Introduction to role:
Are you ready to build and scale a vein-to-vein logistics engine that turns cutting-edge cell therapies into real outcomes for patients In this director role you will lead end-to-end scheduling and logistics across autologous allogeneic and in vivo therapies and critical raw materials ensuring chain of identity and chain of custody through robust digital systems and quality management. Your work will enable compliant reliable patient scheduling collection and delivery to clinical sites aligned to manufacturing realities and release windows.
You will sit at the center of a connected network spanning manufacturing clinical quality digital and external partners aligning operations so the entire enterprise can move faster and smarter. How will you design a logistics operating model that is compliant on day one and scalable for the next wave of indications Do you thrive in high-stakes real-time environments where your decisions protect patients and unlock speed at scale
Accountabilities:
Logistics Operating Model: Define and evolve the operating model across patient and material flows to enable scalable compliant vein-to-vein execution covering slot scheduling shipment booking real-time monitoring exception management escalation SLAs and COI/COC controls. Align design with manufacturing cycle times validated hold times and site capacity plans.
Slot Allocation and Scheduling: Execute and enforce slot management rules to maximize utilization and patient access; lead cross-functional escalations with Planning Manufacturing Clinical and Commercial to protect priority cases and timelines.
Quality and Compliance: Ensure logistics processes comply with GxP and internal quality system requirements; lead and support audits inspections CAPAs and training; publish and maintain SOPs work instructions and playbooks.
EU Depot Operations: Partner with depot teams on EU receiving storage pick/pack QP handoffs and GDP controls; coordinate EU shipment monitoring to safeguard product integrity.
Trade Compliance: Ensure compliant import and export movements permits and licenses documentation and adherence to regional requirements in partnership with Legal Compliance and customs brokers.
Digital Systems and Orchestration: Define business requirements and UAT for the cell orchestration platform; partner with IT to deliver a roadmap that improves real-time visibility exception monitoring and customer experience.
Daily Execution and Patient Interfaces: Oversee day-to-day logistics performance for apheresis drug product and critical materials including order booking COI/COC traceability and handoffs to depots and manufacturing; oversee patient scheduling interfaces with clinical sites and collection centers; coordinate pickups customs clearance and deliveries to meet release windows; manage exceptions and remediation in real time.
Data and Analytics: Set service levels and monitor KPIs; drive vendor performance through business reviews and continuous improvement to elevate speed reliability and patient experience.
Exception and Deviation Management: Detect triage and resolve shipment exceptions and quality events; lead incident reviews lessons learned and CAPA effectiveness to reduce recurrence and systemic risk.
Courier Vendor Leadership: Own courier COPs and qualified lanes (LN2 28 C OBC) KPIs and QBRs and vendor RCA/CAPA; ensure consistent performance governance and business continuity across global lanes.
Risk Management and Business Continuity: Define and maintain lane mapping and lane risk assessments; document route and risk profiles; build contingency playbooks to keep product moving despite disruptions.
Change Management: Lead logistics readiness for new indications capabilities facilities and digital or process changes; ensure smooth transitions without compromising compliance or patient timelines.
People Leadership: Build and lead a high-performing team; define clear roles and objectives develop talent and foster a culture of patient-centricity compliance and operational excellence.
Essential Skills/Experience:
Lead the logistics operations pillar for Cell Therapy owning the end-to-end operations for scheduling and logistics for autologous allogeneic and in vivo cell therapies and critical raw materials.
Ensure compliant reliable and scalable vein to vein patient scheduling collection and delivery to clinical sites ensuring COI and COC controls with digital systems and quality management.
Define and evolve the Logistics Operating Model across patient and material flows: slot scheduling inbound and outbound shipment booking real-time monitoring exception management escalation SLAs and COI/COC controls. Align logistics design with manufacturing cycle times validated hold times and manufacturing site capacity plans.
Slot allocation and scheduling: Execute and enforce slot management rules to maximize utilization of slots. Lead escalations with Global Planning Manufacturing Clinical Development and Commercial Teams.
