acumen: Ability to synthesize science clinical evidence market signals and economics into clear strategic choices and robust business cases.
• Matrix leadership: Proven ability to influence across R&D Medical Access and Markets; skilled at alignment-building and decision-making in ambiguous high-velocity settings.
• Science and clinical acumen: Strong grasp of hematology disease biology and clinical development; able to challenge and partner with R&D on endpoints comparators biomarker strategies for various modalities.
• Problem solving and execution: Structured data-driven approach with a track record of translating ideas into action and delivering results through others.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication; compelling storyteller who can distill complexity for senior stakeholders and governance bodies.

Requirements / qualifications

Education

• MD required; hematology-trained physician strongly preferred. Advanced training or board certification in hematology/oncology is an advantage.
• Additional advanced degree (MBA MSc PhD) is a plus.

Experience

• Must have: Industry experience in biopharma including significant time at the commercialR&D interface and in early asset strategy or early commercial roles within hematology.
• 10 years in biopharma with experience across hematology; direct exposure to modalities such as TCEs ADCs and small molecules.
• Demonstrated experience shaping product profiles and early clinical plans amid evolving datasets; familiarity with CMC manufacturing and supply/logistics considerations relevant to hematology biologics and small molecules.
• Broad commercial experience including pre-launch strategy forecasting market research pricing & reimbursement competitive intelligence and early go-to-market design.
• Evidence of building investment cases and collaborating with BD/Search & Evaluation on external opportunities.
• Experience engaging external stakeholders: clinical experts centers of excellence payers patient advocacy and provider systems.

Other qualifications

• Successful people leadership or significant matrix leadership experience.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and establishing scalable models for emerging hematology modalities.

Location travel and work pattern

• Based in Gaithersburg MD; full-time role within the Oncology Business Unit.
• Some domestic and international travel to R&D sites priority markets conferences and centers of excellence should be expected.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $270221 - $405332. 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 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.

Date Posted

Closing Date

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and 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.