Quality and compliance: Ensure logistics processes comply with GxP requirements including COI/COC traceability requirements and internal Quality Management System requirements. Lead/support audits inspections CAPAs and trainings related to logistics. Publish and maintain SOPs WIs and playbooks.
Partner with Depot Ops on EU receiving storage pick/pack QP handoffs (GDP); coordinate EU shipment monitoring.
Trade Compliance: Ensure compliant import/export movements permits/licenses documentation and adherence to regional requirements in partnership with Legal/Compliance and customs brokers.
Systems: Define business requirements and UAT for AZs cell orchestration platform. Partner with IT to implement digital roadmap that will improve real-time shipment visibility exception monitoring and customer experience.
Oversee daily execution performance of logistics for apheresis and drug products critical materials: order booking COI/COC traceability and handoffs to depots/manufacturing. Lead first patient/market hypercares. Oversee patient scheduling interfaces with clinical sites collection centers and manufacturing. Coordinate pickups customs clearance and deliveries to meet release windows and validated timelines; manage exceptions and remediations in real time.
Data and Analytics: Set service levels monitor KPIs. Drive performance through vendor business reviews and continuous improvement.
Exception and Deviation Management: Detect triage and resolve shipment exceptions and quality events; lead incident lessons learned and CAPA effectiveness.
Vendor management: Partner with Quality and Procurement to own and enforce courier COPs and qualified lanes (LN2 28 C OBC) KPIs/QBRs and vendor RCA/CAPA. Ensure courier performance and execution with proper governance of reviews problem solving and maintain business continuity.
Risk management and business continuity: Define and maintain lane mapping and run lane risk assessments for patient and material flows. Document route/risk profiles and develop contingency playbooks for logistics disruptions.
Change management: Lead logistics readiness for new indications new capabilities new facilities and other digital or process changes impacting logistics.
Team leadership: Build and lead a high performing logistics operations team. Define clear roles and objectives develop talent and foster culture of patient-centricity compliance and operational excellence.
Desirable Skills/Experience:
Experience launching first patient and first market hypercare with cross-functional command centers.
Demonstrated success implementing a digital logistics or cell orchestration platform with measurable gains in visibility and exception resolution.
Depth in EU GDP practices and QP handoffs including temperature-controlled operations and documentation.
Advanced capability in predictive analytics lane risk modeling and KPI design for high-stakes biologics logistics.
Proven leadership building new teams and operating models in fast-growing highly regulated environments.
Strong background in courier governance across LN2 28 C and on-board courier lanes including COPs QBRs and RCA/CAPA.
Expertise partnering with customs brokers and managing complex import/export licensing for time- and temperature-sensitive therapies.
Continuous improvement credentials such as Lean or Six Sigma applied to clinical and commercial cell therapy logistics.
The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from$141997.60to$212996.40 positions offer eligibility for various incentivesan opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs paid time off (i.e. vacation holiday and leaves) as well as health dental and vision coveragein accordance withthe terms of the applicable plans.
AstraZenecais an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion and providing a workplace that is free from discrimination. AstraZeneca is committed to accommodating persons with disabilities. Such accommodation is available on request in respect of all aspects of the recruitment assessment and selection process and may be requested by emailing.
Why AstraZeneca:
Join a place where you are trusted to take ownership and move fast combining scientific rigor with data-driven operations to deliver therapies that change lives. You will work shoulder-to-shoulder with unexpected teams in the same room unleashing bold thinking to solve complex logistics challenges at scale. We champion curiosity and decisive action value kindness alongside ambition and empower you with the tools partnerships and freedom to shape how living medicines reach patients across the world.
Call to Action:
Lead the global nerve center of cell therapy logistics and build the systems teams and partnerships that move cures to patients fasterbring your expertise and make your mark.
Where can I find out more
OurSocial Media Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn AstraZeneca on Facebook AstraZeneca on Instagram US Footprint: Powering Scientific Innovation - YouTube
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Date Posted
26-Feb-2026Closing Date
22-Mar-2026Our 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.
Required Experience:
Director
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, ... View more